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T-J Smile: Nicole Buttigieg

Nicole Buttigieg
Patrick Brennan - Times Journal
Nicole Buttigieg: Top Scorer of High School Girls Futsal league

Home Community: St. Thomas
Occupation: Grade 12 student, St. Joseph's High School
Hobbies: Soccer
Favourite Actor: Robert Pattison


Futsal gains momentum

New Game in Town: The sport is compared to playing basketball with your feet and is gaining in popularity at all age levels

Futsal gains momentum
R. Mark Butterwick - Times-Journal
Elgin High School Futsal vice-president Andrew Buttigieg, left and president Tim Fennema have seen great demand for the fledgling league.

Futsal is not soccer. Let’s get that straight right from the start. As the game has evolved over the decades, it’s become more like basketball with your feet. Of course the origins are from the world’s favourite sport, drawn indoors for weather reasons. But, oh, things have changed. Futsal has taken on its own identity as its rules have matured.

Its popularity is growing by leaps and bounds and it has taken a firm hold here in St. Thomas. The London St. Thomas Futsal League offers play for children up to age 14, as well as adults . . . leaving a gap for middle-teens (ages 15 to 17). Enter the Elgin High School Futsal League. The “high school” in its title is strictly there to define the age of the players, as the league has no connection with the Thames Valley Region Athletic Association which governs high school sports locally. This league runs under the direction of president Tim Fennema, along with vice-president Andrew Buttigieg. “I remember when futsal started we would four or five kids in each age group,” Fennema said, recalling the early days of the game here. “Every year it would grow and grow and now we have waiting lists. “The parents love it. The kids love it. The kids that don’t play hockey and the kids that don’t play football in high school, it gives them something to do for next to no money.

It’s awesome for everybody.” Futsal in St. Thomas dominates the gyms at Central Elgin Collegiate Institute and Arthur Voaden Secondary School on the weekend, with games sliding over to St. Joseph’s High School on occasion. It’s CECI on Saturday for the Elgin league’s five games, then CECI and AVSS on Sunday for the London St. Thomas loop’s 17 contests. There are 80 players in the new teen league and about 240 playing on London St. Thomas teams. Add in the 40 youngsters who participate in the instructional group and there are about 360 people currently playing futsal locally.

“The instructional kids, that’s fairly new,” Fennema said. “It’s no organized teams, it’s a lot of four-, five-and six-year-olds who get together at 1 o’clock on Sundays at Central Elgin to play and learn.” Fennema describes the game as basketball with your feet. “You have to keep (the ball) in the boundaries, you can foul out. On a fifth personal foul you’re out. “There are penalty kicks starting at the sixth team foul from the second penalty mark (nine metres instead of the regular penalty kick spot which is six metres). “The goalie crease is pretty much the three-point line.”

While the Elgin league has five boys teams and four girls squads, “people are calling every day to see if they can play.” “We’re coming to the end of the season, there are two weeks left, and every player and every coach is asking if we can keep going,” Fennema said. “We have to have a championship, but the demand has been so big that we’re going to start another league.” The league’s final tournament is set for Dec. 18, but the second season will start Jan. 15, Fennema said. “We’re going to start it up again and I’m thinking there’s going to be more teams.

We use five time slots now, but we can start at 9 a.m. and go on from there all day. “I can see this getting very big, very fast.” Some of that credit, Fennema said, goes to those who have helped get the league off the ground. “People like Gerry Safadi, Bob Luft, Carmen Luft, Gus Karahalios and Norm Dinner have been such a big help.” To join up for the new season or for more information, call Fennema at 519-719-9283 or Buttigieg at 519671-7614. Check the teen league game out today — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Central Elgin — or at the final tournament on Dec. 18.


Teen soccer league starts trial season

The indoor league allows high school kids to play with peers

For those high school soccer players looking for a place to play after the turf season wound down, the search is over. Play started Saturday in the new Elgin HighSchool Futsal League at Central Elgin Collegiate Institute. Organizers say they styled high school as one word to be distinctive. The league follows most of the accepted format for indoor soccer, also known as futsal. Andrew Buttigieg said teams will play on a gymfloor-size playing surface with four players plus a goalkeeper on each side. There is no offside rule on the small playing surface. Teams play with a smaller, heavier ball to minimize the chance of shots floating high. Games are based on two 25-minute halves and a maximum 10-player roster per side. There are other futsal leagues operating in the community, but players there are primarily older.

Teen soccer league starts trial season
PATRICK BRENNAN - St. Thomas Times-Journal
Emily Jennings, centre, of the Titans girls team, controls the ball against Stamps opponents Saturday in Elgin High School Footsal League play at Central Elgin Collegiate Institute. Titans won this match 7-4.

“There was no indoor league for high school students,” Buttigieg said. “If you were a high school student, there was no place to play with your peers.” The league has no direct affiliation with Thames Valley Regional Athletic Association, which organizes sports for Thames Valley schools. For now, there are five boys and four girls teams, although that may change, Buttigieg said. Teams are made up mainly of players from the same school, although a couple of teams have mixed rosters, Buttigieg said. In one case, girls from West Lorne who drive in to play, are grouped with Arthur Voaden players. For the first year, the league will operate until December. “It’s more of a trial season to get the league off the ground,” Buttigieg said. Buttigieg said the league will not use a playoff format, but a one-day championship round.


STSC Competetive Youth Coaching Application 2011 (U9-U12)

Hello Everyone,

The Youth Competitive Soccer Season wrapped up on the weekend with the Challenge Cup in Tillsonburg.  Congrats to Steve Brown’s U13 L6 Boys, Mark Pineau’s U14 L5 Boys and Jeff Jenkins’ U16 L6 girls on their big wins.  Also congratulations to all our other club coaches on making it through another long season.  We’ll have one last day this season with our teams on Sunday at the banquet as we say good bye to summer.  As we close the book on 2010, we must turn our eye towards the Summer of 2011.

I’ve attached coaching applications for next summer and I am just asking those interested in coaching U9-U12 Competitive Teams to complete them and return them to me.  Coaches from the 2010 need to submit applications if they wish to return.  If you were in attendance at our Youth Competitive Meeting a few weeks back you’ll recall that we are exploring the possibility of returning to the traditional model previously used by the club of grouping some of our Youth teams together to create a more competitive atmosphere.  What we know so far is that this will not be happening for teams U12 and below as we’ve designated these teams as important developmental stages for our players.  No final decisions have been made on the age groups of U13 and above.

Things to keep in mind when completing the application;

The application is attached in both a PDF and a Word file.  Both versions can be filled-in and emailed back to me.  This would be my preferred process as I’m trying to save the world, one sheet of paper at a time.  If you are intent on destroying the Earth, you can print it off and mail it to my house at 177 Chestnut Street, St. Thomas, N5R 6A6 or you can just drop it off in my mailbox.  Please disregard the address on the application.  If you are having any troubles viewing the files, please contact me.

Please forward this email along to anyone you think may be interested in coaching for the Club.  If you have any questions, please contact me by email or phone.

Thanks,

Robin Granger
Youth Competitive Chairman
St. Thomas Soccer Club
Cell – 519-636-3738


Premier Cup Final - St.Thomas 1:0 White Eagles

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Champs meet challange

Champs meet challange
St. Thomas SC won the girls' under-16 Challenge Cup this season in the London and District Youth Soccer League. Members of the team, from left, are: front - Aisling Laverty, Jessica Dryfhout, Chelsey Douglas, Brooke Howard, Tiel Pasquarelli, Jessica Rabaey and Taylor Feick-Bardawill; back - coach John Laverty, Arlie MacDouell, Megan Ferris, Samantha Maloney, Kaitlyn Jenkins, Emily Docs, coach Jeff Jenkins. Absent are Kaylie Buck, Emily Dean and Sara Tapsell.


Frustrating season ends with strong show

St. Thomas SC Times-Journal avoids relegation with a 7-2 win over London Portuguese

St. Thomas SC TimesJournal rallied with a strong performance Saturday and scored a season-ending 7-2 win over London Portuguese, avoiding relegation, in Western Ontario Soccer League premier division action at Athletic Park.

7-2 win over London Portuguese
PATRICK BRENNAN - St. Thomas Times-Journal
London Porgtuguese attack St. Thomas SC Times-Journal in a premier division game Saturday at Athletic Park. St. Thomas won 7-2 to wrap up the season.

“To avoid relegation, we have to win to be in control of our own destiny,” said coach John Twinen before the game. “If we don’t win, we have to rely on others.” St. Thomas SC players had no problem living up to their coach’s expectations. Erick Fuentes scored for Portuguese in the first half to give his side a 1-0 lead. St. Thomas captain David Day tied it in the 22nd minutes and Fuentes scored his second at the 25th minute for Portugese. In the second half, it was all St. Thomas, with Joel Twinem, Greg Westra and Kyle Kirby adding the last two goals. “We ended up in seventh place (in the regular season),” Twinen said. “If we were going to end a season that’s been frustrating, that’s the way to do it.”

winning the Premier Cup in the Western Ontario Soccer Leaugue
PATRICK BRENNAN - St. Thomas Times-Journal
St. Thomas SC Times-Journal celebrates winning the Premier Cup in the Western Ontario Soccer Leaugue. Membes are, front row, Adam Legg, Patrick Barnett, Derek LeClair, Jason Andrew, David Day, mascot Hudson Andrew and Kyle Kirby. Back row, coach John Twinem, Jeff West, Wes Vanderlinden, Aaron Wiltsie, Greg Westra, Joel Twinem, Jamie Andrew and John Bosma.

Twinem said the club faced a number of “rough patches” during the schedule. “I think we had the personnel to compete,” he said. The club lost key players early to injury. Matt Aristone was not able to return after a knee injury and Jamie Andrews also struggled with a bad knee. Add to that, James Twinem was able to play but only had limited effectiveness after injuring his foot. John Twinem said with no games left to play, St. Thomas players have not much left to do, except watch to see how other teams hoping to avoid relegation finish. Those still at risk include Chatham Express, Woodstock Soccer Club and White Eagles Soccer Club.


Mugford Tops Fourth East

St.  Thomas Soccer Club scorers finished first and third in thier respective Western Ontario Soccer League divisions this season. Scott Mugford scored 16 goals to win the scoring title in the Fourth Division East. Alonzo Flores came third in the Second Division with nine goals.


Double Champions!! League and Challenge Cup

The St.Thomas U-14 Premier Boys capped off an already fantastic season on Sunday , with a 2-1 victory over Norwest Attack to win the Challenge Cup as well. The boys earned the hard fought victory, when Ryan Pineau broke the 1-1 tie, with just over 5 min. to go. An another outstanding effort by Nathan Milligan in the St. Thomas net preserved the win. The boys also won the league title 2 weeks earlier, winning their last league game and winning the title by 1 point over Norwest Attack as well. St. Thomas finished with a league record of 10 wins, 3 ties and 1 loss.

St. Thomas were also finalist in the Strathroy tournament early in the year and were champions at the St. Thomas Soccerfest, the only local team to win! Outstanding effort all year by St. Thomas.


Premier Women's 2010 Season

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Top of the division

Top of the division
St. Thomas SC finished on top of the First Division this season in the London and Area Women's Soccer League. Members of the team, from left are: front - Lisa Niville, Elise Braam, Jacquie Baker, Sarah Boyer, Dakota Abram; middle - Emily Jones, Carla Campbell, Lauren Halvorsen, Nicki Brown, Kendra Annett, Taylor MacIntyre, Nikki VanderWallen; back - coach Glen Francis, Karly Scidmore, Tara Collier, Danielle Teeuwen, Grace Jones, manager Marcie Simmonds. Absent are Kourtney Koenitzer and coach Jimmy Kalampalikis.


Wild game filled with rallies and lapses

St. Thomas SC Times-Journal comes from behind against White Eagles and almost loses the same way

The rain kept coming down, covering the rock-hard field at Athletic Park with a slippery coat of water.

St. Thomas SC Times-Journal comes from behind against White Eagles
Kyle Rea - Times-Journal
Wes Vanderlinden, right, of St. Thomas SC Times-Journal, competes witha White Eagle for control of the ball during Saturday's 6-4 victory at Athletic Park

But St. Thomas SC TimesJournal’s opponents proved not to be so elusive, despite mounting a late game comeback against the local lads that almost succeeded. In the end, St. Thomas took a 6-4 victory over White Eagles of Nilestown on Saturday afternoon in Western Ontario Soccer League Premier Division play. “It was pretty wild. A 10-goal game is a crazy game. We did some good things, but we had some lapses that shouldn’t have happened,” said St. Thomas coach John Twinem. Things got off on the wrong foot for St. Thomas in the first half. Despite constant pressure by the locals, the White Eagles put two into the twine for a 2-0 lead. As the rain came coursing down, St. Thomas posted a minor rally, scoring with 10 minutes remaining in the half. In the second half, five unanswered goals by St. Thomas would give the locals a 6-2 lead. But in the last minutes of the game, the White Eagles came back to life and scored two goals, making it close again.

“We relaxed a bit too much and they have a strong offence that’s very effective,” said Twinem. Captain Dave Day scored two, Derek Battin potted a pair and Adam Legg and Wes Vanderlinden added one each for the winners. Twinem said a real lift came on a penalty shot. Tied 2-2, Battin dove into the fray and put it into the net — a goal which proved to be the winner. “You have to have goal poachers that get in there and do it,” Twinem noted. The win gives St. Thomas a 5-3-8 record and 18 points, good enough for a sixth-place tie in the division with two games remaining, against Croatia this Sunday and at home to London Portuguese on Sept. 25. “They’re working hard. We’ve just had a season of bad breaks. It’s been a frustrating thing for us,” Twinem said, noting the first half was a perfect example. St. Thomas dominated, yet it was the White Eagles who took a 2-0 lead. Twinem said St. Thomas will face the White Eagles in the Premier Division Cup final early next month. “If we’ve got our bodies there and if our guys are mentally sharp and we’re finishing, then we’re in good shape. The Achilles heel for us, really, is if we’re finishing and scoring.”


Academy caps off ch'ship season

U-17 squad defeats Chatam Attack to maintain stranghold on first place in LDYSL division

Academy caps off ch'ship season
St. Thomas Academy won both the London and District Youth Soccer League under-17 championships and Challenge Cup this season. Members of the team from left, are: front - Brennan Farris, Mark Lynch, Ian Schalk, Joe Esbaugh, Zack Moniz, Cody Gooding, Matt Vandenberg, Aaron Kirk, Devin Cannon, Roge Brooks: back - Gerry Moniz and Paul Gill, Eddy Wiebe, Daniel Barry, Hunter Beamish, Broday Holditch, Chris Kelly, Will Cook, James Fox, Keegan Jebb, coaches Joe Filipovic and Bento Vieira. Absent are Jacob Perfect, Kelvin Van Rijn, Sean Gordon, manager Brenda Gordon.

St. Thomas Academy capped off a championship season recently with a 2-0 win over the third-place Chatham Attack. The under-17 squad put together an 11-game winning streak to start the London and District Youth Soccer League season, leaving the rest of the division behind as they never relinquished first place. Marking their dominance was a Challenge Cup triumph stacked on top of the league title.

The team was sparked by a commanding defence in front of goalkeeper Zack Moniz who registered a league-leading five shutouts. Joe Esbaugh and Matt Vandenberg scored eight goals apiece, while Mark Lynch and Cody Gooding split a dozen. Four other players marked five times each. Coach Joe Filipovic said he and assistants Gerry Moniz, Paul Gill and Jose Bento Vieira were "impressed with the team's dedication and desire to constantly improve throughout the year. We are very proud of the team. The first-place finish is a testament to their hard work."


