The Silhouette sits down with team members from the women's cross country and soccer team to hear how they are celebrating Halloween this year

Many of the Marauder teams have plans to celebrate Halloween together, including women's cross country and women's soccer teams.

The Silhouette sat down with Olivia MacAskill from the cross country team and Ravina Braich and Nikki Pourgoutzidis from the soccer team to hear more about their plans.

The Silhouette: Do you like Halloween? 

MacAskill: I do really enjoy Halloween. I think it’s really fun to show some Halloween spirit around the team and at practice. I think this day also serves as a nice reminder that it doesn’t have to be so serious all the time and we can keep working on getting stronger as a team and put some good work in at practice, all while having some fun with costumes. I am also a strength and conditioning student coach at [McMaster University], and this year I’ve heard word that there will be a costume contest between the coaches and student coaches. I am definitely looking forward to that and I hope my peanut butter toast costume is received well by the judging panel. 

I think it’s really fun to show some Halloween spirit around the team and at practice. I think this day also serves as a nice reminder that it doesn’t have to be so serious all the time and we can keep working on getting stronger as a team and put some good work in at practice, all while having some fun with costumes.

Olivia MacAskill, team member, Marauders cross country

Braich and Pourgoutzidis: We do, we really like to dress up and get candy. 

The Silhouette: What is your Halloween costume this year? 

MacAskill: At practice this year I think I will wear my peanut butter toast costume. There is a matching jam suit to go with it. [They are] a couples costume from Spirit Halloween that I usually convince a teammate to wear with me every year for practice, so hopefully someone steps up with some good Halloween spirit.

Braich and Pourgoutzidis: We are going to be Barbie and the three musketeers, from a Barbie movie, where it's Barbie and her three friends [as the musketeers]. 

The Silhouette: What is your favourite Halloween memory at Mac? 

MacAskill: I remember in first year we had a practice on Halloween, I didn’t wear a costume and I wasn’t expecting my teammates to wear any either. When I arrived to practice, I remember seeing some of the upper year boys dressed in some fun outfits, including a cow costume! Paula, our coach, has also dressed her dog Lily up in some cute costumes over the years and even owns one of those big inflatable costumes as well, which has made an appearance before. After first year, my friends and I always made an effort to wear costumes to the practices that fell around Halloween. In my second year I took the Hawaiian theme approach. . .It seemed simple and an outfit I could easily run in. In the third and fourth year the toast costumes came out. I can’t say this costume is the easiest to run in, but it is definitely the most fun! I think that will be the plan again for this year as well.

In the third and fourth year the toast costumes came out. I can’t say this costume is the easiest to run in, but it is definitely the most fun! I think that will be the plan again for this year as well.

Olivia MacAskill, team member, Marauders cross country

What are you most excited about for your first Halloween at Mac? 

Braich: I’m excited to see what everyone dresses up as and to meet new people this Halloween.

Pourgoutzidis: I’m excited for a floor trick or treating event. Our floor is going to walk around and trick or treat at people’s dorm rooms. 

Photo courtesy of Jojo Yanjiao Qian

With the women’s soccer season underway, the team is likely holding onto the memories of one of their most valuable team members. Recently, players, family members, and the McMaster community lost Joeseph John Valvasori, the previous head coach of the team. After fighting a long battle with cancer, Valvasori passed away this summer. He will be remembered by players and community members alike for his efforts on the field as well as for his ability to touch the hearts of the people around him.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwxbgaWB0Nf/

Anthony Costa takes the field this year as the head coach for the team. As a McMaster alumnus and a decorated former student-athlete, Costa not only has an extensive amount of knowledge on coaching but also of the challenges student-athletes can face. Having learned under Valvasori, Costa seems primed to build off of Valvasori’s contributions to help lead the Marauders to an incredibly successful season.

The maroon and grey finished last year with a record of eight wins, three losses and five ties to make their best record since at least 2014, finishing with a season points total of 29. They used the momentum from their successful season to advance to the final four of the U sports championship, where they played the Cape Breton Capers.

Ultimately, they lost the bronze medal match and placed fourth overall at the tournament. Nonetheless, they made an incredible effort at the U sports championship and look set to improve on their achievements from last year.

