Huskies Women's Soccer (4-4-2) closed out their 2022-23 regular season with a 2-1 home win over the Fleming Knights (1-8-1) on an afternoon where George Brown also celebrated a number of graduating student-athletes. See full bios of the graduating athletes at the end of the article.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Having come off a tightly contested 1-0 loss to the undefeated Seneca Sting the previous weekend, the Huskies hoped to finish off their regular season on a winning note at home versus the Fleming Knights. Fleming's Brianna Lee tested the home team's resolve early within the first five minutes of play, netting a long looping ball around Huskies goalkeeper Mahima Patil who was caught off her line.
But George Brown stayed composed, and continued to pressure the Knights defence until graduating senior Nicole Carvalho (5th year) found the back of the net in the 21st minute to tie things up. It marked her fourth goal of the season.
The second half was a steady affair without many scoring threats for either team, until the 66th minute when the Huskies were awarded a free kick straight on to the Fleming goal from approximately 30 yards out. Carvahlo's free kick deflected through the defensive wall, and was chased down and tapped in by 1st Year Huskies midfielder Madison Hadeed for her first career goal. A goal the proved to the be the game winner, with George Brown narrowly coming away with a 2-1 victory.
UP NEXT: With the win, the team finishes in 6th place in the OCAA East Division and will face Niagara College in a playoff crossover match on Saturday October 22, 2022 at 2:00pm at Young's Sportplex (Turf #3) in Welland, ON. The winner will move on to the OCAA Provincial Championship at Durham College from October 27-30, 2022.
GRADUATING STUDENTS
George Brown College Athletics and Recreation would like to thank our graduating students for their commitment to the team over their Huskies careers. Our 2022-23 graduating Women's Soccer student-athletes are:
MacDonald joined the program in 2021 and has done everything she can to help the team succeed. She is a versatile player who has excelled since being moved to defense this season, has been strong in her performances and has started every game for the team this Fall. MacDonald has faced some of the top players in the OCAA and has performed at an elite level throughout. Her tenacity and competitive nature have been invaluable for the team this season.
She will be graduating this Spring from the Architectural Technology program.
This past summer, Tureski earned a spot out of the open tryout and has played a significant defensive role stepping in to lead the backline in most games for the Huskies. Her ability to control balls in the air and distribution from the back have helped the Huskies keep opposing offences in check and has been the catalyst for starting many attacks. She has been an excellent addition to the program and has been a key figure in all the success this season.
Ruby will be graduating in April from the Fashion Management program.
Mayne joined the team this Fall and her athleticism has given a lot of depth to the roster where she has stepped in to help in offense and defense throughout the season. Her positive attitude and spirit help to keep the group united throughout and we look forward to seeing her contributions during the rest of her time with the program this coming indoor season.
Alannah is set to graduate this Spring from the Fashion Business Industry program.
Nicole Carvalho is one of the top women's players to have come through the College circuit, having won a CCAA Bronze medal in her time prior to joining the Huskies Program. She has also won multiple OCAA championships both in outdoor and indoor soccer and has been a key component to the success of the George Brown program this Fall.
Her ability to strike the ball with power off of both feet makes the George Brown Huskies a constant threat. She has registered a shooting accuracy of .944 this season, getting on goal 17 of the 18 shots she has taken.
During her 2022-2023 Huskies season, Carvalho played in seven games where she scored four goals (T-1st on team) and picked up one assist. She will be graduating from the Construction Engineering Technician program.
Cabral has been one of the key offensive threats for the Huskies since she joined the program in 2019. Her versatility and technical skill have seen her deployed in many roles over the years for the team. She has been fantastic in both the outdoor and indoor formats, and her Fall 2022 season has lived up to her past performances as she is tied on the team in goals scored during the regular season with four.
In her three years as a Husky, Cabral played in 18 games netting 9 goals and collecting 18 points. She will be graduating next Spring from the Fashion Business Industry program.
Julia Kassner returned to the Women's Soccer program to play her final year of eligibility and has been a focal point of the team's attack. Her hold up play and technical quality have been essential to the success of the group on the field, and her maturity and leadership qualities have been a key reason for the solidarity amongst the group.
Kassner has been a Husky through and through since her entrance into George Brown back in 2014, even during her years away from the program when she started her young family. She was a regular on the sidelines supporting the team and leading the way with other alumni in flying the GBC flag off the field.
Julia has played in 40 games over her 5-year Huskies career, scoring 6 goals and collecting 12 points from the midfield. She has scored two game winners and has been perfect on penalty kick attempts.
Brianna Samuels-McLaughlin | #15
A George Brown Women's Soccer captain and former OCAA Rookie of the Year, Samuels-McLaughlin has been a mainstay on the team from the first minute she stepped onto the field to represent the Huskies. The Scarborough, ON native has led the team on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field in various seasons, stepping in to fill whatever role was required of her. Her exemplary play has been rewarded with OCAA All-Star selections both on offense and defense over the years.
Throughout her OCAA outdoor soccer career, Samuels-McLaughlin played in 33 games where she scored 15 goals and collecting 30 points, including 14 during her 2019-2020 season.
Brianna will be graduating from the Child and Youth Care advanced diploma this coming April.
A Huskies multi-year captain and leader on and off the field, Cynthia Pellegrino may well have saved her finest performances for her final year of play. The former OCAA All-Star and midfield standout has elevated her level of play to elite levels this year. Over the years Pellegrino has shown a sacrifice, determination, and work ethic that has helped transform George Brown into a perennial contender in the province.
A player with raw skill and talent, she has become refined and accomplished over the years with a presence that unbalances opposing teams. In Cynthia Pellegrino, the George Brown Huskies program is graduating a player who has been one of the best to wear a Women's Soccer uniform.
In her 5-year career with the Huskies, Pellegrino played in 45 games collecting 16 total points from her midfield position, including 10 this season with three goals and four assists; her most impactful season as a Husky on the stat sheet.