1st Division Women's Team: 2010 League Champion

1st Division Women's Team: 2010 League Champion
...from left to right:
Front row: Lisa Niville, Elise Braam, Jacquie Baker, Sarah Boyer, Dakota Abram
Middle row: Emily Jones, Carla Campbell, Lauren Halvorsen, Nicki Brown, Kendra Annett, Taylor MacIntyre, Nikki VanderWallen
Back row: Glen Francis (Coach), karly Scidmore, Tara Collier, Danielle Teeuwen, Grace Jones and Marcie Simmonds (Manager)
Missing: Kourtney Koenitzer and Jimmy Kalampalikis (Coach)


St. Thomas captures U-17 Challenge Cup

St. Thomas Academy defeated Middlesex United in a 1-0 victory Sunday

St. Thomas captures U-17 Challenge Cup
St. Thomas Academy won the Challenge Cup with a 1-0 win over Middlesex United. Memers of the team, from left, are: front - Brennan Ferris, Joe Esbaugh, Chris Kelly, Matt Vandenberg, Daniel Barry Mark Lynch; back - Cody Gooding, Devin Cannon, Zack Moniz, Aaron Kirk, Jacob Perfect, coach Gerry Moniz, Sean Gordon, Will Cook, Brodey Holditch, Hunter Beamish, coach Paul Gill, coach Joe Filipovic.

STRATHROY — St. Thomas Academy won the London and District Youth Soccer League under-17 boys Challenge Cup here Sunday afternoon. St. Thomas defeated Chatham Attack in the semifinals on Saturday by a score of 5-2 to earn a spot in the Challenge Cup final. Scoring for St. Thomas were Devin Cannon, Mark Lynch, Aaron Kirk, Joe Esbaugh and Cody Gooding.

Playing a tough Middlesex United team in the final, St. Thomas captured a 1-0 victory as Matt Vandenberg scored a goal in the 75th minute. Goalkeeper Zack Moniz worked in poor weather conditions to keep Middlesex scoreless and recording his fourth shutout of the season.


Academy Wins Challenge

St. Thomas Academy defeated Middlesex United 1-0 in the final of the London and District Youth Soccer League under-17 boys Challenge Cup. St. Thomas reached the final by beating Chatham Attack 5-2 on a handful of goals by Aaron Kirk. Chad Reeb and Erick Standaert replied for Chatham.


On the Attack

On the attack
R. MARK BUTTERWICK Times-Journal
St. Thomas Academy’s Brennan Ferris (12) pushes his attack into the London Athletic Spartans’ box against defender David Best on Tuesday at Athletic Park. St. Thomas had a 2-1 lead at the half, on goals by Will Cook and Mark Lynch, in the London and District Youth Soccer League under-17 contest.


St. Thomas wins 2-1

St. Thomas SC TimesJournal earned a 2-1 victory over Woodstock on Saturday in Western Ontario Soccer League Premier Division play at Athletic park. Derek Battin tallied both goals for the local squad.

This was the team’s best overall performance in some time and will be the impetus for a strong finish to what has been a disappointing season. St. Thomas sits in seventh place with four games to play, in addition to the Premier Cup Championship scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 22. The team has four members selected to today’s WOSL Premier Division allstar game. Goalie Aaron Wiltsie, defenders Jamie Andrews and Adam Legg, and midfielder David Day, will suit up for the 8:30 p.m. match at the Portuguese club.


St. Thomas SC focusing on promotion

A berth in the Western Ontario Soccer League’s First Division is still a target with four games left in the season

Ryan Corby
PATRICK BRENNAN Times-Journal
Ryan Corby of St. Thomas SC dribbles with the ball Sunday against Hungarians in a Western Ontario Soccer League Second Division game Sunday at Athletic Park. St. Thomas won 5-1.

Promotion to the Western Ontario Soccer League’s First Division is so close for Jamie Smith’s St. Thomas SC team, he can almost taste it. Smith’s Second Division team took a step closer to that goal Sunday at Athletic Park with a 5-1 win over Hungarians. “I was pleased with our play today,” Smith said as he watched his squad build a 2-1 lead after the first half and then cruise with three unanswered goals in the second. “We did pretty good today.” It goes without saying Smith would rather stay focused on how to achieve promotion to the First Division next year. With four games left in the season, Smith knows how it can happen.

“We are a way out of first place, but the top two teams get promoted,” he said. St. Thomas is three points out of second place, but as Smith points out, the next three games are against lower-placed opponents. The last game of the season is against second-place Tillsonburg, a team St. Thomas has to beat if promotion is to be achieved. Smith is realistic about his club’s chances. “We have to hope Tillsonburg drops some points in its remaining games,” he said. “Our chances are 50-50.” If the decision gets close enough, a complicated tiebreaking formula that analyses factors like goal differential and head-to-head results would be used by WOSL. Goal scorers Sunday for St. Thomas were Frank Lattanzio with two, Shawn Barrow, Alonzo Flores and Keegan Andrews. Hamed Hosseini had the only goal for Hungarians.


Treena Ferguson leads Premier with 15 St. Thomas SC tops goals races

Two St. Thomas SC players continue to lead the scoring parade as the London and Area Women’s Soccer League season winds down. Treena Ferguson sits atop the Premier Division race with 15 goals, two more than both Heidi Marquis (Germans) and Sarah Regan (Portuguese). In the First Division, Nikki VanderWallen’s 18 goals far outdistance second-place Lia Barkauskas (Scottish) with 10.
Elsewhere in the loop, Nancy Arn (West Lorne) has 14 goals to sit in a third-place tie with Ashley Clements-Woosley (West Elgin), begin frontrunner Racheal D’ariano (Lambeth) in the Recreation West Division.

And, with seven goals, former St. Thomas resident Michele Mommersteeg (Sarnia City) is tied for the scoring lead in the Over-30 Division with teammate Karen L’Heureux and Lori Palsar (White Eagles).


Disappointing loss finishes off great season for Tommy White’s Sports for Sports

St. Thomas SC Tommy White’s Source for Sports ended its season on a flat note Sunday with a 3-2 loss to Sarnia Fury in London and Area Women’s Soccer League Premier Division action at Athletic Park.



Laura Twinem (34) of St. Thomas SC Tommy White’s Source for Sports, fights for ball control against a Sarnia Fury opponent Sunday at Athletic Park during a London and Area Women’s Soccer League game. Sarnia won 3-2.

St. Thomas jumped out to a 2-1 lead at halftime, but could not match the charging Fury offence in the second half as they scored two goals and kept St. Thomas off the scoresheet to earn the win.

Alana Cornet opened the scoring for St. Thomas. The home team stretched the lead to 2-0 when Laura Twinem scored the second goal of the half.

Sarnia kept it close when Jennifer Spinozzi scored her first of two goals, on a penalty kick, after a handball in the goal area.
In the second half, Lisa Gartley tied the game for Sarnia with a goal at the 50th minute and Spinozzi scored the winner at the 60th minute.

The loss represented a disappointment for St. Thomas which hit an emotional high 48 hours earlier by defeating North London Galaxy to win the City Cup.

“It’s tough because they played an emotional game Friday,” said St. Thomas coach Gerry Safadi after the game.
“It almost felt then (Friday) like it was the end of the season,” Safadi said. “Sarnia had a good second half against us.”
The loss finishes off one of the best seasons in recent memory for St. Thomas at 11 wins, three ties and two losses in league play.

Safadi knows, if nothing else, this year’s accomplishments set the bar higher for next year.
The nature of women’s soccer is that roster planning can’t start until late in the spring, he said.
“At the women’s level, you just have to wait for the season to start,” he said.

St. Thomas SC wins City Cup 

The Tommy White’s Source for Sports team downs defending champion North London Galaxy in the final

LONDON — To be the best you have to beat the best.

St. Thomas SC Tommy White’s Source For Sports took down the three-time defending champion North London Galaxy on Friday at the Hellenic Centre to win the City Cup in the London and Area Women’s Soccer League.
North London are also three time defending Premier Division champions and have only tied one game in those previous three years. That 2-2 tie came last month against St. Thomas.

St. Thomas immediately changed the game when they scored just 29 seconds in as Treena Ferguson’s pass sent Tanya Beishuizen in alone and she made no mistake against Galaxy goalkeeper Sarah King.
The rest of the first half saw St. Thomas with the majority of the possession and the better scoring chances, but the score remained 1-0 going into the break. Both teams battled hard in the second half as Beishuizen was sent in alone again, but this time King came up big and made the stop.

Chantal Gordon also had a chance to put St. Thomas up by two, but her shot just missed the net.
With time running out, St. Thomas sealed the victory when Christina Fric controlled a cross and volleyed the ball into the back of the net.

Emily Gillet recorded the shutout for the champions.

 
St. Thomas defeated London Marconi 1-0, German Canadians 4-3 and London Portuguese 2-0 to reach the City Cup final.

St Thomas Premier Women


The St Thomas SC Tommy White's Source For Sports Premier women took on North London Galaxy in the London and Area Womens Soccer League Cup Final. North London are the three time defending League and Cup Champions and have only tied one game in those previous three years. That tie came against St Thomas on July 18. St Thomas opened the scoring 29 seconds into the game as Treena Ferguson's pass sent Tanya Beishuizen in alone and she made no mistake giving St Thomas the lead. The rest of the first half saw St Thomas have the majority of the possession and the better scoring chances but the score remained 1-0 going into the half. Both teams battled hard in the second half as Tanya Beishuizen was sent in alone again but this time NL Galaxy's keeper, Sarah King, came up big and made the save. Chantal Gordon also had a chance to put St Thomas up by two but her shot just missed the net. With time running out St Thomas sealed the victory as Christina Fric controlled a cross and volleyed the ball into the back of the net. Emily Gillet recorded the shutout. St Thomas defeated London Marconi 1-0, German Canadians 4-3 and London Portuguese 2-0 to reach the cup final.

Front Row : Tanya Beishuizen, Laura Twinem, Treena Ferguson, Michelle Fric, Christina Fric, Kim Sawlor, Chantal Gordon, Katelyn Doyle Back Row: Nicole Fitzgerald, Erin Hemming, Nicole Carriere, Niki McDonald, Rebecca Jackson, Alana Cornet, Emily Gillet, Jenny Graham, Shelby Duwyn, Crystal Corey, Gerry Safadi

CITY CUP FINAL

On Friday August 13 at 6:30 pm the St Thomas Premier women's team take on the North London Galaxy team in the City Cup final. The game will be played at the Greek Hellenic club, 133 Southdale Road in London ( just west of Wharncliffe Road ). North London Galaxy have won the League and City Cup championship for the past three years as well as the Ontario Cup championship.

North London has not lost a league game in the past three years. Please encourage your players to attend the game as it should be an exciting final. The majority of the players on both teams are playing college or university soccer in Canada and the USA. The entry fee is $3/player and goes towards the field rental and referee costs. It would be great to have the fan support for the game ( players can wear their game jerseys ).


Second place wrapped up

St. Thomas SC improves to 11 wins with the shutout

Second place wrapped up
Rebecca Jackson, right, of St. Thomas SC Tommy White’s Source for Sports, chases down a Corunna player in London and Area Women’s Soccer League play Tuesday in Corunna. St. Thomas won 3-0 to lock up second place in the final Premier Division standings.

CORUNNA — St Thomas SC Tommy White’s Source for Sports improved their record to 11 wins, three ties and one loss on the season with a 3-0 shutout Tuesday of Corunna. With the win, St. Thomas has wrapped up second place in the London and Area Women’s Soccer League Premier Division with only one game remaining in league play. Treena Ferguson opened the scoring with her league-leading 15th goal of the season in the first half. Niki McDonald made it 2-0 and Laura Twinem rounded out the scoring in the second half.

St. Thomas goalkeeper Emily Gillet recorded her eighth shutout of the season. St. Thomas takes on North London Galaxy Friday in the City Cup championship. The game will be played at the Hellenic Club on Southdale Road in London. Game time is 6:30 p.m. Next up in league play is the season finale on Sunday at home to Sarnia City.

Kickoff at Athletic Park is 4:30 p.m.


Premier Women's team 2010

Premier Women's team 2010


Ferguson up by one goal

Treena Ferguson held a one-goal lead over Sarah Regan in the London and Area Women's Soccer League Premier Division scoring race heading into play last night. Ferguson, of St. Thomas SC Tommy White's Source for Sports, has 14 goals, while the Portuguese leading scorer has 13.

Tuesday's home date with Germans was the last on the schedule for Regan's Portuguese. After last night in Corunna, St. Thomas has one mored ate on the slate, home to Sarnia City on Sunday 4:30 p.m., at Athletic Park.


White’s blanks United

SOCCER: Treena Ferguson leads St. Thomas to a 4-0 victory

Treena Ferguson supplied all the scoring as St. Thomas SC Tommy White’s Source for Sports recorded a 4-0 shutout against London United on Sunday in London and Area Womens Soccer League Premier Division play at Athletic Park. Ferguson scored her first goal 10 minutes into the game and kept up the pace throughout the game with three goals in the second half. She scored one on a penalty kick after a St. Thomas player was knocked to the ground in the London United penalty area by the goalkeeper. Emily Gillet shut out London United in net for St. Thomas, turning away any chances the visitors managed to produce.

White’s blanks United
PATRICK BRENNAN - Times-Journal
Jenny Graham, left, of St. Thomas SC, sprints toward the ball against a London United defender Saturday in a London and Area Womens Soccer League Premier Division game at Athletic Park. St. Thomas won 4-0.

London United, a club that was elevated to the Premier Division this season after dominating the First Division last year, remains mired in last place in the Premier table. Second-place St. Thomas, meanwhile, cannot finish first ahead of London Galaxy in league play, but can win the City Cup later this week, said coach Gerry Safadi. He said it’s unlikely London Galaxy would lose its remaining league games against lower-seeded clubs. “The first half was close,” Safadi said Sunday. “In the second half, London United tired and fatigue then set in.” Next games for St. Thomas are Tuesday on the road against Corunna, and Friday in the City Cup final against London Galaxy, 6:30 p.m., at the Hellenic Centre on Southdale Road in London. They’re right back at it Sunday when Sarnia City comes to Athletic Park for a 4:30 p.m. league hookup.


Chatham tops St. Thomas

SOCCER: St. Thomas plays Sarnia Fury Friday

The frustration continued Saturday for St. Thomas SC Times-Journal as it dropped a 1-0 decision to Chatham in Western Ontario Soccer League Premier Division play at Athletic Park. Bryce Cummings scored the only goal in the fifth minute to give Chatham the win. Chatham keeper Dan Muszalski shut out St. Thomas. St. Thomas pressed hard in the second half generating numerous scoring chances but missed on crossing passes and other opportunities. “We are having trouble buying a goal,” said St. Thomas coach John Twinem.

Chatham tops St. Thomas
PATRICK BRENNAN - Times-Journal
Johnny Morrissey, right, of St. Thomas SC, looks for the ball as teammate Derek Leclair battles Shawn Slade, left, of Chatham, for possession during a Western Ontario Soccer League Premier Division game Saturday at Athletic Park. St. Thomas lost 1-0.

The frustration continued Saturday for St. Thomas SC Times-Journal as it dropped a 1-0 decision to Chatham in Western Ontario Soccer League Premier Division play at Athletic Park. Bryce Cummings scored the only goal in the fifth minute to give Chatham the win. Chatham keeper Dan Muszalski shut out St. Thomas. St. Thomas pressed hard in the second half generating numerous scoring chances but missed on crossing passes and other opportunities. “We are having trouble buying a goal,” said St. Thomas coach John Twinem.


Eyes on the Ball

Eyes on the Ball
Times-Journal

St. Thomas SC's Curtis Prikken, left, fights to get the tackle of Serbia's Zarko Radakovic in Western Ontario Soccer League Second Division action Friday at Athletic Park.


Ferguson getting her kicks

Late arrival has shot at scoring title

St. Thomas SC stars sit atop both the Premier and First division season scoring races in the London and Area Women’s Soccer League. Treena Ferguson, who joined St. Thomas SC Tommy White’s Source for Sports halfway through the season, has scored 10 times and sits in a four-way knot with Kate Johnson of Galaxy, Heidi Marquis of Germans and Sarah Regan of Portuguese. St. Thomas has three games remaining on its schedule for Ferguson to separate herself from the Premier pack. 

Nikki VanderWallen

The first is Sunday, 4:30 p.m., against London United at Athletic Park. Then it’s Aug. 10 at Corunna and the finale on Aug. 15, 4:30 p.m., with Sarnia City visiting Athletic Park. Also on the scoreboard for White’s in league play are Crystal Corey (tied for 7th with five goals), Tanya Beishuizen (tied for 11th with four goals), Christina Fric (3), Niki McDonald (3), Alana Cornet (2), and Rebecca Jackson (2). In the First Division, Nikki VanderWallen scored two goals Tuesday in a 5-1 victory over White Eagles to increase her cushion to seven goals at the top of the First Division scoring parade.