They’ve largely kept together the same roster, which is promising for the team as senior players such as Stephanie Roberts and Hannah Chau-Stacey played a big role last year and will be returning. Roberts was named U sports second-team all Canadian last year, the first women’s soccer player in a decade to do so. Part of the reason she accomplished second-team all-Canadian was due to her leading the country in conference goals for the regular season, scoring 14 points in just 16 games.

Another key player, Chau-Stacey, played a big role in her team’s opening game against Windsor. She also notched one of two goals in the team’s win against Waterloo. For her accomplishments in these games, she was just awarded the Pita Pit athlete of the week. Going into her fourth year, Chau-Stacey provides a solid veteran presence and will definitely play a big role this year.

The women’s soccer team opened the 2019-2020 season ranked eighth overall in the nation, a ranking that they hope to outperform as they’ve started out the season with two wins and a loss.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2DHm3PnteW/

One of those wins was also a blowout against the Windsor Lancers in their opening game. The Marauders scored four goals in the first half and one in the second to take the game five to one. Their only loss so far is against the perennially great York University Lions, against whom the Marauders played an away game in Toronto. 

With all of this in mind, the women’s soccer team is poised to have a very deep playoff run as they build off of the accomplishments they achieved last year and hopefully take a shot at gold in the U sports championship.

2018 Women's Soccer Roster

The official 2018 Women's Soccer Roster for the McMaster University Marauders

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Photo by Kyle West

Steph Roberts’ fourth season on the McMaster women's soccer team was nothing short of spectacular. She ended the Ontario University Athletics regular season leading the nation with 14 goals in 16 regular season conference games, adding two OUA athlete of the week awards, an OUA First-Team All-Star nod and U Sports October Female athlete of the month to her accolades on the season.

ICYMI: Stephanie Roberts ⚽️ from @McMasterSports is our U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Month for October!

Stephanie Roberts (@McMasterSports) est l’Athlète Féminin U SPORTS du Mois de Octobre!

EN: https://t.co/qXsXOQ8T8M // FR: https://t.co/3yVb2a6Os3 pic.twitter.com/GG24cKHR1u

— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) 5 November 2018

[spacer height="20px"]But before she was the Roberts McMaster fans know and love, she was the one girl playing amongst the boys. Soccer was her first sport like it is for a lot of kids, but something about Roberts was different. When she began to take focus on soccer, doors began to open up and she even considered playing down south, but ultimately it was McMaster that checked off all the boxes for Roberts.

“I always knew I wanted to work in Canadian law and politics,” said the political science major. “So it made more sense for me to do my education in Canada, and when I came to visit McMaster, I immediately fell in love with the campus.”

With quite a few players leaving in Roberts’ first year, she knew she would have plenty of time on the field doing what she loved, and that sold it for her. Roberts spent her first two years up front as forward, and her third year as a midfielder. Following the summer going into her fourth year, she made the switch back to forward and went on to have her best season to date.

“The transition was definitely a little bit hard to get used to, but playing forward in summer helped me stay ready,” said Roberts. “As a forward, you have to have that confidence and mindset that you are going to score every game, unlike at midfield. But with the extra practice and past experience, it wasn't that hard to find that confidence within myself again.”

The smart decision to move Roberts up this season was courtesy of head coach Joe Valvasori, who was brought in last season. For Roberts, besides changing positions, one of the main differences this year is the team’s culture.

[spacer height="20px"]“It’s been an amazing year and we're just so super supportive of each other,” said Roberts. “In the past, the culture has not been like the way it is now. Our new coach Joe is to thank for that. He has really changed the culture and brought us together.”

That shift in culture gave the team an 8-3-5 regular season record that booked them a spot in the OUA Final Four for the first time since 2012. Unfortunately for Roberts, a miss in penalty kicks after a 1-1 game against the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees ended the OUA gold dreams for the Marauders. But with a spot at nationals still on the line, Roberts found it within herself to come out strong in the bronze medal match the next day.

“After I missed the penalty kick, it felt like a disappointment, but I knew we still had a chance at nationals so we had to leave it all on the line,” said Roberts. “We had to win every single tackle and every single loose ball because it could be our last game. So we came out and gave it everything we had.”

