UMSC Strikers '94 Girls: 2004 Inaugural Season

Team Record 2004 Outdoor Season

Team Games Wins Loses Ties GF GA + / - Points
York United Lasers

16

15

1

0

79

9

70

45

Richmond Hill Raiders "A"

16

11

3

2

47

15

32

35

Etobicoke Titans

16

8

4

4

38

18

20

28

Markham Lightning

16

8

5

3

37

30

7

27

Woodbridge Strikers "A"

16

6

6

4

36

35

1

22

UMSC Strikers

16

6

8

2

32

36

-4

20

Toronto Eagles

16

4

9

3

17

40

-23

15

NY Hearts Azzurri

16

3

9

4

21

52

-31

13

Aurora Stingers "B"

16

0

16

0

7

79

-72

0


League: 6 Wins - 2 Ties - 8 Loses
Exhibition Games: 2 Wins - 1 Tie - 2 Loses
Tournaments: 2 Wins - 1 Tie - 9 Loses

Overall 2004 Record: 10 Wins - 5 Ties - 19 Loses

Monday, August 30
Holy Smokes..
Holy smokes, who are these ladies. I don't think in all my years of coaching I ever had as much fun at one game like I had tonight. Tonight's competition was Aurora "B". Previous meeting the Strikers won 3 - 0. As a coach you never want to play a team who is struggling because they play desperate soccer. Tonight's game I was worried because Aurora always plays us tough and an upset could happen. Well not tonight, the Strikers came out flying. Where they got all this energy who know's but I wish I bottled it for the next game. The game was out of reach at half time with the Strikers being up 3 - 0 and the game plan for the second half was keep the ball and don't give it back. It was lovely soccer to watch with the play going from side to side with give and go's, overlap's from the defenders and great individual efforts. The final was 8 - 0 with a great effort from Aurora who kept fighting and their keeper made remarkable saves at times. Great job Aurora, keep working hard and results will come. A great friend of mine who also coaches always reminds me "Rome wasn't built in a day".
Stand out player in tonight's game was Julia Clark, Great job Julia!

Monday, August 23
Were Back on Track Again..
Last week was a week that the Strikers wanted to forget. They let a two goal lead slip for a loss versus Woodbridge and they participated in the Thornhill Tournament without winning a game. As a coach you look to see how the team rebounds from bad games. Yes, we had a horrible tournament but their were some positives that we can build on.
So our next league game is against NY Hearts. We beat them quite easy the first meeting 7 - 2 but I knew this game wasn't going to be easy. Who gets beat by five goals and doesn't want revenge. I was looking for in this game my leaders to step up and carry this team out of the funk that were in. And guess what, it happened. Ishanna played her heart out and was a threat to score everytime she touched the ball. Rochelle was making unbelievable plays using our wide players. Natasha, Ashley, Jackie Melissa F. and Vanessa stepped up and challenged the NY Hearts defence everytime they had the ball. Our defence played together as one unit. The jumped into the rush several times and had some chances to score. Our middle Kristen and Caitlan played great not allowing any breakdowns in back. Julia, Harleen Melissa A. and Mary-Frances had great games with there aggressive play and Nicole made saves when needed. Overall everyone stepped up and played great soccer. Our score shows a 2 -1 victory for us but it could of been easy a seven or eight goal game with 80% of the play in the attacking end.
This is why I this team is special. When the chips are down, they regroup and put themselves back on track again.
Well done ladies..


Tuesday, August 17
A great learning experience..

One of our team goals this year is not to be beat by the same team twice. Our previous meeting versus Woodbridge "A" was our first game ever in a competitive soccer play. We were beat 3- 0  by a very good Woodbridge team.
I must admit before the game started I was  little worried about Woodbridge. They are one of the only teams who try to play the game properly instead of the kick and run game. They have very skillfully players and been together for a few years so I knew we had our work cut out for us. At the start of the game both teams were trying to keep the ball instead of giving it away, it was quite nice to see finally. Both teams were creating chances and both keepers were playing great. The Strikers were able to score two goals off beautiful build ups. Going into the half we were up 2 - 0.
One thing I believe in is, "we attack as a team and we play defence as a team". In the second half Woodbridge took the play to us and we never played a team defensive game. They were able to beat us on  1 v 1 battles and just wanted the game more overall. Our keeper Nicole played great and kept us in the game but she never got any help. Woodbridge was able to score three goals in the second half to win the game and teach our girls a valuable lesson which is, you need to play the whole sixty minutes and not just thirty. Games are won and lost in the last 10 minutes of the game and that's what happened to us. We didn't play a complete team game and we were beat by a team who wanted it more. I believe this game will be remembered as the one that got away and to grow as a team and to become a great team, games like this need to be had. You can only learn from your mistakes and this game was a great learning experience for young team.



Thursday, August 12
When Your Hot Your Hot
All I have to say is WOW! As a coach I am able to tell if player will have a good game or bad game by the way they walk to the field. With this game being a knock out game there were allot of nervous players at practice. Those same players arrived at the game with the attitude, let's take care of business. In the first 10 minutes you can tell nobody wanted to make a mistake and go down a goal, a very defensive opening 10 minutes. All it took was for us to score one goal to calm the nerves and play good soccer. We had our defence deep in the attacking third of the field supporting the forwards. We had the forwards coming back to our third of the field to support the defence. All six players on the field worked together as one unit and it was beautiful to watch. Our strikers came out flying with Rochelle making great through balls to the wide players and Ishanna tearing up the defence with her speed. Our wide players were getting the crosses through away from the goalie and our defence were keeping the Aurora forwards wide and out of danger. Great game overall by the entire Striker team and congratulations for making it to the Quater-Finals in the League Cup.Overall result was 8 - 0 win for UMSC.