VanderWallen has 15 goals to eight for runner-up Lia Barkauskas of Scottish.


SNAP!

SNAP
KYLE REA Times-Journal

St. Thomas SC Times-Journal goalkeeper Aaron Wiltsie, right, barely misses a goal-scoring shot from Benfica during a Western Ontario Soccer League game Saturday evening.

SNAP
R. MARK BUTTERWICK Times-Journal

East Elgin's Alex Toth, left, battles for control with Matthew LImbrick, of ths St. Joseph's Rams, as the teams playd to a scorless draw in TVFAA South boys soccer.


St. Thomas feels frustration

For the first 20 minutes, things were clicking for the St. Thomas SC TimesJournal in its third match of the season against Benfica.

St. Thomas feels frustration
KYLE REA Times-Journal
Adam Legg, right, of St. Thomas SC Times-Journal, kicks the ball past a Benfica defender during a Western Ontario Soccer League game Saturday evening. St. Thomas was downed 3-0 in the match.

But at the 25-minute mark things began falling apart for the local lads when the London squad scored on their first chance, paving the way for a 3-0 Western Ontario Soccer League victory at Athletic Park. St. Thomas coach John Twinem said the loss was a frustrating one for the St. Thomas squad, which is in seventh place in the Premier Division with 12 points and a record of three wins and three draws against five loses. “It was very frustrating. We’ve been like Jekyll and Hyde all year. We show up great and then we don’t show up at all. It’s a really frustrating thing,” Twinem said. “They’re a good, strong, skillful team, but there’s no question that when we show up and play properly, we play with them.” During Saturday’s game, St. Thomas played well for the first 20 minutes. Afterward, Twinem said, a combination of personnel changes and some mistakes caused a change of momentum.

Around the 25-minute mark, Benfica slid the ball behind St. Thomas goalkeeper Aaron Wiltsie to move up 1-0. “They scored on their first chance and that seemed to deflate us,” Twinem said. “Then it seemed we couldn’t put chances in the net when we did have them. Everything that could go wrong, did.” Benfica would add another tally before the end of the first half and added a third late in the game. Twinem said things just didn’t come together for the squad — players were positioned well but miss-hits with the ball meant passes didn’t make it from point A to point B. “We didn’t defend as well as we needed to and we allowed things to happen in the middle of the pack that we shouldn’t have. But, really, for the most part, it was the failure to move the ball the way we needed to and do it well and properly. We had guys moving into spaces, but we didn’t have balls getting to them.” Twinem said they’ll be working on that ahead of their next match set for this Saturday at 5 p.m. against Chatham at Athletic Park. “We’ll be working on defensive shape and making sure we’re able to focus as far as moving the ball properly and working on our finishing abilities.”


RUNNING AWAY

Charlotte McKillop-Arbuckle of Calgary, formerly of Paynes Mills, gets in her morning run along the water’s edge on a relatively quiet stretch of Port Stanley’s Main Beach on Friday. Arbuckle, an educator, is on vacation to visit with her siblings and her dad, Duncan McKillop, before returning home this week for the start of school.

Charlotte McKillop-Arbuckle
ROBERT CHAULK Times-Journal

Charlotte McKillop-Armbuckle played for the first women's team in St. Thomas during the 70s together with her sister Jane, sister-in-law Carolyn and Mary and Ann Van Kooten


ACADEMY BEATS HEAT 3-1

St Thomas Academy beat the East Elgin Heat 3-1 Thursday in London and District Youth Soccer League under-17 boys play. Mark Lynch, Matt Van Denburg and Joe Esbaugh scored for the Academy boys who hold a six-point lead over the Chatham Attack atop the division.


St. Thomas teams edged out by London

St. Thomas teams reached the final in two divisions, but came up second best in both games at the St. Thomas Soccer Club Select Tournament for girls over the weekend.

For the St. Thomas U-16 girls, it was a familiar situation. Early Saturday morning, the locals went down 2-0 to London United.

When the final for that division came Sunday afternoon, St. Thomas again faced London United.
This time, London United won by only one goal, 1-0, on a shot from close in front of the net in the first half.
The other final involving a St. Thomas team was in the U-11 division, where London Northwest won a 2-1 overtime decision.

In the U-12 final, London defeated Sarnia Southend 3-0. North Middlesex won the U-14 final, with a 1-0 win over Burlington, and St. Catharines shut out Fort Erie 1-0 in the U-13 championship. North Middlesex defeated Burlington 1-0 in the U-15 final. 


James Twinems goal in the 88th minute earns WOSL Premier League draw with AEK

A strong second half lifted St. Thomas SC Times-Journal to a 2-2 tie with league-leading AEK in Western Ontario Soccer League Premier Division play Saturday at Athletic Park.


Both teams scored on penalty kicks awarded for handball infractions in front of the net. AEK went ahead 1-0 at the 25th minute when Paul Arnold scored on a penalty kick. 

They widened their lead to 2-0 at the 35th minute on a goal by Robert Mboko. In the second half, St. Thomas generated shots on the AEK goal and scored its first at the 65th minute when Joel Twinem drilled one home. 

James Twinem scored in the 88th minute on a penalty kick for St. Thomas to tie the game. “We’ve been having a rough season,” said St. Thomas coach John Twinem after the game.

Things started off on a sour note early in the year when James Twinem broke his foot and he just returned to the lineup Sunday. “We settled down in the second half,” coach Twinem said. “We realized that though we were down 2-0, we weren’t 2-0 worse.” Twinem said he adjusted the movement of his midfielders at the halftime break to generate more scoring chances.

 The draw gives St. Thomas a record of three wins, three ties and four losses, putting them in seventh place. “It makes a big difference for us having James in the lineup,” the coach said. “The guys say ‘We just get the ball to his feet and we’re fine.’ ” St. Thomas plays its next game Saturday, 5 p.m., at Athletic Park against Benfica 


Under-16 keeper backs LAWSL 1 WIN

A soft goal and an opportunistic one were the difference. St. Thomas SC put a 2-0 win over Sarnia Ladies on the board Wednesday evening at Athletic Park to strengthen their hold on first place in the London and Area Women’s Soccer League First Division standings. It may not have been the most poetic of matches, but the whitewashing stood out partly because of the headto-head contest between call-up goalkeepers. Brooke Howard, brought up from the under-16 team, kept things tidy at her end of the field for St. Thomas, but Sarnia’s Eleisha Pugsley mishandled both balls that ended up behind her.

“She did awesome,” St. Thomas coach Glen Francis said of his backstop. “We have an under-16 goalie playing senior women and she controlled the back well. I told her that next time we have a problem we’re going to call her up again.” Lisa Niville opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when Pugsley couldn’t cleanly handle her shot from 18 yards out and it tumbled up over her into the net. The single counter stood until the 89th minute. when Nikki Vander Wallen scored her division-leading 13th goal of the season. She was on the spot when the Sarnia keeper could not control a ball on the ground and Vander Wallen easily tucked it home.

“We’ll take it,” Francis said after the contest. “We weren’t sharp in our passing tonight and that’s a frustrating thing for me. In the midfield we passed it well, but I told the girls if we ever make three passes around the goal they can’t stop us. We kept making mistakes. “I think we gave them more possessions than they took possession from us.” The win, though, was huge for St. Thomas as they can now control their own destiny as the season winds down.

“Last year we thought we could finish third then the two bottom teams came in and beat us,” said Francis, “so I’m not going to say anything this year. We’re just going to go in and play hard.”

“If we win the next three games, I think it’s us (in first place).” “It’s time to maintain focus.

“We all remember last year. The last-place team came in and beat us and they were honking their horns and cheering going up hill (heading out of the park). We don’t want to see that again this year.

Next up for St. Thomas is a road game at White Eagles on Tuesday.

Vanderwallen out front

Despite being laid up with ankle problems for a couple of weeks, Nikki VanderWallen continues to lead the scoring parade in the London and Area Women's Soccer League's First Division.

The St. Thomas SC forward has scored 12 goals, which gives her a five-goal cushion over runner up Lia Barkauskas of Scottish. VanderWallen and her mates take on Sarnia Ladies today, 6:30 p.m., at Athletic Park.


VICTORY IN CHATHAM

CHATHAM — St. Thomas SC Tommy White's Source for Sports dumped Chatham 4-1 Sunday in London and Area Women's Soccer League Premier Division action. 

The win improves St Thomas's record to nine wins, three ties and one loss on the season which is good for second place. Rebecca Jackson opened the scoring for St. Thomas in the first half after receiving a through ball from Nicole Carriere. Chatham would tie the score before the end of the half on a goal by Evie Foster.

Crystal Corey restored the lead for St Thomas one minute into the second half and Treena Ferguson added her league-leading ninth and 10th goals of the season in just her fifth game back with St Thomas to round out the scoring. Next on the schedule for St. Thomas is an Aug. 8 game, 4:30 p.m., at home to London United.

 Amanda Dafoe plays for U18 girls and helps in concession


amanda

Name: Amanda Dafoe

Home Comunity: Fingal

Occupation:
Grade 12 student, Central Elgin Collegiate Institute

Hobbies: Soccer, cross-country runing

Favourite Actor: Steve Carell

Favourite movie: Despicable Me


Quick goals shut down Germans

St. Thomas led 2-0 four minutes into a 3-1 victory

An early lift seemed to be the perfect prescription Thursday for St. Thomas SC Tommy White’s Source for Sports.

Quick goals shut down Germans
R. MARK BUTTERWICK Times-Journal
St. Thomas SC’s Treen Ferguson (22) relieves German Christina Strangio of the ball in London and Area Women’s Soccer League action Thursday at Athletic Park. Ferguson scored twice as St. Thomas won 3-1.

Hoping to move into a tie for second place in the London and Area Women’s Soccer League Premier Division with the visiting Germans, St. Thomas put up two quick goals on their way to a 3-1 victory at Athletic Park. When Treena Ferguson’s bicycle kick found the net just one minute into play, it put an immediate spring in the step of the home side. Alana Cornet’s header off a corner kick just three minutes later pushed the advantage to 2-0 and the Germans couldn’t come back. “Usually, we’re a slow-starting team, but tonight we got out really well and moved the ball extremely well,” said St. Thomas coach Gerry Safadi.

There was a bit of a letdown at one point, Safadi said, but his players picked things back up to put the game away. Ferguson scored her second goal on a breakaway in the second half before the visitors countered with five minutes left on their own head ball off a corner. “We’ve played so much soccer, but we had a lot of players tonight. With everybody playing so well, you don’t want to change too much, but you have to.” Safadi is hoping to nudge schedulers to make a bit of an adjustment in the coming slate. “We get two weeks off and then we play like Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, Sunday,” he said. St. Thomas now sports a record of eight wins, three ties and a loss, while the Germans are 9-0-3.


Top coach paces St. Thomas players

Top coach paces St. Thomas players
R. MARK BUTTERWICK Times-Journal
Assistand Czech national coach Ludek Klusacek directs training Tuesday for the St. Thomas SC Times-Journal squad as they prepare for WOSL Premier Division match Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., at London Portuguese.

St. Thomas SC TimesJournal was put through the paces Tuesday by assistant Czech national team coach Ludek Klusacek. The guest coach is visiting a friend in east Elgin and offered to help the local Western Ontario Soccer League Premier Division side with training while in the area.

Last night’s session at Athletic Park was his third with the team and head coach John Twinem was more than happy to have a high-level coach there to work with his players. “For the guys to be exposed to a coach of this calibre and then, on top of that, for him to be as accessible as he is ... he makes the sessions enjoyable,” said Twinem. “He doesn’t view them as lower-calibre football players, and he’s having a good time practising with them. St. Thomas goes on the road against London Portuguese in a make-up game Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., and then hosts firstplace AEK at 5 p.m. Saturday at Athletic Park. 


St. Thomas final-bound

Tommy White’s Source for Sports beats London Portuguese 2-0

St. Thomas SC Tommy White’s Source for Sports is in the middle of a long haul, but still finding ways to win. St. Thomas shook off a sluggish start Tuesday to down London Portuguese 2-0 to advance to the final of the London and Area Women’s Soccer League City Cup.

St. Thomas final-bound
R. MARK BUTTERWICK Times-Journal
St. Thomas SC’s Treena Ferguson (22) works through the defence of Sarah Reagan, of Portuguese, in their LAWSL City Cup semifinal Tuesday at Athletic Park. St. Thomas won 2-0.

As the games pile up, the St. Thomas girls are finding both their legs and their focus tested. The good news, for coach Gerry Safadi is that they are responding. Last night’s win came on the heels of a tough 1-1 draw in regular-season play Sunday with unbeaten North London Galaxy. “Our passing wasn’t good in the first half,” said Safadi. “We had the general idea, but our passes weren’t good and they were able to pick them off.” St. Thomas struck 13 minutes into the second half when Niki McDonald went across field to Tanya Beishuizen who, with Treena Ferguson drawing attention on the far side, drilled the ball over Portuguese keeper Bridgit Wood.

“Moving Tanya up front, she’s got that speed and that certainly helps,” said Safadi. “That gives you one more player to challenge. We pushed her up for a while and she scored right away. Then we brought her back to defend. “She makes a difference because she has that speed and she has an incredibly hard shot as well. She’s been scoring some big goals for us that way. “We took a chance pushing her up, but we were doing fairly well against them defensively and we were trying to shut down Sarah Reagan for their team, a strong forward. We waited until Sarah Reagan came out and that allowed us to push Tanya up and then when we scored we popped her back.”

The second St. Thomas goal was credited to Crystal Corey whose crossing ball went in off a Portuguese defender. St. Thomas gets little rest before taking on the Germans Thursday as the two tussle for second place in the Premier Division. The Germans hold a threepoint edge. “The Germans are a strong team,” said Safadi. “They are going to give another game for sure. I’m hoping we still have some legs left. We’ve played a lot of soccer. “But the nice part is that we get some players back. Michelle Fric should be there and (captain) Nicole Fitzgerald. Those two can play 90 minutes.”

“ With the side shy on players due to injury, vacation and work, Safadi said players that usually come off the bench have done a good job in starting roles. Laura Twinem has admirably filled in full time a centre-midfield, while Shelby Duwyn has been standing tall in the back line. “Players have stepped up,“ said Safadi. “Players who were coming off the bench have been playing 90 minutes and playing well.” The City Cup final will be held at a neutral site, the Hellenic Club on Southdale in London, on Aug. 13. St. Thomas will face the winner of the other semifinal between Galaxy and London United.


Tie for St. Thomas vs. North London

Match between St. Thomas FC Tommy White Source for Sports and North London Galaxy provided excitement for fans

The game everyone wanted to see Sunday between St. Thomas FC Tommy White Source for Sports and North London Galaxy delivered everything that was promised in a London and Area Womens Soccer League Premier Division match at Athletic Park.

Tie for St. Thomas vs. North London
PATRICK BRENNAN Times-Journal
Crystal Corey, of St. Thomas, second from left, shoots on goal in the game between St. Thomas FC Tommy White Source for Sports and North London Galaxy on Sunday at Athletic Park, Defending for Galaxy are Denise Fliesse, right, and Jenna O’Hara, left. Supporting is Treena Ferguson of St. Thomas.

When it was all over, the North London Galaxy, a team that has not lost in three years, and St. Thomas tied 1-1. The game featured sustained action from the opening whistle to the end, and featured a true test of soccer for both sides. Galaxy, a team that has owned the LAWSL Premier Division for several years, scored first at the 35th minute. Kate Johnston, the league’s leading scorer, put one behind St. Thomas keeper Emily Gillet to put Galaxy into the lead. It was a half that saw St. Thomas frustrated on a couple of solid scoring chances. Niki McDonald, for one, was sent in alone on the Galaxy net, but did not score.