And that they did, as the Marauders demolished the Queen’s University Gaels 3-0, with two of the goals coming from Roberts herself. Her stellar performance booked the team a trip to the national championship for the first since 1997 and got her a spot on the U Sports All-Canadian Second Team.

Watch: Make it two for Steph! She pounces on the rebound after Lindsay Bosveld's initial shot to give the Marauders a 2-0 lead over the @queensgaels early in the second half! #GoMacGo pic.twitter.com/RWzjIVpLZl

— McMaster Athletics (@McMasterSports) 4 November 2018

Winning accolade after accolade, it can be hard for one to stay humble in a team sport like soccer, but for Roberts, she keeps just that in mind: there is no “I” in “team”.

“A lot of times, forwards do get a lot of praise, but soccer is such a team sport and you can't win with one player,” said Roberts. “I always try to keep in mind that without my team, I would be nothing.”

For the first match of the national championships, the Marauders came out strong and were able to hold off the defending national champions, the Université de Montréal Carabins, scoreless for the entire match. Tied at zero, it was during the extra time that a Carabins’ own goal sealed Montréal’s fate, thanks to an explosive kick from Marauders’ Jade Smith.

Women's Soccer -- WATCH:

Jade Smith makes a massively important run, and her cross is turned in, as the Marauders take a dramatic late lead in the 118th! pic.twitter.com/FoY2LX0hLY

— McMaster Athletics (@McMasterSports) 8 November 2018

For Roberts, this kind of thrilling match being played in her hometown of Ottawa was a dream come true.

“To be able to go to nationals in my hometown is one of the best parts,” said Roberts. “To have all my family and friends’ [support] that can never come to Hamilton is really exciting.”

However, Roberts was not the only one with a home crowd cheering for them. After defeating the Carabins, they faced the Gee-Gee’s for the second time in the postseason at home, which is no easy task.

Ottawa managed to hold the Marauders off 2-0 for the first half of the game, until Mac’s Lindsay Bosveld brought the deficit to 2-1. Unfortunately for the Marauders, the Gee-Gee’s had more in store, managing to score twice more before eventually defeating the Marauders in a crushing 4-1 loss.

WATCH:

An absolute from Lindsay Bosveld brings the Marauders within one in the 68th minute!

She controls with one touch and smashes the volley high and hard for an absolute gem. #GoMacGo pic.twitter.com/SZXzSnUG3O

— McMaster Athletics (@McMasterSports) 10 November 2018

Once again, the Marauders had to fight for bronze, this time against the Cape Breton University Capers. Unfortunately, a 48th minute goal by the Capers proved to be the winner in a tight game, leaving the Marauders to finish in fourth place in the tournament.

Though this not how Roberts and the Marauders would have wanted to return to Hamilton, every accomplishment they made this season are accomplishments that will be remembered for a long time.

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Photo C/O McMaster Athletics

By Adriana Skaljin

The McMaster women's soccer team started off their 2018 campaign strong, and throughout the season, proved that they have become even stronger towards the end of it.

“This team has a lot of talent, so it is nice to see it translated into results," said team captain Stephanie Roberts.

Going into their last two games of the regular season, the Marauders sit with a record of 6-3-5; good enough for fourth place in the Ontario University Athletics West division.  Their wins are results of their strong work ethic, as described by Roberts and echoed by her teammates. 

Season highlights include their home opener against the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks on Aug. 24, and their six-point weekend at the end of September, with wins over the York University Lions and the University of Guelph Gryphons. 

Their home opener against the Golden Hawks foreshadowed the strong season that followed, as the team began that game with a bang, getting up 3-0 in the first half. This allowed the team to cruise to season-opening 4-1 win. 

"This was an amazing way to start off the season," Roberts said.

With York and Guelph traditionally being two of their strongest competitors, back-to-back games against these rivals were positioned to be a tough test for the Marauders. Coming out with six points over that weekend truly showed the strength of the McMaster team. In both games, the Marauders shut out their opponents with 1-0 wins.

Despite their dominant wins and solid ties throughout the season, the team did fall short of a few key victories. 