Friday, August 6
There Still Rolling..

First game versus the Toronto Eagles the Strikers won 3 - 2 in a very close hard faught game. This time around it wasn't so hard faught. The Strikers controlled the play almost 90% of the game. There was one break down in the first 10 minutes to have the Eagles go up 1 - 0. That goal woke up the sleeping giants and the Strikers scored four straight goals to win 4 - 1. This time around we didn't need our goalie to make the big saves for us. The defence played great with Kristen playing the whole 60 minutes of the game. Great runs from our defenders down the flanks to join into the rushes. Our midfielders took defenders on and made the through balls into the box. Another great game from the whole team, keep up the great work ladies.
Goal scorers were Ishanna (2) and Rochelle (2).



Monday, July 26
Another Great Preformance
Last game vs Markham was a 2 - 1 loss with a goal given up in the last five minutes to play. Second time around was  0 - 0 tie. This game had it all, great defence, great offensive pressure, great goal tending and wide open soccer. In the first half the Strikers were moving the ball very well from one side of the field to the other. Great through balls given by the strikers for the wide mids to run down and get into a one vs one battles. Our defence shifted perfectly with Kristen and Caitlan playing the middle flawlessly. Our wing backs anticipated the through balls and won all 50 - 50 balls. Great heading by the defence to keep nothing going over there heads. Another perfect game by our keeper Nicole. A complete 60 minutes effort this time around and the Strikers came out with a tie.
It's hard to believe these kids came out of House League last year. If I didn't know any better, I would of thought they been playing rep soccer for years.

Keep up the great work and GOOOOOOOO STRIKERS!

Tuesday, July 20
WOW! What an Outstanding Game
It's one of those games where you say to yourself, I hope Newmarket doesn't run up the score on us. Last game vs Newmarket it was a loss of 7 - 1 and could of been more. Before our second league game against Newmarket you knew by looking at the expressions and the attitudes of every player, it was going to be a different result. The Striker defence were not allowing the forwards to turn and when they did turn they were kept to the outside. Our forwards were taking defenders on down the wing and really challenging a good defence. Newmarkets goalie made some really good saves not to allow the Striker forwards to score. Our goalie came up HUGE when needed for the big save. Newmarket scored with a miscommunication between the two defenders to go up and win 1 - 0 with 10 minutes to spare.
I am pround of all the Strikers with the attitued and effort they displayed in this game. Trust me when I say this "There is something speacial happening here in Unionville".

Sunday, July 18
A Successfull Weekend at the Ajax Tournament But..
The Stikers participated in the Ajax Tournament last weekend and showed pretty well getting better every game that they played. The first game was a 4 - 2 loss against a very good Ajax team. We were not out played and certainly had our chances to win the game but the ball didn't bounce our way and a loss was the end result. The second game was a 2 - 2 tie against Richmond Hill "B". A game the Strikers should of won and were the superior team in that game but the goalie from Richmond Hill played an outstanding game to keep it as a tie game. The third game was a 4 - 0 win against Whitby. The Strikers scored a quick goal in the opening minutes and never looked back. A great game by the team, as they attacked and defended as a unit and were rewarded with a win to show. The Strikers did not advance to the Quarter-Final or did they?
With miscommunication between Coach Markos and a convenor the Strikers assumed they did not advance to the Quater-Final but found out the next morning they did advance and forefitted the Quater-Final game as a no-show.

Monday, July 12
Alot Better Effort Second Time Around
The score was 7 - 0 the last time we played Richmond Hill for a very easy victory. The second time around wasn't so easy for them. The final was 4 - 1 but this was a hard fought win for Richmond Hill. Upto the last 10 minutes it was 2 - 1 with the Strikers pressing for that equalizer. One break down in our end cost us a goal against us and the 4 - 1 loss. This was a hard fought game between both teams and great game to watch. Allot of 1 on 1 battles on the wings and tons of switching of play by both teams. Overall a great game too watch if you were a spectator.
Great effort from all he players. There was no quitting from anyone when we were down by two goals early. I am proud of the work ethic this teams is showing game in and game out.
Good job Strikers!

Saturday, July 10
She Shoots..She Scores
All I have to say is WOW! The Strikers played arch rivals North York Hearts who previously beat the Strikers 2-1 in the Robbie Tournament and 2-1 in an exhibition game. On Tuesday the Strikers faced them for the first time since the Robbie Tournament and came out fighting. NY Hearts went up early in the game before Rochelle placed a love shot in the top corner to tie the game. The start of the second half looked like trouble for the Strikers when NY Hearts scored in the first two minutes of the half. Sure enough Rochelle scores right after there goal to tie the game again. From that moment on the Strikers did not look back. We went and scored five straight goals and gave problems consitantly to the NorthYork Hearts defence for the 7-2 victory. (Goal scores: Rochelle-3, Ashley-2, Ishanna-1, Natasha-1)
Great team play from everyone, especially Jackie who filled in as our goalie and Rochelle for the hat trick.