In the second half, Treena Ferguson pulled St. Thomas even with a goal from in front of the net. “I think we out-chanced them,” said St. Thomas coach Gerry Safadi after the game. “We had better chances. “The outcome was a fair one. “They had a great first touch on the ball,” Safadi said. Playing against a team that controls the ball smoothly like Galaxy is tough, Safadi said. “Against a team like that, if your first touch isn’t good, they come through and get the ball quickly.” It will be a busy week for the St. Thomas women. Today, they play a City Cup semifinal game against Portuguese starting at 6:30 p.m. at Athletic Park. The other semifinal today has Galaxy at London United. Thursday the London German Canadian Club is here for a 6:30 p.m. game at Athletic Park and, Sunday, St. Thomas visits Chatham, at 3:30 p.m.


Soccer Sport Brief - July 21, 2010

Premier Clash Looms Large

The Germans’ 3-1 win Monday over Marconi lifted them into second place in the London and Area Women’s Soccer League’s Premier Division. Combined with the St. Thomas SC Tommy White’s Source for Sports 1-1 tie with front-running North London Galaxy on Sunday, Thursday’s division game at the Athletic Park takes on extra drama.

The Germans have nine wins and two ties for 27 points, while St. Thomas has seven wins and three draws for 24 points and third place.
St. Thomas can draw even in the No. 2 spot with a victory tomorrow on home turf. Game time is 6:30 p.m.

Academy, Heat Tie 1-1

St. Thomas Academy and East Elgin Heat played to a 2-2 draw Tuesday in London District Youth Soccer League under-17 action at Athletic Park. Cody Gooding and Joe Esbaugh scored for St. Thomas.

Michael Ferguson and Cody Benner marked for Aylmer. Benner’s goal on a penalty kick knotted the score.


Soccer Sport Brief - July 16, 2010

WHITE'S TOPS PORTUGUESE

LONDON — St Thomas SC Tommy White Source For Sports improved their record to seven wins two ties and one loss with a 2-1 win Wednesday over London Portuguese. The win moves St. Thomas into second place in the Premier Division of the London and Area Women's Soccer League Treena Ferguson scored both St. Thomas goals in the first half.

Sarah Regan responded for London early in the second half, but St. Thomas held on for the win. St. Thomas hosts first-place North London Galaxy this Sunday, 4:30 p.m., at Athletic Park.

TIED WITH TILLSONBURG AT 18

St. Thomas SC defeated Tillsonburg 5-2 Wednesday at Athletic Park to draw even at 18 points with their guests in the Western Ontario Soccer League Second Division standings. St. Thomas can take over the division lead with a win in a return match today, 6:15 p.m., in Tillsonburg.


St. Thomas SC left short-handed

The third-place LAWSL Premier Division side has a few players out injured as the season enters its second half.

Six wins, two ties, one loss. Halfway. St. Thomas SC Tommy White Source for Sports opens the second half of the London and Area Women’s Soccer League season on the road Wednesday, sitting third in the Premier Division.

Jenny Graham stretches before practice
Times-Journal
Midfielder Jenny Graham stretches before practice Tuesday at Athletic Park as St. Thomas SC Tommy White Source for Sports prepares to resume the London and Area Women’s Soccer League season. St. Thomas is at London Portuguese Wednesday.

Coach Gerry Safadi would like to be doing it at full strength, but injuries and other obligations leave the side a bit depleted as they travel to London Portuguese. And with unbeaten North London Galaxy hitting Athletic Park on Sunday, even a shorthanded St. Thomas would love to avenge their only loss of the LAWSL season. A big loss is central midfielder Char Passmore, who went down in the opening game of a tournament in Quebec. “It’s a knee injury,” Safadi said Tuesday. “She was just going in for a shot just outside the 18 and another girl went for the ball. They both struck the ball at the same time. Char went in side-foot and the other girl went in laces. And when Char sidefooted the ball, her knee popped. It was just one of the those fluky things. “They had physios there and they took good care of her. He wasn’t sure right way, but he gave the different possibilities. She went to Fowler Kennedy (clinic) and they did the same thing: ‘It could be this, it could be this’ — they weren’t really sure.

So I think it’s just one of those things where she just waits; how much pain can you tolerate, I guess. They’re going to book an MRI, but who knows when you get in for one of those. “It could be just a bad sprain or it could be ligaments, I don’t know.” The potential of losing Passmore for the season is something the coach would rather not face. “She was having the best season she’s ever had. She never played travel soccer as a youth. She came straight to my women’s team. “A few years ago I was short players and I remembered playing her in high school soccer. She was one of the better players at East Elgin. I gave her a call and asked if she’d give it a try. And each year she just gets better and better. She’s athletic, she’s strong physically and she’s having a great start to the season and then a fluke injury.” Also in some question is goalkeeper Emily Gillet, who left Sunday’s win over Marconi with an injury.

Gillet said Tuesday she will go against Portuguese, but whether the problem will flare up again is the question. “She said she developed a little pain in her side just before the game (Sunday) and then, as the game progressed, she was telling me that when she went to punt the ball it would hurt because it was on that side of her body. “She made an amazing save, but gave up the rebound, and a girl came in and (Gillet) dove across the crease and made another save. That aggravated it and that’s when she came out. “I talked to her Monday and she said it was still there, but not anywhere near the pain as she had.” Tanya Beishuizen stepped in for Gillet. “It’s not her main position, but she’s comfortable going in,” said Safadi. “She’s truly a defender, but she’s got great speed, so I put her up front when I can afford to.” The team also starts the second half without captain Nicole Fitzgerald, who is vacationing out east, and defender Katelyn Doyle, who hurt her ankle four games back. Defender Michelle Fric will miss Wednesday’s game because of work.

“But we have a really good First Division women’s team,” said Safadi, “and I’ve been using them as much as I can. And that’s been working out. “I’ve also used Nikki VanderWallen, Kendra Annett, Danielle Teeuwen, Sarah Boyer, Emily Jones. They’re doing well.” VanderWallen is out, though, with a re-aggravated ankle injury.

Looking toward the weekend match with Galaxy, safadi said, “I wish Nicole was around for that game. It’ll hurt us. She’s one of our key players and she’s the leader out there. She usually marks their best striker. She’s fast, she’s strong in the air, she’s physical and very reliable. “With Katelyn out, too, it’s gonna fall on Shelby Duwyn, Tanya Beishuizen, Michelle Fric ... and we’ll do what we can.” A boost up front comes in Treena Ferguson who has just recently returned to the team. “She’s probably the best player in this area. She’ll likely win the scoring title even missing half of the season. She’s that good.” Game time at Portuguese today is 6:45 p.m., while the home game with Galaxy kicks off at 4:30 p.m.


St. Thomas U-14 team emerges on top

By defeating Windsor Caboto 2-1 in the final, they become the first local team to win their division

The boys under-14 team are celebrities in the St. Thomas Soccer Club community these days.

St. Thomas U-14 team emerges on top
PATRICK BRENNAN Times-Journal
Riley McGregor, left and Bleron Xhigolli hold the trophy

They became the first local team to win their division at the annual Soccerfest tournament which wrapped up Sunday after a two-weekend run. The St. Thomas U-14s defeated Windsor Caboto 2-1 in the final at Athletic Park. It represented the first time this year in two weekends a local team had gone all the way. Many teams had come close both in the girls division and the boys. Several St. Thomas teams had advanced through round-robin play, only to be stopped in semi-final games and still others had gone through to the finals. At least one team Sunday was handed a disappointing end to the tournament when they were eliminated in overtime.

But the U-14s, who knocked off LAC Spartans 3-2 in the semi-final to get to the final, achieved their goal. The St. Thomas under11 team came close to a championship, losing 2-1 to the German Canadian Club in overtime. The U-11s got to the final by defeating Windsor Fury in a semi-final playoff. St. Thomas did get to the final in the under-12 division, but lost the final to London United, 6-0. Chatham went home with the under-13 trophy, defeating Windsor Ciaciaro 1-0. Windsor defeated Marconi 1-0 in the under-18 final.


On the Ball

St. Thomas U-17 Soccerfest
PATRICK BRENNAN Times-Journal

Tony Irello, left, of St. Thomas dribbles the ball around a pair of London Marconi players Saturday at the Athletic Park during boys under-17 game, part of the Soccerfest tournament staged by the St. Thomas Soccer Club.


Squad rebounds with big victory

We started strong, we played good possession soccer and got opportunities out of that.” St. Thomas coach John Twinem.

St Thomas rebounded Thursday from a disappointing 2-0 loss to White Eagles last Saturday with a convincing 5 -2 win over London Croatia in Premier WOSL play at Athletic Park.

Squad rebounds with big victory
ERIC BUNNELL Times-Journal
It was all eyes on the ball as St. Thomas defeated London Croatia 5-2 in Premier WOSL soccer Thursday at Athletic Park. The win followed a disappointing loss Saturday to White Eagles.

“There was a commitment to getting focused and doing what we needed to do,” coach John Twinem said. “We regrouped after our last game. “We started strong, we played good possession soccer, and got opportunities out of that.” The loss to the White Eagles was particularly disappointing because St. Thomas ranks above the team in the Western Ontario Soccer League, he said. By the same token, Thursday’s win was all the sweeter because London Croatia leads St. Thomas. “We’re very pleased,” Twinem said.

Thursday’s game was a tale of two halves. St. Thomas dominated the first half of play and built a 4-0 lead on a pair of goals by both David Day and fellow midfielder Derek LeClaire. But in the second half, St Thomas conceded a penalty kick followed by a brilliant header and surrendered two goals within 15 minutes. It took St. Thomas another five minutes to gather itself and reestablish some midfield play. Substitute Derek Battin entered the game and made an immediate impact, scoring the fifth goal and quashing Croatia’s momentum.

The win moves St Thomas back into the Top 4. The next game is a league quarterfinal match at the Marconi Club, 8:30 p.m. July 18.


Academy Streak Now 11

St Thomas Academy picked up another 4-2 win Tuesday against Tillsonburg Titans to extend their unbeaten season to 11 games in LDYSL U-17 action. Joe Esbaugh got Academy rolling scoring twice in the first 20 minutes. Ten minutes later, Mark Lynch got one on a hard shot from 20 yards.

"St. Thomas outplayed the Titans in the first half," St. Thomas coach Joe Filipovic said. "But in the second half, the Titans came alive, starting to play harder, creating numbers of scoring chances and capitalizing on two of them." But Eddy Wiebe scored one for St Thomas with "a nice individual effort dribbling though the Titans defence and goalkeeper." St Thomas's next game is Tuesday in Burford.


T-J Smile: Janus de Bekker

Janus de Bekker
Patrick Brennan - Times-Journal

NAME: Janus de Bekker

HOME COMMUNITY: Central Elgin

OCCUPATION: Pork producer

HOBBIES: Soccer, farming, family, biking

FAVOURITE SPORTS: Soccer, basketball


T-J Smile: Katelyn Doyle

T-J Smile: Katelyn Doyle
Patrick Brennan - Times-Journal

NAME: Katelyn Doyle

HOME COMMUNITY: St. Thomas

OCCUPATION: Second-year nursing student, University of Western Ontario

HOBBIES: Soccer, waitressing

FAVOURITE ACTOR: Rachel McAdams

FAVOURITE MOVIE: Wedding Crashers


Blocking

Blocking
Eric Bunnell - Times Journal

Chris Kelly, left, blocks the ball for St. Thomas Academy in LDYSL under-17 boys action Tuesday at Athletic Park. After leading 4-0 at the half, St. Thomas defeated Middlesex 5-2 to post a 10-game winning streak as the team gets ready for Soccerfest this weekend. Scoring were Aaron Kirk (2), Cody Gooden, Eddy Wiebe, Kalvin Van Rien.


Change of strategy sparks comeback

St. Thomas ties Scottish 1-1

A strong second half earned St. Thomas a 1-1 tie with London Scottish in London and Area Women’s Soccer League first division play at Athletic Park Monday. Things looked grim in the first half for St. Thomas when Lia Barkauskas scored for London Scottish with less than eight minutes played. That wasn’t the end of the bad news for St. Thomas. At the 12 minute mark, goalie Jacquie Baker injured her foot and had to come out of the game. But a pep talk by coach Glen Francis at the half inspired St. Thomas, who came out running after the whistle blew to start the second half. St. Thomas had one goalmouth scramble in front of the London net to earn some shots and later at the 53rd minute, a free kick by St. Thomas put the ball in front of the net. Nicole Brown wasted no time scoring for St. Thomas to tie the game.

“The girls played fantastic in the second half,” said Francis. Down 1-0, he said he made some changes to try and refocus St. Thomas’s game. “I changed our midfield strategy,” he said. Francis said he was worried when his goalie was injured early. Dakota Abram substituted in net for St. Thomas and did not allow a goal. Francis admired her effort, especially since Abram’s normal position is on defence.


T-J Smile: Tim Fennema

Tim Fennema
Patrick Brennan - Times-Journal

NAME: Tim Fennema

HOME COMMUNITY: St. Thomas

OCCUPATION: Program co-ordinator, St. Thomas Soccer Club

HOBBIES: Soccer, golf, futsal

FAVOURITE ACTOR: Angelina Jolie

FAVOURITE MOVIE: Mr. and Mrs. Smith


St Thomas Premier Women lose again in Montreal finals

St Thomas Tommy Whites Source For Sports premier women's team competed at the Laval International Soccer Cup this past weekend. St Thomas opened with a 3-0 win over Mistral Laurentien. Scoring for St. Thomas was Chantal Gordon with 2 and Jenn Spinozzi with the single. St Thomas followed it up with a 5-0 win over Monteuil Rouge et Noir. Goal scorers were Alana Cornet, Jenny Graham, Leah Slamen, Niki McDonald and Chantal Gordon. St Thomas would then win their final pool play game 2-1 to finish first in their pool. Chantal Gordon and Shelby Duwyn were the goal scorers in their final pool play game. The semi-finals saw St Thomas up against Pierrefonds Cobras LM who play in the Quebec provincial league. In a fast, physical game St Thomas came away with a 2-1 win. Niki McDonald scored early in the first half while Shelby Duwyn scored the winner with under five minutes to go. St Thomas would then meet Dollard Dragons in the final. Both teams were physically exhausted after a tough weekend and were tied 0-0 at the end of regulation. St Thomas would lose in penalties to finish second in the tournament for the second year in a row.


Soccerfest - Only one St. Thomas team reaches semifinals of girls tournament

St. Thomas girls teams came close on the first weekend of Soccerfest, but none was able to advance farther than the semifinals.

While no St. Thomas teams made it to the finals, Carmen Luft, Soccerfest co-ordinator for the St. Thomas Soccer Club, said she was still pleased with how local teams competed. “Our teams played well,” she said. Only the girls under-14 St. Thomas team made it to the semifinals, losing to Tecumseh in a shootout. In the open division final, Windsor Caboto shut out Waterloo Wildfire 4-0. In the under-18 final, Southend London defeated London United Thunder 2-1. Brantford defeated Sudbury 3-0 in the under-17 division final. In the under-16 division, Sarnia Bluewater defeated Windsor Caboto 5-0 in the final.

Soccerfest - Only one St. Thomas team reaches semifinals of girls tournament
Patrick Brennan - Times-Journal
Sara Bennet, right, of St. Thomas moves the ball against two Dorchester defenders in a girls under-18 division game at Athletic Park on Saturday during the St. Thomas Soccer Club's Soccerfest tournament for girls teams.

The under-15 final on Sunday proved to be the most exciting match of the tournament. Both London Southwest Storm and Cobourg Soccer Club finished 0-0 at the end of regulation time at Cowan Park. At first, officials ruled the teams would play two 10-minute overtime periods to decide the winner, but when storms threatened, the game was decided by penalty kicks. Only one shooter, a Southwest Storm player, scored of the eight who had attempts, giving the Storm a 1-0 victory. North London Spartans won the under-14 final, defeating Tecumseh 4-2. North London topped the under-13 division, with a 1-0 decision over North Middlesex. Windsor Caboto won the under-12 final, defeating Mississauga 1-0.

Soccerfest - Only one St. Thomas team reaches semifinals of girls tournament
Patrick Brennan - Times-Journal
Chelsey Douglas, 14, left, of St. Thomas under-16 firls slips to the ground in a Soccerfest tournament game on Saturday against London Thunder at Cowan Park. Waiting downfield for the ball is St. Thomas's Aisling Laverty.