Described as their toughest moment of the season, the team suffered a "winning drought" of six straight winless games. This included all three of their losses during this season, punctuated by a one-goal loss to the Western University Mustangs.

"This [challenge] caused us to work harder in practice," said Roberts. "We ended up coming back from this by beating two teams that were ahead of us in the standings."

The hard work paid off, as they women bounced back with four straight wins.

The team's greatest weakness seems to be that they are unlucky at times, resulting in ties and losses. Sometimes, the unlucky bounces just overpower the skills of the players. Including their 2-1 Sept. 21 loss to the Mustangs, where they blew a 1-0 lead early in the second half.

That score did not reflect their performance, as their strong defensive and offensive skills showed. This game is an example of the ways in which the scoreboard was not defined by their playing abilities.

“We have had some unfortunate breaks, but are overall playing good soccer,” head coach Joe Valvasori said.

Most recently, the Marauders collected a couple of 1-1 ties, tying Laurier in Waterloo, and returning home to tie the University of Waterloo Warriors. The team will next be travelling to Sault Ste. Marie to face the Algoma Thunderbirds in back-to-back games to close off their season. 

Women's Soccer -- FINAL: The Marauders split the points in Waterloo. ⚽ pic.twitter.com/2ozUiplj7N

— McMaster Athletics (@McMasterSports) October 7, 2018

"We have always had success playing against them, so we are hoping to have successes again this year," explained Roberts. "However, these are a crucial six points and we cannot take any team lightly in our league, so it will definitely be a battle."

As the team moves forward towards the playoffs, they are hoping to finish in third or fourth, and are confident that they are talented enough to beat any team they may face. Their confidence and skill will definitely be exhibited in their upcoming games.

“As we near the end of our season, I can say with confidence that we now play more as a unit, and not just as individuals,” said Roberts.

Looking ahead to next season, the team anticipates that with the number of fifth-year students on the team, they will all definitely go out with a bang.

Catch their next games against the Thunderbirds on Oct. 20 and 21 at 1:00 p.m.

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Photos by Kyle West

By Adriana Skaljin

For Claudia Continenza, assistant captain of the women’s soccer team, soccer has shaped her life both on and off of the field.

The fourth-year English and History student started playing soccer at the age of three, picking up skating and basketball as well. She eventually took to soccer and realized that it is the sport about which she is most passionate.

Continenza started playing for Glanbrook and then Mississauga, eventually moving back to Hamilton and playing for Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School. This ongoing passion for the sport lead to Continenza becoming a walk-on for the McMaster team in her first year, where she has played every year since.

“I noticed two differences between playing high school and university-level soccer,” said Continenza. “Firstly, is the commitment level, regarding both determination and fitness. Secondly, playing at a university level allows you to have new respect for everyone around you, as the team becomes a second family.”

Both on and off the field, the women’s soccer team has become a support system for every player. Whether it is cheering each other on and remaining supportive no matter the outcome during the game, or spending time together outside of the game, the team has created a family-like environment.

“We’re a very goofy team,” explained Continenza. “The majority of the team, fifteen players to be exact, are fourth-years and we have played together throughout our undergraduate career. We are always joking around and choose to spend our time together off the field as well. Some of the girls even live together.”

Continenza speaks on behalf of every player when she says that this family dynamic has bettered their playing skills, as the ongoing support encourages players to take risks on the field.

“You’re never afraid of messing up, because you know that the team will always support you and will recognize the risk that you were taking,” said Continenza.

It is this support that manages the team dynamic. Anyone who has been on a team will agree that the closeness and positivity between teammates will be reflected in their playing.

[spacer height="20px"]Moments such as a scoreless tie against the University of Western Ontario Mustangs back on Aug. 31, and then playing them again on Sept. 21, made the team realize the strength in positivity.

The Marauders ended up losing 2-1 in their game against the Mustangs, but there are still positives to be taken away from that loss.

“We played well during our last game against Western, but I think that we played better this time,” said head coach Joe Valvasori.

Despite the loss that came from the second Western game, it is evident that the team dynamic pushed for a win in its progression as a team.

