WOMEN'S SOCCER PREVIEW

Posted: Sep 15, 2021

The women’s soccer team compiled five wins in nine matches in 2019, the most victories by the program in the last seven years. They finished fifth place in the East Division with a 5-4 record before dropping the crossover playoff match to the Sheridan Bruins. The team will be the first Huskies squad to play an OCAA regular season game since 2020 and will be prepared to get things going on a high note. They open their campaign against the Humber Hawks on Friday, September 17^th at Esther Shiner Field. It begins at 6:30pm.

Coach’s Thought

Head coach, Leslie Fitzpatrick, believes the squad is ready to take that next step.

“Coming out of such a long hiatus because of the pandemic, we are focused on rebuilding the program once again by getting our girls back onto the field, working to instill confidence, and providing a platform whereby they can enjoy playing again after such a long period away from competition and each other. We are in a tough group with perennial powerhouses, Humber and Seneca, so our hope is to compete as best as we can against these teams and to look to try to get some success against Sault. We have lost some really important components to our team from the last couple of years, so it will be about getting the new girls to integrate with the returning players, and to find the right balance heading into our first few games,” head coach Fitzpatrick said. “Our strength will be in fostering a unified group where every player will work equally to help contribute to our success.”

Key Returning Players

Brianna Samuels-McLaughlin
Position: Defender/Forward
When you think of a player that can be a game-changer in any position on the pitch, Samuels-McLaughlin's name comes to mind. Since she was recruited in 2018, she has been a difference-maker, having led the outdoor team in scoring for the past two seasons despite playing multiple positions. In just two seasons, she has recorded 11 goals in 18 matches. She has also been a multiple award recipient along the way, including 2018-19 Huskies Female Rookie of the Year and being named an OCAA All-Star in back-to-back seasons.

Kristina Anderson
Position: Midfielder
Anderson did not look out of place in her rookie campaign after being recruited by the Huskies ahead of the 2019-20 season. Throughout the 2019-2020 season, she displayed great potential at the midfield position with her vision, speed, and scoring touch. From Brampton, Ont., she quickly earned the trust of the coaching staff, starting six of eight outdoor matches. In that span, she ranked third on the team with three goals in addition to being a defensive stopper. Her impressive season did not go unnoticed, as the OCAA rewarded her as an East Division Second Team All-Star. She was also named Team MVP for her stellar play during the indoor season. and was nominated for the 2019-2020 Huskies Female Rookie of the Year award.

Jaelyn Wright
Position: Defence
After being recruited to the program in 2019, Wright became a dominant force in the backend of the pitch. The defender, who stands at 5'10, always found a way to disrupt opposing offences. She started seven of nine outdoor matches the Huskies played in 2019.