U13 girls winner of the Middlesex Invitational tournament

U13 girls winner of the Middlesex Invitational tournament
From the bottom Left Val Lachine and Jordan Beshara, 2nd row Taryn Walker, Ashlyn Humphprey, Emma Orbinski, 
Paige Cannon, Megan Rive, Laura Gregory, Amanda Thiessen,...3rd row Coach Julie Visscher, Shay Ford, 
Reegan Yeoman, Hilary Dautner, Amanda Lerr, Annie Ferguson, Rose Simpson, Gabby Hernendez, Haylie Leblanc, 
Jacqueline Visscher, Manager Pete Thiessen. Winners of the Middlesex Invitational tournament U13 Girls. 


Soccer Sport Brief - June 26, 2010

COMEBACK HEAD VICTORY

St. Thomas SC Times-Journal earned their second consecutive Western Ontario Soccer League win Thursday, which followed a two-game losing streak, with a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Wallaceburg at Athletic Park. On Tuesday, St. Thomas beat Norfolk 5-0 in League Cup play, but they had previously lost one-goal decisions to London Portuguese in the second round of Ontario Cup as well as last Saturday in Woodstock in Premier Division play.

ST. THOMAS LADIES IN QUEBEC

St. Thomas SC Tommy White Source for Sports are in Laval, Que., for tournament action this weekend. The St. Thomas ladies open at noon today against Mistral Laurentian, then go at 5 p.m. against Monteuil Rouge et Noir. Pierrefonds Cobras are the opposition Sunday at 10 a.m., with semifinals going at 2 p.m. and the final at 5 p.m.


Heads-up Play

St. Thomas SC's Laura Twinem
R. Mark Butterwick - Times Journal

St. Thomas SC's Laura Twinem gets a head on the ball in the first-half LAWSL City Cup action Thursday at Athletic Park. After failing behind 3-0 at the half, St. Thomas stormed back with three goals in the final 10 minuts by Rebecca Jackson, Tanya Beishuizen and Nikki VanderWallen, to send the game to extra time. VanderWallen scored five minutes in to give St. Thomas 4-3 win and move them into the semifinals.


It’s girls’ turn at Soccerfest

Divisions from under-11 to open

Seventy-eight teams. One hundred, forty games. Nine titles. All in two days. The second leg of the 34th Soccerfest goes this weekend with the women’s side of the event, which draws better than 2,000 people to the city over two weekends each year. With the boys’ and men’s tourney in the books already, the girls, in classes from under-11 to open, will be plying the pitches at Athletic Park, Cowan Park and Central Elgin collegiate institute. Action starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at Athletic Park with games in the under17/18 group lifting the lid on the two-day affair. Play continues through Sunday afternoon finals in each of the groupings with the last one kicking off at 6 p.m. in the under16 category.

St. Thomas Soccer Club is fielding teams in all the youth schedules. The largest class is the under-14 girls as 16 teams will be playing for the championship. Soccerfest has operated for years under the direction of Carmen Luft, who will be running things out of the field house at Athletic Park.


Academy Now 9-0 on Year

St Thomas Academy extend their unbeaten record to nine games Tuesday night in Strathroy by beating Middlesex United 2-0 in London District Youth Soccer League under-17 boys action. Zack Moniz pick up third shutout of the season. Matt Vendenburg got St. Thomas on board in the 23rd minute with a hard shot from 20 yards out. The teams battled hard through the second half with St. Thomas creating lots of scoring chances, but not finishing them off, said coach Joe Filipovic, until the 87th minute when Brendan Ferris manged to split the Middlessex defence, dribble around the keeper, and make the score 2-0 for St Thomas Academy. St. Thomas's next game is Tuesday, June 29, at 6:30 p.m. when Middlesex visits Athletic Park.


St. Thomas tops Corunna

Two goals each by Christina Fric and Crystal Corey helped St. Thomas FC cruise to a 6-0 shutout over Corunna in London and District Women’s Soccer League Premier Division play Sunday at Athletic Park Fric scored the first goal for St. Thomas in the 12th minute and her team never looked back St. Thomas led 2-0 at the half and added four more in the second. Alana Cornet and Nikki McDonald scored the other St. Thomas goals as the club improved its record to four wins and two ties.

 St. Thomas tops Corunna
PATRICK BRENNAN Times-Journal
St. Thomas FC's Changal Gordon, right, works the ball past Corunna's Robyn Dunn in LAWSL Premier Division action Sunday at Athletic Park. St. Thomas won 6-0 to remain unbeaten.

Emily Gillet recorded her fifth shutout of the season in net. St. Thomas leads the league in fewest goals against this year. “We created tonnes of scoring chances in our other games,” said St. Thomas coach Gerry Safadi. “Today, we finished them.” St. Thomas plays the Germans at Athletic Park on Thursday in the quarterfinals of City Cup play. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. This weekend, the team will be playing in Montreal in the Laval Cup.


Pass it on

Vanessa Johnson, left, works on her passing while Nicole Fitzgerald supervises at one of the skills competition stations Saturday hosted by the St. Thomas Soccer Club at Athletic Park. Players had the chance to earn points and qualify for a certificate.

Pass it on
Patric Brennan - Times Journal


Recent Photo Galleries

Premier Division Men Cup

View pictures from Sarnia vs St. Thomas game.


Premier Division Men Cup

View pictures from Benfica vs St. Thomas game.


Second Division Men Cup

View pictures from Portuguese vs St. Thomas game.


Fourth East Division Men Cup

View pictures from Scottish vs St. Thomas game.


First Division Women

View pictures from Marconi vs St. Thomas game.


Premier Division Women

View pictures from Marconi vs St. Thomas game.


President's Cup Winners - St. Thomas

President's Cup - St. Thomas


St. Thomas wins 5-0

Working on tired legs from their President’s Cup victory on the weekend, St. Thomas SC still had enough to blank the White Eagles 5-0 on Monday at Athletic Park. R. MARK BUTTERWICK Times-Journal The whitewashing gives St. Thomas five wins against one loss as they sit atop the London Area Women’s Soccer League First Division standings. St. Thomas created some early chances but it wasn’t until the 39th minute that they managed to solve White Eagles goalkeeper Sarah Tobola.

Nikki VanderWallen broke the goose egg and then came right back three minutes later, to make it 2-0 with a shot from the right side that went in off the left post. Seven minutes into the second half VanderWallen upped the count again as she wove her way up the middle of the field to break in on Tobola. Emily Jones got in on the scoring parade in the 65th minute as she converted a feed from the left wing, and then Krista Ferguson topped things off with three minutes remaining with a pretty pick of the bottom left corner.

St. Thomas wins 5-0
R. Mark Butterwick - Times Journal
St. Thomas SC’s Kendra Annett drills a ball into the box against the defence of White Eagles’ Shawna Malone on Monday at Athletic Park. St. Thomas won 5-0.

Jacquie Baker turned in the shutout performance behind the St. Thomas back line. “Tonight’s game was a little slow-going because we played in the President’s Cup tournament on the weekend that we won in Sarnia,” said St. Thomas coach Glen Francis. “We beat Chatham 1-0 in the final and now we have seven games in five days, so we used a lot of substitutions tonight. “ The girls took a long time to get going and you also have to give their goalie credit because at the beginning she stopped everything.” Francis said his midfield was “working very well tonight with their passing and moving the ball to the wings.”

St. Thomas is back in action Wednesday as they travel to Ingersoll for a 7 p.m. game.


Soccerfest 2010 Logo


London St. Thomas Futsal League: League and Play off champions

Toaster Feet
Toaster Feet (Men: Play off champion)
Back: Jamie Andrews, Derek Battin, Rob Freeman, Dave Coleman
Front: Josh Hearns
Absent: Adam Legg, Daniel Abel, Matthew Aristone

Knock Outs
Knock Outs (Women B: Play off champion)
Front row: Jodi Lale Middle row: L-R Lindsay Pasma, Jessica Younker, Jen Hogan, Kate Zylstra
Back Row: L-R Cheryl Purvis, Carrie Miron, Jenna Lynch, Jen Maxwell

Red Devils
Red Devils (Women B: League champion)
Bottom: L-R Jaymee Thomas, Rebecca Sawyer, Kate Moss, Simran Auklah
Back: L-R Megan Ferris, Dave Penz, Jessica Penz, Arlie Macdouell, Rich Montag, Tanner Montag
Absent: Moira Milcz

Blue Angels
Blue Angels (Men: League champion)
Back: Curtis Langley, Frank-Robert Lattanzio, Ben Elvidge, John Langley, Jamie Smith, Jim Kalampalikis.
Front: Chris Aviss

Offside
Offside (Women A: League and Play off champion)
Back: Carla Campbell, Lisa Niville, Deb McLeod, Marcia Beaudion
Front- Melinda Jones, Joanne Vandenberk, Krista Ferguson


Titans open with 2 wins

SARNIA, Ont. — Central Elgin’s Lady Titans ripped off a pair of victories Thursday as the OFSAA AA soccer championship began at Veterans Field. The No. 1-seeded Titans opened with a 4-1 win over Windsor L’Essor. Sarah Weinstein, Randi-Jo Francis, Maddie DeVries and Niki McDonald had goals for Central Elgin. In their second game, Central Elgin put up another 4-1 win, this time over Oshawa Donevan. Francis scored twice, while Rebecca Jackson and DeVries added singles.

Abbie Clunas and Maddie DeVries shared the goalkeeping duties for the Titans. “Defensively we played really well today,” said coach Gerry Safadi. “We moved the ball extremely well, so we created a lot of chances in both those games. “The kids were playing well, moving the ball defensively, we didn’t give up many chances. If we keep playing like we’ve been playing there’s a good chance that we can make the quarterfinals.” Central Elgin finishes pool play today against Guelph Bishop Macdonnel and Espanola FrancoOuest.


Soccer Sport Brief - June 10, 2010

MOVING HEAD ON IN CITY CUP

It took a little extra time, but St Thomas SC Tommy White's Source For Sports defeated London Marconi 1-0 Tuesday in the first round of City Cup action in London. The game between the two London Area Women's Soccer League Premier Division teams had St. Thomas outchance Marconi by a large margin, but they could not find the back of the net in regulation time. Overtime would decide this game as Jenny Graham's shot seven minutes in found the back of the net for the golden goal win. Keeper Emily Gillet and the St. Thomas defence put up their fourth shutout in five games. St. Thomas will now host the German Canadians in quarter-final City Cup action on Thursday, June 24, 6:30 p.m., at Athletic Park.

ACADEMY EDGES HEAT 2-1

St. Thomas Academy picked up another win Tuesday night against East Elgin Heat with a score of 2-1 in London District Youth Soccer League under-17 boys play. Cody Gooding opened the scoring for St. Thomas in the 25th minute with an excellent individual effort, beating two defenders and capitalizing on his own rebound. In the second half, St. Thomas pressured the Heat, and after many chances, Hunter Beamish buried a cross from Joe Esbaugh. East Elgin managed to score a late goal from a scramble in front of St. Thomas goal keeper Zach Moniz. St. Thomas Academy looks to extend their undefeated record when they play the London Athletics on Tuesday, June 15, at Athletic Park. Kickoff time is 6:30 p.m.


St. Thomas dumps Fury 3-1

St. Thomas SC TimesJournal dumped Sarnia Fury 3-1 Thursday in a game that saw two of the vistors sent off in the second half. Tied in the Western Ontario Soccer League standings heading into the match, St. Thomas upped its record to a win, two ties and a loss early in the Premier Division schedule. Kyle Kirby got St. Thomas on the board scant minutes into the game, and David Day made it 2-0 before Denver Spierman got Sarnia within one at the break. Fury discipline broke down in the second half as one player was sent off 21minutes in and a second was gone six minutes later when he threw a punch while the ball was live in the box.

St. Thomas dumps Fury 3-1
R. Mark Butterwick - Times Journal
St. Thomas SC Times-Journal goalkeeper Aaron Wiltsie flies over Sarnia Fury attacker Colby Bucci to secure the ball Thursday in WOSL Premier Division action at Athletic Park. St. Thomas struck for an early goal and went on to win 3-1.

Wes Vanderlinden converted the resulting penalty kick to make it 3-1. Coach John Twinem was satisfied with the result and with recent changes the club has made. "We were much more settled today than we have been in the past two games," said Twinem.

"We've ... been trying to get the ball settled on the ground, move it around well, make sure we are finding space. It changed our distribution patterns a little bit and we changed the way people are moving defensively so we are cutting off the easy play for the other team. It's just a matter of thinking, talking, settling down and doing things more effectively than we have been."


Rams split on Day 1 at OFSAA

Medal games go Saturday at the University of Windsor

WINDSOR, Ont. — The St. Joseph’s Rams split their two games on opening day Thursday at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations AA boys soccer championship tournament. The Rams got out of the gate with a 1-0 win over Bradford Holy Trinity on the strength of a goal by Ben Moniz yesterday morning at MicMac Park. In their noon hookup with Toronto Archbishop Romero, the Rams played even with their speedy foes on the field but Romero made the best of their chances in a 3-1 win.

It was Moniz again taking care of the scoring for St. Joseph’s. Today’s action has the Rams playing Oakville St. Thomas Aquinas and Essex to wrap up pool play. The top two teams from each pool advance to elimination play today. Medal games go Saturday at the University of Windsor.


Rams ride on excitement of come-from-behind win

St. Joseph’s is seeded No. 2 in the province after its WOSSAA triumph

With the excitement of their WOSSAA championship still ringing in the halls of St. Joseph’s High School, the Rams have a loftier goal. St. Joe’s is scheduled to open the OFSAA AA boys soccer tournament this morning against Brantford Holy Trinity and is hunting for big things at the three-day championship. The No. 2-seeded Rams are looking to add the provincial title to their TVRAA South/East and WOSSAA AA crowns.

St. Joseph's Rams
Times-Journal
St. Joseph's Rams show off a good-luck banner, signed by St. Joes's students, before heading off Wednesday for the OFSAA AA boys soccer championship tournamnent in Windsor. Members of the team, from left, are: front - manager Franny Kavcic, Jamie Fox, Matt Limbrick, , Mike Wheeler, Mark Lynch, coach Andrew Buttigieg, Zach Moniz, Devin Cannon, Joseph Esbaugh, Jalen Marchand; back - coach Gus Karahalios, manager Carrie McNorgen, Manager Celinach Carrier, Ben Moniz, Matt Fragiskatos, Tim VanRijn, Chris Kelly, Nick Hicknell, Josh Groot, Spencer Vinet, Daniel Barry, Travis Waite, Shawn Barrow, Peter Kavcic, coach John O'Neill.

St. Joe’s didn’t give up a goal in winning the league championship, beating the Woodstock St. Mary’s Warriors 2-0 and then the East Elgin Eagles 4-0 in the final. At WOSSAA, the Strathroy Holy Cross Centurions fell 3-1 to St. Joe’s before the Rams pulled a come-from-behind triumph in the title match against the Lord Dorchester Beavers. “We were down 3-0 early to Dorchester and the boys had to realize that the game is 90 minutes long,” said St. Joe’s coach Gus Karahalios. “We needed to keep doing what we do — play strong defence and have the defence create opportunities for the midfielders and strikers. We like to take our chances, get lots of shots and crash the net looking for rebounds.”

That 90-minute focus paid off as the rams scored three late goals to win 4-3. In order to prevail at OFSAA, Karahalios said "we need to be patient, keep our focus and play with discipline." Josh Groot is an active goalkeeper who "keeps us in every game," said Karahalios, "and Tim VanRijn scored five goals at WOSSAA so he’s hot at the right time. “Ben Moniz is always a threat. He can be suddenly huge. When Ben is on, I don’t think there’s a defence that can play with him.” There will be no familiarity for the Rams in the tournament. “We don’t know anything about the teams we are playing. We’ve played 24 games this season and zero against our OFSAA competition.” St. Joseph’s also meets Toronto Archbishop Romero today before taking on Oakville St. Thomas Aquinas and Essex on Friday. The medal games go Saturday at the University of Windsor. “It’s seven games in three days to win it, so it’s very demanding,” said Karahalios, looking at the three-day grind.