“Sometimes, our results don’t accurately reflect how we’ve been doing,” explained Continenza. “This is some of the best soccer that we have played and we are doing everything right. It is just the results that escape us. This is something that we have realized and use as motivation for the second half of the season.”

[spacer height="20px"]This concept of a family-oriented team dynamic has been echoed by teammates such as Emma Czernuszka, who has recently been named McMaster Female Athlete of the Week.

“On and off the field we are first and foremost a family,” Czernuszka said. “We win together, lose together, push through every grueling fitness practice and midterm season together, and most importantly we always have each other’s backs. Our trust in each other is put into action every practice and game.”

Czernuszka went on to explain the ways that coach Valvasori would motivate the team before games. He reiterates the fact that they need to fight for one another and believe in each other because that is what families do.

Valvasori said himself that the team is a “tight-knit bunch that has created a family like atmosphere.” The support that comes from the coaches has contributed to this positive dynamic.

“There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for anyone on my team, and I think that mentality is what allows us to be such a cohesive unit,” said Czernuszka.

It is through their love for the sport and each other that the McMaster women’s soccer team works to achieve their goal of being a unified and successful team both on and off the pitch.

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Footage from OUA.tv, GIFs by Jessica Carmichael

 

Football

The main event of the weekend ended in success for the McMaster Marauders as the men’s football team defeated the University of Toronto Varsity Blues 37-3. With quarterback Andreas Dueck starting and playing the entire game and a breakout performance from receiver Tommy Nield, this big win coming off two tough losses is exactly what the Marauders needed before they face their rivals the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks. This game on Sept. 22 will be just as much of a mental match as it is physical, as the Marauders’ 2017 season came to an end at the hands of the Golden Hawks.

 

Women’s Rugby

The women's rugby team faced the Queen’s University Gaels, but were unable to hold their own and lost 34-14. This loss caused them to drop five places to 10th in Tuesday's U Sports national rankings. Up next, they face the University of Western Ontario Mustangs, who are currently 0-3, and will hopefully be able to see a positive change in the rankings the following Tuesday.

 

Men’s Soccer

It was a scoreless first half for the Marauders when they faced the Brock University Badgers. Unfortunately for Mac, the Badgers were just able to edge them out by scoring twice in the second half. Even though rookie substitute Daniel Vicente was able to connect with the goal post, McMaster now sits 3-2-2 before they face their next opponents, the Mustangs on Sept. 21.

 

Women’s Soccer

The women’s team found themselves in another draw after playing the Badgers as well. Both Stephanie Roberts (who we profiled on Sept. 5) and Lindsay Bosveld scored for the Marauders but Brock was able to match their production. The team now stands 2-2-3 and will have to make some changes before facing the 4-0-3 Mustangs on Sept. 21.

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By: Ryan Tse

The McMaster women’s soccer team has not had the smoothest season. This year’s squad has fought their way to a 2-6-5 record to put them in eighth place in the West conference through 13 games. Three pivotal games remain in the 2017 regular season.

Their record tells the story of an up-and-down season filled with adversity. However, new coach Joe Valvasori sees growth and potential in this team. Valvasori believes that the difficulties are largely due to a learning curve for the players as they adjust to new systems.

“I don’t think our record necessarily reflects the quality of the team or the quality of our play of the squad,” Valvasori said. “It’s funny, you know — new coach, new team, new season. We’re putting in a new system and a new style of play so there’s always growing pains that go along with that.”

The team’s victories over fourth-place Waterloo and second-place Guelph perhaps suggest a stronger team than their record shows. They certainly hint at the squad’s talent and their ability to square off with any team. Coach Valvasori sees a lot of strengths in the group that can form the foundation of a successful team.

“We have a very technical midfield who are very much able to play and are still learning how to play through the midfield. We got great speed out on the flanks, and they are trying to learn how to capitalize.”

McMaster currently sits eighth in the West conference of Ontario University Athletics. Coming off an 8-6-2 season and a fifth-place finish last year, this team has struggled more in comparison, scoring just 14 goals through 13 games while allowing 21.

Yet in terms of qualifying for the playoffs, the team holds their destiny in their own hands. If the players can pull together three wins in the last three games, they will very likely leapfrog both Brock and York to finish in the sixth spot.