Focus on Youth

Times-Journal

The soccer season is underway, but it’s not too late to register your child for house league action. Joyce Rose, St. Thomas Soccer Club house league coordinator, said there are some spots available in the league this season, which kicked off May 4 and wraps up in August.

“There are openings in some age groups right now,” she noted, adding players can only register if there’s an opening.

In all there are 122 teams this spring and summer, consisting of children age four to 18 – similar numbers to last year, Rose said. Games are played at the Central Elgin Soccer complex located just north of Regional Mental Health Care, St. Thomas.

Children are divided into nine divisions based on age. For the U 4-7 teams, Rose explained the game scorers and standings are not tabulated. It only matters on Aug. 7 when those age divisions have a house league wrap-up day, complete with face painting clowns and plenty of fun.

Focus on Youth

“I try to put the two strongest and two weakest teams together to make it a fun last day game for them.” For the remainder of the divisions, scores are kept and first, second and third place are awarded at a similar wrap-up soccer day on Aug. 14. “They’re more competitive at that age.”

For players that are extra competitive, there’s a Select soccer tournament on July 24 – she explained – coaches from the older teams pick their best players and assemble a Select team for that age category to compete in the tournament. With so many teams, and group of young, eager players ready to take the field, Rose said “Things are looking very good for the upcoming season.” The best thing about house league soccer? “It’s having fun playing with the friends they get to meet. The exercise is awesome, too,” Rose enthused, adding it’s also a chance for parents to meet each other and socialize while their children have a blast.

For more information, call 519-631-3450.


Titans force to be reckoned with at OFSAA

Central Elgin Titans are ranked No. 1 going into the OFSAA AA girls soccer championships in Sarnia

The Central Elgin Titans head into the OFSAA AA girls soccer tournament today wearing a big target.

Titans force to be reckoned with at OFSAA
contributed
The Central Elgin Titans are ranked No. 1 going into the OFSAA AA girls soccer championship tournament beginning today in Sarnia. Members of the team, from left, are: front — Abbie Clunas; kneeling — Kayla Fulford, Kendra Annett, Chantal Gordon, Olivia Thornton, Rebecca Liberatore, Maddie Devries, Randi-Jo Francis, Sarah Boyer; standing — coach Gerry Safadi, Niki McDonald, Victoria Houghton, Temma Robbins, Sarah Weinstein, Amanda Dafoe, Erin Kope, Maddie Homewood, Rebecca Jackson, Kristen Fulford. Absent are coach Ed Perl, Courtney Allen, Kelsey Carroll.

The Titans have drawn the No. 1 seed at the provincial championship and will be looking to make it stand up as the three-day event unfolds on the pitches at Veterans Field in Sarnia. Coach Gerry Safadi’s squad has strength throughout the lineup, starting with confident goalkeeper Abbie Clunas and moving out to steady midfielder Kendra Annett and cunning striker Randi-Jo Francis.

And though Francis can score in bunches, the Titans aren’t without a finishing touch elsewhere as attackers such as Chantal Gordon and Niki McDonald can also finish well. It’s a well-discplined team that will jump on mistakes. The Titans have Windsor L’Essor and Oshawa Dr. F.J. Donevan today as pool play begins, and continues Friday against Guelph Bishop Macdonnell and Espanola FrancoOuest. Eliminations continue through medal games Saturday.


Soccer Sport Brief - June 4, 2010

EAGLESBRIEFS HEAD PUT UP LOSS, WIN

WINDSOR, Ont. — The East Elgin Lady Eagles are off to a 1-1 start at the OFSAA AAA girls soccer tournament at the end of play Thursday. The WOSSAA AAA champs lost their opening game 2-1 to Milton Bishop Reding with Averi Nooren scoring the lone goal for East Elgin.

In their second matchup, the No. 4-seeded Eagles blanked Windsor Catholic Central 2-0 on goals by Katherine Barrie and Holly Scherer. East Elgin continues today against sixth-seeded Whitby Father Leo J. Austin, and then finishes off pool play vs. Mississauga Iona Catholic.

ACADEMY EDGES CHATHAM

CHATHAM, Ont. — St. Thomas Academy edged the Chatham Attack 2-1 Wednesday in London and District Youth Soccer League under-17 boys play. Cody Gooding and Joe Esbaugh scored first-half goals that stood up for St. Thomas, despite a late goal by the host side on a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box.

It was the second straight decision over Chatham as St. Thomas prevailed 3-0 last week at Athletic Park. Gooding, Mark Lynch and Matt Vanderburg scored in that one, with Zach Moniz getting his second shutout. St. Thomas Academy's next game is Tuesday, 8 p.m., against the East Elgin Heat in Aylmer.


Scorpions Unbeaten

St. Thomas SC Scorpions are unbeaten in three starts to open the London District Youth Soccer League under-10 girls season. Haley Agius scored the lone goal in a 1-1 tie with Middlesex in the opener. Haley Presant and Fiona Neill played well in goal, limiting Middlesex to a late goal, with the help of some great defensive play from Kaitlin Ellery, Chloe Tustill and Natalie Lampman. In their second contest, St. Thomas travelled to Lambeth and won 4-2. Reeghan Cincelli was a key component allowing only one goal in the first half of the game in goal and adding two goals herself in the second half. Sophie Feairs dominated the midfield, while Lexus Clarke and Holly Thomson pitched in with one goal each. Jaylin Wismer secured the win with many good saves in the second half.

On Thursday, St. Thomas erupted for seven goals after a couple of tremendous saves by keeper Tiffany Johnston in the first half to beat the North London Lasers 7-1. Cincelli and Pyper Olver both had a pair of markers. Lexus Clarke, Agius and Presant added singles. Skye Black wreaked havoc from the striker position, setting up a couple of goals. Lampman posted a shutout in the second half with help from the defensive trio of Neill, Wismer, and Tunstill. St. Thomas is back in action June 10 at Norwest London.


VanderWallen Leads Way

Nikki VanderWallen scored twice Monday as St. Thomas SC dumped Marconi 6-0 in London Area Women's Soccer League First Division play at Athletic Park. Emily Jones, Grace Jones, Lisa Niville and Kendra Annett also marked for St. Thomas. Jacquie Baker was unbeatable in goal. Next up for St. Thomas is a First Cup game Thursday, 7 p.m., against Nairn at Athletic Park. Division play resumes June 6 at Sarnia Ladies.


Premiers Triumph 2-0

LONDON, Ont. — St, Thomas SC Tommy White's Source For Sports blanked the previously unbeaten Germanbriefs Canadiansbody 2-0 here Tuesday in London Area Women's Soccer League Premier Division action. briefsFirst halfbodygoals by Christina Fric and Niki McDonald gave St. Thomas the victory with Emily Gillet providing shutout goal keeping. briefs body St. Thomas now sits in first place in the division with two wins and a tie. They briefs host body Chatham on Sunday, 4:30 p.m., at Athletic Park. In first-round City Cup action, St. Thomas goes to Marconi on June 8, 8:30 p.m. The winner will host the Germans on June 24, 6:30 p.m.


St. Thomas Premier 0 - Sporting Benfica 0

On thursday night the St Thomas Times Journal Men's Premier team battled its way to a 0 - 0 draw with London Sporting Benfica at the Portuguese club. St Thomas played its first game since losing leading scorer James Twinem to a broken foot and was still without starters Wes Vanderlinden, Matt Aristone and Derek Leclair. Further straining the depth of the team was the loss of rookie striker John Bosma to injury early in the first half following a reckless tackle from a Benfica defender. However, despite the rash of injuries, St Thomas still frustrated the Benfica attack. Goalie Aaron Wiltsie made 3 fantastic saves over the course of the game to cover for the rare instances where team defending broke down. Unfortunately, the St Thomas attack couldn't provide the quality finish needed to break the tie. In the end, both teams settled for a scoreless draw and were pleased with their efforts.

Next on the schedule is a road trip to Chatham on saturday, June 5 for a 6 00 kickoff. By then, Vanderlinden and Leclair should both return to the starting 11.


CECI bound for OFSAA

TILLSONBURG — It was a dramatic day for Central Elgin Collegiate Institute Lady Titans when they travelled to Tillsonburg to compete in WOSSAA AA soccer playoffs. Central Elgin met Strathroy Holy Cross in a morning game but despite having a huge edge in chances, they found themselves down 1-0 with 10 minutes left in the game. That’s when Chantal Gordon scored a game-tying goal directly off of a corner kick to force 20 minutes of extra time in which Randi-Jo Francis scored two goals to give CECI a 3-1 win.

Kendra Annett
Chris Abbott - QMI Agence
Central Elgin's Kendra Annett, right, races Rachel Veenstra of Holy Cross for the ball during Friday's WOSSAA AA semifinal in Tillsonburg.

CECI met West Elgin Sencondary School in the final with the winner advancing to OFSAA. CECI got two early goals from Randi-Jo Francis to give them a 2-0 win. CECI will now go to OFSAA in Sarnia from June 4-6. CECI outscored their opponents 28-4 over the course of the playoffs.


Rams boys champs

TILLSONBURG — A stunning briefs four-goal body second half Friday powered the St. Joseph’s Catholic High School Rams boys briefs soccer body squad to the provincial championships. The local lads beat Lord Dorchester secondary school 4-3 in a close-fought game at WOSSAA in Tillsonburg. “It’s amazing. We’re very proud of our boys. They played like champs today and they deserve this,” said co-coach Gus Karahalios.

Ben Moniz
Chris Abbott - QMI Agency
St. Joe's Ben Moniz catches up to a through ball for a clean shot on net during Friday's WOSSAA AA fold medal soccer game in Tillsonburg. St. Joe's won 4-3 on the strenght of four second-half goals.

The Rams were down 3-0 at the start of the second half. “Our boys were going to give up,” Karahalios noted. But after a pep talk, the boys pulled themselves together and stormed back onto the field, nabbing a goal within the first 10 minutes and never looking back. Three goals in the last five minutes allowed St. Joe’s to power past the Dorchester soccer squad for the win. Tim Van Rijn scored three, including the winner, with Matthew Limbrick adding a tally as well. Earlier in the day, the boys downed Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, Strathroy, in a 3-1 match. Van Rijn nabbed two goals and Matt Fragiskatos a single to take the win. “We’re celebrating right now,” Karahalios said from the field in Tillsonburg, but noted the lads are prepping for their trip to OFSAA boys soccer provincial championships in Windsor next week. The team leaves June 2 with games running June 3-5.


East Elgin Eagles vs Stratford

East Elgin Eagles vs Stratford
Scott Wishart - QMI Agency
Stratford St. Michael Warriors Rebecca Wilker and East Elgin Eagles Tina Marleau battle for the ball during the Eagles' 1-0 semifinal win in a WOSSAA AAA senior girls championship soccer in Stratford Friday.


Early goal holds up

Tanya Beishuizen’s fourth minute strike is enough for St. Thomas to down Portuguese

Christina Fric
Patrick Brennan - Times-Journal
Christina Fric (10), of St. Thomas, moves the ball upfield Thursday as Andrena Meechey (13), of Portuguese, moves in to defend. St. Thomas and Portuguese met at Athletic Park in a London and Area Women's Soccer League premier division game, the home season-opener for St. Thomas. In the background is Michelle Fric (8), of St. Thomas.

Tanya Beishuizen scored the only goal of the game to lead Tommy Whites Source for Sports St. Thomas to a 1-0 win over Portuguese in London and Area Women’s Soccer premier action at Athletic Park Thursday.

Nikki Vanderwallen
Patrick Brennan - Times-Journal
Nikki Vanderwallen (3), left, and Christina Fric (10), right, of St. Thomas chase the ball while Stepanie MacKay (12), of Portuguese, defends in London and Area Women’s Soccer League premier division game Thursday at Athletic Park.

Not only did St. Thomas cash in on Beishuizen’s goal at the fourth minute, they relied on the goaltending of Emily Gillet who earned the shutout. It was St. Thomas’s season home opener. St. Thomas’s record now is one win and one tie after two matches. Next game for the team is June 1 in London against the German Canadian Club.


Eyes on the Ball

Rebekah Fecteau
Robert Chaulk - Times-Journal
Norwich Knights Rebekah Fecteau, left, pushes aside Arthur Voaden Vikings Carley Norman to chase the ball during their challenge cup soccer game layed at the Athletic Park, St. Thomas Wednesday.


St. Joe’s bound for WOSSAA

The Rams head to WOSSAA Friday after defeating East Elgin Secondary 4-0 on Wednesday

St. Joe’s Rams Alfonso Coto
Robert Chaulk - Times-Journal
St. Joe’s Rams Alfonso Coto, right, boots the ball away from East Elgin’s Andrew Difazio during their TVRAA South final match played Wednesday at Athletic Park. Rams emerged the victors with a 4-0 win.

The St. Joseph’s High School Rams boys soccer squad are on their way to WOSSAA following a 4-0 victory over East Elgin Secondary School on Wednesday in St. Thomas at Athletic Park.

Two goals by Spencer Vinet, one by Jamie Fox and another by Tim Van Rijn powered the Rams to victory in the TVRAA AA Southeast championship.

“It was pretty decisive. We just seemed to play a solid defensive game,” said co-coach John Neill. He noted the game was 1-0 at the half. “We just seemed to dominate the second half . . . We’re ready for WOSSAA.” St. Joe’s heads to WOSSAA on Friday.


Ingersoll, St. Thomas tie opener

A late second-half goal earned St. Thomas a 2-2 tie with Ingersoll Saturday in Western Ontario Soccer League Fourth Division East play at Athletic Park. Diego Bernal gave Ingersoll a 1-0 lead with a goal in the seventh minute. St. Thomas rallied to tie it in the 27th minute when Ben Earhart scored.

Nate Hutchison scored for Ingersoll in the 67th minute. St. Thomas tied it up in the 80th minute on a goal by Dan Groeneweg. It was the first regular season game for both teams. The next game for St. Thomas is Friday on the road against Norfolk.

Ingersoll, St. Thomas tie opener
Patrick Brennan - Times-Journal
A St. Thomas player, right, moves the ball out of his zone Saturday in a Western Ontario Soccer League fourth division east game at Athletic Park. Defendin is an Ingersoll player. The two teams played to a 2-2 tie.


Heart Breaking Loss

Alonzo Flores
Kyle Rea - Times-Journal
Central Elgin Titan Alonzo Flores, right, vies witha player from Lord Dorchester Secondary School in hte boys soccer AA challenage cup at CECI on Friday.

Barret Johnson
Kyle Rea - Times-Journal
Central Elgin's Barret Johnson tries to evade a Lord Dorchester player in a boys' AA Challenge Cup games at Central Elgin on Friday. The Titans led 3-2 with about a minute remaining, thanks to three goals by Thomas Yurek. But a last-minute goal by Lord Dorchester sent the game to overtime and, eventually kicks where the local lads lost 5-4. Michael Coates scored the penalty kick goal for Central Elgin.


Women Tie Opener

LONDON, Ont. — A goal in the last minute of play led to a 1-1 tie Friday between St. Thomas and Marconi in London and Area Womens' Soccer Premier division action at Marconi Field. Joelle Middleton scored for Marconi to tie the game in the first regular season match for both clubs. Earlier, Niki McDonald scored for St. Thomas. The next game for St. Thomas is Thursday, 6:30 p.m. against Portguese at Athletic Park.


St. Thomas Men Lose

LONDON, Ont. — A goal in the 80th minute gave AEK London a 1-0 victory over St. Thomas in Western Ontario Soccer League Premier division play Friday at the Hellenic Centre. The goal by James Welch spoiled St. Thomas's chance of upsetting last year's WOSL premier division champions. St. Thomas assistant coach Dave Day said the team played without four regular players. Two were injured and two were serving suspensions carried from last year. St. Thomas lost Jamie Twinem to injury when he broke his foot after being slide tackled. It was the first regular season league game of the year for both teams. Next game for St. Thomas is Thursday at the Portuguese Centre in London against Benfica.


St. Thomas bullish facing AEK

It only took three games, and four days, for the St. Thomas SC Premier soccer team to make it to the Western Ontario Soccer League Cup finals.