The schedule may do them a favour in this respect, as they play last-place Algoma University twice to close out the season. Algoma has gone winless thus far this season, allowing 58 goals while scoring three themselves. Valvasori is confident about the team’s playoff prospects, and once they are in he believes they can do some damage.

“We need three wins in the next three matches,” said Valvasori. “We’re very capable of doing so, and I think if we do what we’re capable of, and if we can get all cylinders firing at the same time, we can compete with any team in our conference heading into the playoffs.”

Despite the tough losses throughout the season, Valvasori is encouraged by the overall improvements of the team. According to him, the team has become much more organized, both on the offensive and defensive sides of the pitch.

The coach has also been impressed by the general positivity of the team. “They’re all positive, they’re all buying in, and they’re all putting in the work, so I have great confidence in their future success,” said Valvasori. “They’re a very cohesive group — no locker room issues, no cliques. They’re all very friendly with each other and they all want to see each other do well.”

As coach Valvasori has implemented new systems and become familiar with the players, he has seen how the key veterans each play different roles in leading the squad and pushing the team forward.

“They’ve all brought different things,” coach Valvasori said. “Mary [Craig] and Ally [Riganelli] are two of our most consistent players. Faye [Stavropolous] and Jessie [Faber] are really good at creating. Cass [Davis] and Steph [Roberts] are good at keeping the squad organized, so everybody is contributing in their own way.”

Valvasori sees a lot to be excited about with this team, both now and in the future. Many older players are expected to return next year, so more growth from the upper end of the team can be expected. Add that to six freshman rookies, and the team’s outlook is quite promising for the rest of this this season and the seasons ahead. As the team continues to develop and learns to maximize on their talent in a well-defined system, the wins will start to come.

“A lot of the older players are only third years, so they still have a couple seasons left,” Valvasori said. “On top of having some good pieces that have come in and I’m sure lots more recruits will come in next year, it’s a pretty solid core to take to the next few seasons.”

For now, the team looks to stay positive and close out the season strong. Based on their progress so far, they appear more than capable to do just that.

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By: Justin Parker

After a solid 2015 campaign that saw the women’s soccer team finish fourth in the Ontario University Athletics West division (7-6-3), the team struggled to get things off the ground at the beginning of the 2016 season. In their first seven games, McMaster went without a win (0-5-2) and the squad was outscored 10-4.

However, the team has kept their heads down and worked through an early rough patch that saw them face the top teams of the OUA West. The team bounced back since then, winning six of their last seven games, putting them in fifth place in the OUA West for this season (6-6-2, 20 points).

Although the road to the playoffs is not an easy one, they look to carry their momentum into the final two regular season games.

The team kicked off October with two strong wins against Windsor (1-0) and Waterloo (3-0), and then traveled to Algoma last weekend to dominate 6-0 and 7-0 in back-to-back games. They are now looking to continue their form throughout the rest of the season and heading into the playoffs.

This sudden resurgence coincides with the return of many key players. One of the those to return recently was goalkeeper Deanna Persico, who currently ranks fourth in the OUA in Goals Against (four). Persico also ranks fifth in shutouts (four), which all came in her first five games since her return from injury.

“The team started the season with a massive amount of injuries,” head coach Brett Mosen said. “[At one point] We had 15 healthy players out of 33”.

Persico’s presence was missed in the middle of the season, where the team lost five straight games in her absence, and roster adjustments were constantly made by the coaching staff.

Coach Mosen stressed the perseverance of the team, and how the were able to play well despite these injuries.

“I think the girls did tremendously well at the beginning of the season. With no healthy defenders, we converted midfield players to defenders and they did fantastic. Although we didn’t get the results we wanted, I think they did very well.”

Now McMaster looks to ride this momentum into the playoffs. They may not get home field advantage but can still make a lengthy run into the playoffs if they keep this pace of play up.

In their games against Algoma, McMaster cruised, allowing the team to sit several starting players. Given the injuries early in the season, the strength of the bench maintained the level of play. Depth is an asset come OUA playoff time.