St Thomas facing AEK
Kyle Rea - TIMES JOURNAL
St. Thomas Premier soccer club player Alfonso Coto, left, practises fancy footwork with partner John Bosma as the local squad prepares for its season-opening Western Ontario Soccer League game against AEK on Friday in London.

And they’ll get a chance to prove what they’re made of again on Friday when they face AEK for the first time after losing to the London, Ont. team in the Premier division league semifinals last September. But with six new players and boasting a deep lineup both defensively and offensively, the squad is optimistic about its chances for the coming season which it opens Friday on the road at the Hellenic Centre in London. “I think we’re going to be a very good team. Our goal is to win the league and we’ll certainly compete for that,” said captain David Day, returning to the helm for a third year. “We’re deep this year,” noted coach John Twinem. “We’re strong in the back lines. This year we’re just a little bit stronger.”

The team got their season off to a good start with a Premier Cup tournament in Tillsonburg last weekend. A 6-2 win over the Chatham Express on Thursday coupled with a 2-0 shutout against London Benfica and a 3-2 victory over the Sarnia Fury earned the local lads a spot in the Premier Cup final in late September. “We’re really pleased with it. It’s a great start and we’ve been scoring goals since the start of the season and things have begun very well. We have a couple of guys who are injured who are really going to add to the lineup when they’re better,” said Twinem.

Day said the decision to pick a cup contender so early should free up some game nights for rescheduled games. And they’ve got a season to build and improve over last year’s results, a 1-0 loss at the hands of AEK last september. Last year, offence was an issue — while St. Thomas only allowed 11 goals last year, it took five games before the squad scored a goal. By piling on the practices, and making sure they’re well attended, as well as exhibition games, Day figures they should be able to turn that right around. And if last weekend’s scoring blitz of 11 goals in three games is any indication, it’s working. “We’re off to a good start. If we can sustain any kind of offensive attack, we’ll get that result because the strength of our team is still defence,” said Day.

As for Friday’s game versus AEK at the Hellenic Club in London, Twinem knows it’ll be a good one. St. Thomas enters the match as underdog. “They (AEK) are always one of the stronger programs,” he said. “We always have a good game against them. What distinguishes us, we work for each other as a team. The guys have a real determination to fight for each other. AEK typically has their hands full with us and we go in there determined to beat them.”


East Elgin

East Elgin

East Elgin's Madison Derrough, left, maintains control of the ball from St. Joe's Rams' Sydney Lockwood during their TVRAA South soccer semifinal at East Elgin Secondary School Wednesday. East Elgin advanced to the final with a 3-0 win over the Rams.


Rams edge Titans

It was a really good game. I thought my girls played very well.” St. Joseph’s coach Marco Melito.

Soccer squads from St. Joseph’s High School and East Elgin Secondary School will move on to face their East division rivals Friday.

Rams edge Titans
Robert Chaulk - Times-Journal
St. Joe’s Rams goalie Kaela Pineo, left, kicks the ball away as East Elgin’s Tina Marceau crashes into her during their TVRAA South semifinal game at East Elgin Secondary School Wednesday. East Elgin advances with a 3-0 win over the Rams, ending their season.

That’s after the Rams boys soccer squad and the Eagle girls team, respectively, advanced after winning their Thames Valley Region Athletic Association South division semifinal games yesterday. A 3-0 semifinal loss versus East Elgin Secondary School in Aylmer on Wednesday brought an end to the season for the St. Joseph’s soccer girls. Despite the loss, coach Marco Melito was pleased with the game. “They were wonderful (East Elgin). It was a really good game against a really good team. I thought my girls played very well and much improved over the first time they played East Elgin.” He noted two goals scored in the second half were on corner kicks “Both were absolutely lovely goals.”

On the boys side, the Central Elgin Collegiate Institute Titans and Rams stood at a stalemate after regulation and neither side had scored heading into the second overtime. But when St. Joe’s player Peter Kavcic was left alone in the centre, he didn’t hesitate to seal the deal, giving the Rams a 1-0 victory. “This is the second time we’ve played them and they knew exactly what they needed to do,” said coach Gus Karahalios, who praised the Titans for a hard-fought game. Patience was the key for St. Joe’s he noted. “Central Elgin played a very good defensive game. They marked our players the way they should. It was very evenly matched game, lots of respect for both teams. In the end it was a one-shot difference.”

In other semifinal action, the Central Elgin Collegiate Institute girls downed West Elgin 5-2 to advance while the East Elgin boys soccer squad advances after a 1-0 victory over Parkside Collegiate Institute. On Friday, the boys from St. Joe’s and East Elgin as well as PCI and East Elgin girls are off to a South and East cross-over game, that pits winners of the South division verses victors from the TVRAA East. St. Joe’s will take on either Norwich District High School or Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute while the Central Elgin girls await the winner of the IDCI versus Glendale SS match. Both East Elgin boys and girls soccer squads await the outcome of games pitting Lord Dorchester Secondary School versus St. Mary’s High School of Woodstock. Results of the East division games were not available at press time.

Rams edge Titans

South and East divisional finals for each league are set for next Wednesday with WOSSAA to follow a week from Friday.


Eye on the Ball

Eye on the Ball
Robert Chaulk - Times-Journal

St. Joe's Ram Spencer Vinet, front, outpaces Central Elgin Titan Kyle Norton for the ball during their TVRAA semifinal game at St. Joe's High School Wednesday.


Rams sweep into semifinals

St. Joseph’s High School will be at the Thames Valley Regional Athletic Association soccer playoffs in force Wednesday.

Rams sweep into semifinals
Robert Chaulk - Times-Journal
Arthur Voaden Viking Jake Fuller, right, holds Central Elgin Titans Mark Fletcher as he controls the ball during their TVRAA South quarterfinal Monday at Central Elgin Collegiate. Central Elgin defeated Voaden 7-3.

St. Joseph’s Rams swept a pair of quarterfinal South division playoff games Monday to earn the right to advance to East Elgin for the semifinals. In the girls game, Sydney Lockwood and Ally Payler scored for the Rams as they shut out the Glencoe Gaels 2-0. Amanda Benati earned the shutout for St. Joe’s. In boys quarterfinal action, St. Joseph’s defeated Glencoe 6-0. Scorers for the Rams were Alfonso Coto, Joseph Esbaugh, Jamie Fox, Nicholas Hicknell, Ben Moniz and Tim Van Rijn. Josh McLaren stopped all Glencoe shots to earn the shutout. At Central Elgin, the girls beat Parkside 9-0. Randi Jo Francis scored four for Central Elgin, while Maddie DeVries added three goals. Nikki McDonald and Rebecca Liberatore each scored one.

Courtney Allen and Abi Clunas split the goaltending assignment to shut out Parkside. In the boys game, Central Elgin defeated Arthur Voaden Vikings 7-3. Roge Brooks scored twice for Voaden and Adam Mote added one more. Goal scorers for Central Elgin were not available. Central Elgin girls face the West Elgin Wildcats in a semifinal Wednesday in West Lorne at 2 p.m. At Parkside, the Stampeders boys team defeated West Elgin 2-1. Scorers for Parkside were Chris Bodo and Greg Lyle. Ryan Leys scored for West Elgin. The Stampeders and Central Elgin meet in a semifinal Wednesday.


Premier Men's Team reaches Final Cup competition

Premier Men's Team - Second Round

The St. Thomas Men's Premier team won its second round premier cup match on saturday morning with a 2 - 0 decision over London Benfica. David Day and James Twinem each scored second half goals while goalie Aaron Wiltsie earned the shutout. Youngsters Joel Twinem and John Bosma continued to show that, despite being boys among men, they will be major contributors to this year's team.

The team will play the winner of London AEK vs. Sarnia Fury in the semi-final match, which will take place at 3 30 on sunday in Tillsonburg.

Premier Men's Team - Quater and Semi-Finals

The Premier Men's soccer team concluded its weekend of soccer with its third win in 4 nights. With wins over Chatham express and London Benfica the team advanced to the Premier Cup semi-finals where it played Sarnia Fury who upset tournament favourite London AEK on saturday afternoon. The 3-2 victory on sunday secured St. Thomas a spot in the Premier Cup final, which will be played in late september.

James Twinem opened the scoring in the first half, his 4th goal of the weekend. Defender Paco Barnett was rewarded for his strong play with a penalty shot opportunity, which he calmly finished to give the squad a 2-1 lead. However, Sarnia managed to tie the game at 2 in the game's final minutes and forced extra time. But only minutes into the extra session forward Kyle Kirby deceptively slithered his way through Sarnia's defense and added a clever near-post finish for the 'golden goal'.

Next on the schedule is the first league game friday at 8 pm at the Hellenic club in london to face defending league champion AEK.


 

The Men's Premier soccer team opened up their 2010 campaign with a 6-2 victory over Chatham Express on thursday night. For the first time in WOSL history the division cups are being played in a tournament format over the course of a weekend rather than distributing the games throughout the season, except for the final games, which will be played at the conclusion of the regular season in September. All games for all division cups are being played at the Tillsonburg soccer complex.

Thursday's rain filled game remained scoreless for about 20 minutes before St. Thomas scored 4 goals in a 5 minute span. David Day opened the scoring and then Derek Leclair replied. James Twinem and Frank Robert Lattanzio added two goals each to round out the scoring.

With a 6-0 lead some early season complacency led to 2 goals against to spoil the strong defensive outing that was present for most of the game. With the victory St. Thomas moves on to face London Benfica at 10 30 AM on Saturday.

Summary:

Men's Premier Division Cup, round 1.
St. Thomas Premier vs. Chatham Express (location Tillsonburg, Thurs, May 14)
Score 6 -2
Goal Scorers (Day, Leclair, James Twinem (2), Frank Lattanzio (2)


St Thomas Academy Wins 2-1

St Thomas Academy picked up their second win Tuesday evening in Tillsonburg 2-1 over Tillsonburg Titans on a cold, rainy day. Having a hard time controlling the ball on a slippery field, St. Thomas’s Hunter Beamish got the team on the scoreboard after receiving a nice pass from Mark Lynch at the 20-minute mark. In the 45th minute, the referee awarded a penalty to Tillsonburg for a hand ball within the penalty box creating the opportunity for the Titans to tie the score. St. Thomas regained control for the majority of the second half, but had a difficult time breaking the tie. Within the 85th minute Matt Vanderburg landed one from outside the 18-yard box in the Titans’ net, winning the game. St. Thomas will play next on Friday against Middlesex United at Athletic Park.


Soccer Sport Brief May 11, 2010

TITANS, RAMS DRAW 2-2

The Central Elgin Titans and St. Joseph's Rams played to a 2-2 draw Monday in TVRAA South girls soccer play at CECI. Maddie DeVries and Erin Kope marked for the Titans, while Lindsay Vanderspank and Caitlyn Dunseath, on a penalty kick, scored for the Rams.

VIKINGS TIE 1-1 WITH GAELS

GLENCOE, Ont. — The Arthur Vaoden Vikings and Glencoe Gaels played to a 1-1 tie here Monday in TVRAA South boys soccer. Jake Fuller scored for the Vikings, while Kam Gabison replied for the Gaels. In the girls game, Glencoe won 5-2, with Carly Norman and Damaris Moxley marking for the Vikings.


Rams rally to hand Titans first loss

R. MARK BUTTERWICK Times-Journal Ben Moniz

The St. Joseph’s Rams were under control Monday and, come the end of the game, they were in control as well. The Rams came back from a goal down to hand the Central Elgin Titans their first loss of the TVRAA South boys soccer season yesterday, 2-1 at CECI. The visitors carried the play in the early going and tested Titan goalkeeper Brock Dautner, who made some big stops to keep the game scoreless. It was the opportunistic Titans, however, who broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when Tom Yurek worked his way clear in the box to put one behind St. Joe’s goalkeeper Josh Groot. But the advantage didn’t last long as Mark Lynch sent Ben Moniz away in the 36th minute and the powerful front-liner got in tight on Dautner to score.

Rams rally to hand Titans first loss

After the break, it was Moniz again who potted the eventual game-winner, one-timing a pass from Jamie Fox who had penetrated the right wing in the 53rd minute. Rams coach Gus Karahalios was pleased with the discipline his charges displayed in the contest. “We played a very patient game for 90 minutes,” he said. “We fell behind early and we stuck to our system. Our players played with ultimate control today. They didn’t lose control and that was very important in the end. “The second goal was a good example. The players were patient, distributed the ball nicely and Ben Moniz was able to capitalize and that put us ahead for good. “Central was able to take advantage of their opportunities early in the game. Their goal was a beautiful shot. So we wanted to be careful on defence. We were really marking up (Alonzo Flores) and (Tom Yurek).

We wanted to make sure we had some of our stronger defenders on them and, at the end of the day, we got a favourable result. “We’ve been working on our position on the field. I think we took away some of their space and they gave us a lot of space and we were able to maintain possession. “Central’s a very good team and they’ve had a wonderful start to the season. You never know. We might run into them again in a couple of weeks (in the playoffs).”

In other action, the East Elgin Eagles beat the West Elgin Wildcats 5-1 in West Lorne. League play continues Wednesday with the Rams visiting the Glencoe Gaels, while Central Elgin plays East Elgin at the Saxonia Hall field in Aylmer, and the Arthur Voaden Vikings host the Parkside Stampeders at Athletic Park. All games are at 3:45 p.m.


Soccer Sport Brief May 8, 2010

ST. THOMAS DUMPS BURFORD

St. Thomas Academy dumped the Burford Blizzard 12-1 Tuesday to open their London District Youth Soccer League under-17 boys season. Hunter Beamish scored five mm-utes into the game and Joe Esbaugh marked four minutes later to get St. Thomas out quickly. Burford got one back before the half, but then St. Thomas exploded for 10 goals after the break. Matt Vandenburg and Devin Connon finished with three goals each, while Beamish added a second, and singles were tacked on by Kelvin Van Rijn, Sean Gordon and Aaron Kirk. In other action, St. Thomas defeated Oakridge 5-1 in under-13 boys play, and the St. Thomas under-13 girls beat St. Marys 6-2.

LADY EAGLES PUT UP SEVEN

Sammy Vansevenant and Holly Sherer scored two goals apiece Thursday as the East Elgin Eagles blanked the Arthur Voaden Vikings 7-0 in TVRAA South girls soccer action at Athletic Park. Averi Nooren, Tina Marceau and Laura Twinem also marked for the Eagles.

RAMS TIE WITH STAMPEDERS

The St. Joseph's Rams and Parkside Stampeders played to a 1-1 draw in TVRAA South boys soccer action Thursday at PCI. Ben Moniz scored for the Rams. St. Joseph's won the girls game, but the final score was not available.

WILDCATS SWEEP GAELS

GLENCOE, Ont. — The West Elgin Wildcats swept a TVRAA South soccer doubleheader from the Glencoe Gaels here Thursday afternoon. Stephanie Leys scored three goals to power the West Elgin girls to a 4-1 victory. Emma Wilkins rounded out the scoring for the Wildcats. In the boys game, West Elgin stopped the Gaels 4-2 with Robert Johnston, Ryan Leys, Alex Nolan and Jason Carroll counting for the Wildcats.


East Elgin keeps undefeated record - Eagles beat Voaden 2-0

R. MARK BUTTERWICK Times-Journal

Two halves, two goals and another win for the East Elgin Eagles. The 2-0 victory over the Arthur Voaden Vikings on Thursday at Athletic Park gave the Eagles three wins and a tie in the TVRAA South boys’ soccer league.

Dealing with the determined Viking defence proved as much a test for the Eagles as it has Voaden’s previous foes, but the two-goal win is the widest margin of victory this season over AVSS.

Craig Irvine scored what proved to be the winning goal in the first half. Irvine picked a throw-in from Ian Barrie out of the air and found the top, right corner of the Viking goal. That single tally stood until Tony Ierullo upped the count for the Eagles, deflecting Cody Benner’s free kick into the bottom, right slot.

The Eagles head into tournament play today in Tillsonburg before resuming league action Monday, 2 p.m., in West Lorne against the West Elgin Wildcats. The Vikings are hosting their own tourney today, with 15 teams joining them at Athletic Park. They get back into TVRAA play in Glencoe at 3:45 p.m. Monday against the Gaels.


Nooren scores twice helping Eagles beat Rams

The East Elgin Eagles made use of a wicked wind Thursday to score three first-half goals on their way to a 5-0 win over the St. Joseph’s Rams in TVRAA South girls’ soccer action.

Eagles beat Rams
R. MARK BUTTERWICK Times-Journal

With the wind whipping out of the south at St. Joseph’s Alumni Field, Cassie Crawford, Tina Marceau and Averi Nooren all scored for the Eagles in the first half against the less-experienced Rams. Kira Cornelissen made it 4-0 for the visitors before Nooren scored her second goal of the game in the final minute.

Caitlyn Duffy put up the shutout for East Elgin. The next test for the Eagles is a 3:45 p.m. home game Tuesday against the Parkside Stampeders. The Rams are off until Thursday when they travel to Glencoe for a 3:45 p.m. matchup with the Gaels.


Rams and Eagles battle each other, and the elements

Big wind. Sound defence. No score. No win. A point apiece. “Let’s do it tomorrow.” The St. Joseph’s Rams and East Elgin Eagles played to a scoreless draw Thursday in a wind-blown TVRAA South boys’ soccer match at Alumni Field. again, With both teams working hard on defence in the face of brisk conditions, the result wasn’t as tough on the teams as the cold south wind was on the faithful fans scattered in the bleachers.

And as scheduling would have it, the two sides go at it again Friday in tournament play in Walkerton. While the Eagles were unable to score with the wind at their backs in the first half, the big test came in the second half after Cody Benner was sent off with his second yellow card four minutes in.

A man down and fighting the wind against the press of the St. Joe’s offence, the visitors threw up a defence that gave up little ground to the Rams. “It’s an excellent result for being on the road,” said East Elgin coach Doug Lusk. “I think St. Joe’s is a class team and probably one of the best in our league. To come into their park and go nil-nil . . . we’ll take the draw and go home happy. “We’ve been working in practice on marking up our man properly and playing defence. We know we lack a little bit in scoring so we have to play solid in the back. And today we did our job. I’m happy with that.”

St. Joseph’s coach Gus Karahalios said, “We were able to hold on in the first half. They came at us pretty hard, but we came out of the first half 0-0. “We really tried to push them in the second half, but they dropped everybody back when they got the red card. Their strategy was kinda to dump the ball a little bit and give our guys less opportunity on the ball. “They’re a very good team. East Elgin is always very competitive. You have to capitalize on the opportunities they give up and, unfortunately, we didn’t do that.

At least we got that one point today. “So now we’re going to regroup and go from here.” Going on in league play for the Rams means a road game at the Glencoe Gaels, 3:45 p.m., next Thursday. The Eagles are back at it Tuesday when they host the Parkside Stampeders at 2 p.m. Elsewhere yesterday, the Central Elgin Titans edged the Arthur Voaden Vikings 3-2 at CECI.


Attack Turned Back

Vikings goalkeeperpic
R. MARK BUTTERWICK Times-Journal

Arthur Voaden Vikings goalkeeper Alex Barker reaches out to thwart the attack of West Elgin Wildcat Melanie Ganhadeiro in a TVRAA South girls’ soccer match Tuesday at Athletic Park. The visiting Wildcats whitewashed the Vikings 9-0.


Wildcats escape Vikings defence

Arthur Voaden Vikings stung for a goal in 81st minute

Rob Johnston
Rob Johnston

The West Elgin Wildcats left Athletic Park with two points Tuesday, but it was certainly no gimme.

The Arthur Voaden Vikings gave their guests from West Lorne all they could handle, but were stung for a goal in the 81st minute to suffer their second one-goal setback of the young TVRAA South boys soccer season.

The Wildcats pressed the play through most of the contest, but the Vikings were consistently coming up with defensive answers.

It wasn’t until Rob Johnston scored with about 10 minutes remaining that West Elgin could create a break and get one behind Voaden goalkeeper Josh Brown.

The goal came off a free kick from just outside the box.

“Ryan Leys took the shot, it hit the wall and came onto my foot and the shot opened up,” said Johnston after the game.

While noting Voaden’s “strong defensive line,” Johnston said, “I thought we outplayed them, we just couldn’t find the back of the net. We had opportunities that we just didn’t capitalize on. We weren’t taking smart shots, but we won in the end.”


Francis leads Titans over Stamps

R. MARK BUTTERWICK Times-Journal

Randi Jo-Francis

Scores two early goals as Central Elgin wins 5-1

Looking for chemistry in their first outing of the season, the Central Elgin Titans found a catalyst in Randi-Jo Francis

The Grade 11 forward scored two early goals Tuesday as the Titans dropped the host Stampeders 5-1 at Parkside in TVRAA South girls soccer action. Central built themselves a 3-0 lead with a wicked cold wind at their backs in the first half, as Victoria Houghton also marked for the Titans before the break.

Rebecca Jackson upped the count for the Titans before Parkside got on the board when Danielle Teeuwen’s free kick got through the hands of second-half keeper Courtney Allen. Maddie DeVries rounded out the scoring for Central Elgin.

Titans over Stamps

“We had moments where we moved the ball really well,” said CECI coach Gerry Safadi after the win. “I think the wind made it a little tough moving the ball at times. But it’s early in the season and we did some good things.

“We’re just trying to find positions where we’re going to put players on the field. So, we moved things around and tried to find a little chemistry out there.” Safadi was particularly pleased with the play of one of his first-year backliners. “Kelsey Carroll is one of our first-year players, in Grade 10, defending for us and she did a great job back there. She’s been a pleasant surprise. We didn’t know going into the season that we’d have her playing with us. She’s done really well.”

The Titans are back at it on Thursday when they host the Arthur Voaden Vikings (3:45 p.m.), while the Stampeders head for West Lorne to tangle with the West Elgin Wildcats (3:45 p.m.). Rounding out tomorrow’s action, the East Elgin Eagles visit the St. Joseph’s Rams (2 p.m.).


Yurek pots two to spark Central

R. MARK BUTTERWICK Times-Journal

Thomas Yurek

Wind plays a factor Thomas

Yurek scored the first goal of each half Thursday as his Central Elgin Titans eked out a 3-2 victory over the Parkside Stampeders on the opening day of TVRAA South soccer. On a day when the chilling wind was a significant factor on the plush PCI pitch, Yurek got the Titans out to a 1-0 lead when his blown ball got away from Parkside goalkeeper Steve Malott.

But the Stamps got back even just before the end of the half with Cody Howard beating Titan keeper Brock Dautner. Yurek’s second goal was a quick setback for the Stampeders as he scored on the opening push of the second half, sliding right to left to beat the challenge of Malott. A few minutes later, Alonza Flores managed to break alone out of a bunch in the Parkside box to slip the ball into a gaping net and give Central a 3-1 advantage.

Parkside tightened up on defence and produced some scoring chances of their own, with Reed Stock getting the Stamps within one. Tightly marked on the right flank, he created an opening to lift the ball over the defence and Dautner’s final leap.

In other action yesterday at St. Joseph’s, the Rams nipped the visiting West Elgin Wildcats 2-1. Jamie Fox and Matthew Fra-giskatos scored for St. Joe’s. Mike Johnston replied for the Wildcats. Action resumes Thursday with the Titans hosting the Arthur Voaden Vikings (2 p.m.), the Stampeders visiting West Elgin (2 p.m.) and the Rams welcoming the East Elgin Eagles (3:45 p.m.).


Players Needed

Players needed

Kayla Fulford, right, moves the ball upfield during the practice Saturday at the Douglas J. Tarry Sports Complex for the St. Thomas under-18 girls soccer club. The season begins in May and the team needs more players. For more information, call Keith Fulford at 226-678-1545.


Gillet, Campbell deemed heart and soul Falcons

Fanshawe Athletics: The college’s top female and male athletes led their respective teams – women’s soccer and men’s basketball – to national championship tournaments

By Ryan Pyette, The London Free Press

Gillet, Campbell deemed heart and soul Falcons
Emily Gillet and Manny Campbell give two thumbs up after being named Fanshawe’s outstanding female and male athletes at the college’s 43rd annual athletic banquet Friday night. (Derek Ruttan, The London Free Press)
Manny Campbell helped the offence hum on the basketball court.

Emily Gillet was the last line of defence on the soccer pitch.

Both led Fanshawe College to national prominence in 2009-10 and were named the school’s athletes of the year at its 43rd annual awards banquet Friday night.

Campbell, a third-year guard from Burlington, was the heart and soul of a Falcon’s hoops squad that finished second in the Fanshawe-hosted Ontario championship, earned a wild-card berth nto nationals, nearly upset the top seed Columbia Timberwolves in the first game at Calagary’s SAIT Gym and ended up forth after dropping the bronze-medal game to the same Humber Hawks who beat them at the provincials.

“We had a great year,” said Campbell, a mechanical engineering student. “It didn’t turn out as great as we would have wanted in the end but it was far more successful than our previous years.”

Gillet turned into a shutout machine for the Falcons women’s soccer team. She didn’t allow a goal at provincials en route to gold last fall. At nationals in Toronto, she recorded a shutout in the team’s opening over Mount St. Vincent University, backstopped a heart-stopping penalty kick win in the semis against College Francois-Xavier Garneau before allowing a pair of goals in the national final, a loss to Concordia University College.
Gillet was also part of the Falcon’s provincial indoor soccer title this winter.

“I was shocked when they called my name because cross-country did so well this year I honestly didn’t think I had a chance,” the Catholic Central grad said. “Soccer is a team sport, there is no individuals. I wouldn’t have done so well if I didn’t have such a great defensive team in front of me.”

Campbell earned Ontario first-team West Division all-star status and averaged 10.8 points on a team with an overall 24-10 record.

He wasn’t just a leader on the court. He quietly helped fellow students with peer tutoring and assisted with a One-Run breast cancer fundraiser.

Gillet was in the net while the Falcons racked up an 8-1-2 league record in the fall and named team MVP. She collected the Ontario college indoor championships top keeper award and was the Canadian colleges athlete of the month.

She also maintained a 3.7 grade point average in her arts and science courses.

Volleyball player Michelle Schinkel was named the Jim Matchet memorial scholarship winner as the student who achieved high academic standing and made noteworthy contribution to the Falcons athletics program.
The 22-year old, who came to Fanshawe with little intention of suiting up for the Falcons, ended up team captain in her second year, and balanced part-time work, sports, school and volunteering with underprivileged children in the London community.


Fanshawe women add indoor to outdoor title College Soccer

by Steve Green, The London Free Press

Make it a double for the Fanshawe women's soccer program.

After winning the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association outdoor title last fall en route to a national silver medal, the Falcons have added the  OCAA indoor crown after beating Humber in a shootout in the final, which was a rematch of the 2009 title game, won by the Hawks. The game was 0-0 after regulation and extra time and the Falcons won the shootout, which took nine rounds, 6-5.

The Falcons topped their group with a 2-0 mark after drawing 1-1 with Seneca, blanking St. Lawrence (Cornwall) 4-0 and beating Sheridan 3-1. In  their semi-final, they beat Durham 1-0.

Fanshawe defender and London Christian grad Tanya Beishuizen was named the tournament's MVP - her brother Roy played for the Fleming team that  lost the men's final to Sheridan - Catholic Central grad Emily Gillet was named top goalie and forward Jessica Trejo, a Regina Mundi grad, made the all-star team as the Falcons won gold for the second time in three years after settling for silver last season.

Head coach Martin Painter credited the goaltending of Gillet and Sarah King of Peterborough as main reasons why the Falcons went 9-0-4 this season, including a first-place finish at the West Regional tournament at Vaughan a couple of weeks before the provincials.

"Our goaltenders have a little bit more experience than the rest of the team and goaltending is so important in indoor because the games tend to be  very close and once you get a goal down, it's very difficult to come back," Painter said Monday. "Plus this is a very hard-working team and  while it's a young team, the good thing about young teams is they haven't gotten into too many bad habits yet. It's all about execution ... and  these girls responded really well. Another thing is indoor has an advantage over outdoor in that we have 21/2 months to get ready for the  provincials and you like to be a well-oiled machine by that time."


Equipment Distribution - St. Thomas Soccer Club

St. Thomas Soccer Club equipment manager Joe Filipovic, left, gears up U-15 girls' coach Richard Montag for the coming season. Montag's Red Devils are one of 18 teams St. Thomas fields in the London District Youth Soccer League.


Posted By R. MARK BUTTERWICK, Times-Journal

Michael Filipovic woke up this morning in Brazil.

A town called Amparo, a suburb of Sao Paulo. The 19-year-old St. Thomas man isn't there on vacation. He's there for something far more serious. Filipovic is a soccer player. A goalkeeper, to be precise. And he and three young men from Kitchener are in Amporo to train with the local First Division team.

The son of Joe and Gianna, the 6-1, 180-lb. Filipovic has been playing soccer since age five and is currently with the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks. He played for St. Thomas last season on the Western Ontario Soccer League Second Division team coached by his father. And this isn't his first trip abroad to play the world's game. Two years ago Filipovic went to Bosnia, his father's homeland, where he played the summer with the Orasje team in the First Division. In Brazil, he'll train under Amparo's Gentile Ciappina through Aug. 24 with the Kitchener boys, each a little younger than Filipovic."We're going to be training with the team and then, depending on how we do, we can stay longer," said Filipovic. "It all depends on how we do when we get there. So it's pretty much a trial."

Michael Filipovic
Michael Filipovic packs his gear for a summer playing soccer in Brazil
photo by R. MARK BUTTERWICK, Times-Journal

His connection to the South American soccer giant runs through storied Brazilian coach Bento (Jose Bento Vieira), who was in St. Thomas last year to train young athletes, and Kevin DeSerpa, a former professional player who toiled a season with St. Thomas in the WOSL Premier Division."(DeSerpa) brought Bento to help do some coaching over here and he was also still working as a scout for teams in Brazil.

"In March, he started to tell me he was interested in me, so he worked with me the whole summer ... sometimes we were even practising with him twice a day. Bento kept telling me, 'You can go, you can go.' So I kept improving and trying harder and he decided he was going to send me and the kids from Kitchener."

The thrill of the opportunity to train in Brazil is tempered somewhat right now by his having to leave the family for several months, but Filipovic is "excited and anxious" about the experience. And he's been preparing for it for some time."I've been out of school since the end of the first semester at Laurier, so I've had a lot of time to get myself in the best shape possible. I think I'll be in pretty good shape to compare to those kids who started their season not too long ago."

The only thing that may prove to be somewhat of a stumbling block is that, come the World Cup this summer, Filipovic will be cheering for Italy, mother's heritage, in a country crazed with the always powerful home team."I hope there are some more Italians down there so I'm not in such a minority," he said with a laugh. Bento is returning later this month to join with Joe Filipovic toward the creation of the Brazilian Star Soccer Academy in St. Thomas."We'll be working with a lot of young kids," said the senior Filipovic. "It's good to have someone with the kind of talent Bento has."We're hoping we can develop some talent that we can send to Brazil."


Premier Team

The Men's Premier soccer team opened up their 2010 campaign with a 6-2 victory over Chatham Express on thursday night. For the first time in WOSL history the division cups are being played in a tournament format over the course of a weekend rather than distributing the games throughout the season, except for the final games, which will be played at the conclusion of the regular season in September. All games for all division cups are being played at the Tillsonburg soccer complex.

Thursday's rain filled game remained scoreless for about 20 minutes before St. Thomas scored 4 goals in a 5 minute span. David Day opened the scoring and then Derek Leclair replied. James Twinem and Frank Robert Lattanzio added two goals each to round out the scoring.

With a 6-0 lead some early season complacency led to 2 goals against to spoil the strong defensive outing that was present for most of the game. With the victory St. Thomas moves on to face London Benfica at 10 30 AM on Saturday.

Summary:

Men's Premier Division Cup, round 1.
St. Thomas Premier vs. Chatham Express (location Tillsonburg, Thurs, May 14)
Score 6 -2
Goal Scorers (Day, Leclair, James Twinem (2), Frank Lattanzio (2)



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