With their star goalkeeper back, the Marauders are positioned to gain more momentum as they finish off the regular season and head into the playoffs

“We’ve just got to keep the winning mentality going and stay confident,” Mosen said. “We are a confident team and players are healthy. The girls have worked hard all season, have committed to getting to the playoffs when it looked unlikely at one stage, but our belief never stopped. We always believed we could get there. It was just getting everyone together and healthy.”

The women’s soccer team looks poised for an excellent run into the playoffs. A win over league-rivals Laurier would clinch the fifth seed for Mac.  Now that the team is healthy, nothing is in their way.

By: Tyler Annand

Ahead of the Marauders’ short trip to St. Catharines this Wednesday, head coach Brett Mosen has questions to answer.

The McMaster women’s soccer team is travelling to face Brock University on the back of a winless season. After seven games, the Marauders have only salvaged two points, while only scoring four total goals. A lack of finishing, team cohesion, and the absence of attractive and attacking football are some of the main culprits responsible for their slow start to the season.

While their play can be analyzed in a technical sense as to why they have been unable to pick up a win, human psychology and confidence plays the biggest role during a slump like this.

The truth of the matter is that no athlete, whether they are a professional, an amateur, or a student, likes to lose. Losing a tight game, getting blown out on the road in an intimidating atmosphere, losing at home in front of family and friends are some of the worst experiences an athlete can imagine. If anyone asked any member of the McMaster women’s team if they enjoy losing, the answer would be a resounding “no”.

Instead of talking about their poor start to the season, or lack of scoring, it is important that everyone, including the team itself, discuss the positives in a generally negative atmosphere. The women understand that they could have done better, the important thing is that they know they have time to improve.

To start off, the quality of the players is definitely present. McMaster began the 2016-17 season with two ties; one against the Mustangs at Ron Joyce Stadium, and the other against the Lancers in a tight game in Windsor. Both of these games occurred on the same weekend, and were against top-three teams in the Ontario University Athletics West division.

The goal now is to rediscover that swagger and for each player to start making their own personal, attainable goals. The team understands that they will not have the prettiest team statistics by the end of the season, but if winning those one-on-one battles as an attacking player and blocking a certain amount of shots as a defending player boosts individual confidence, then focus on that.

It is also important for the women to play to their own strengths. If you are a tall and physically imposing player trying to play outside of your role, the product will be discouraging. In contrast, if you are trying to be a standard cog in a machine, the product will also be less than desirable. Each player needs to perform a mix between their own uniqueness and the team’s identity.

For the women’s soccer team, there is no time to dwell on the losses. Not because they have everything to lose, but because it harm confidence, optimism, and growth. Losing hurts. The only benefit from dwelling on a loss is to understand how it feels to lose and to strive to make that not happen again.

Marauder fans know the quality is there and know that Mac has it in them to compete with the top OUA teams. Start winning your own personal battles and you will start seeing that translate to the pitch.

With the penalty-kick viagra super active plus playoff loss to the UOIT Ridgebacks, the women’s soccer season that started with much promise has come to an abrupt end.

At the halfway point of the season, McMaster was 2-4-2, with two of those ties coming against nationally ranked opponents. But during the first of two matches against the Western Mustangs – and the eighth game of the season – team captain Sophia Ykema suffered a concussion. The team would manage a tie but lost control of the season without their leader.

Inconsistency became the weakness, with McMaster unable to sustain any momentum game-to-game. A game head coach Brett Mosen described as the “worst performance in my three-year career here” followed a solid outing on the road against the Windsor Lancers. McMaster took on a York team they were battling for playoff position, and won 2-1. The next day, they threw up a dud and lost 1-0 to the UOIT Ridgebacks, starting a three-game slide.

To call this a lost season would be sensationalizing it. A struggle through the second part of the jam-packed season is to be expected when your roster is comprised mostly of first- and second-year players. At the beginning of the season, both Mosen and Ykema had foresight to see that the level of physicality and number of games would take its toll on the younger players.

What they could not foresee however was the sheer number of injuries the team suffered. Ykema’s concussion recovery took a month instead of the typical two weeks, Taylor Davis suffered an ankle injury before the season opener and then injured her quad immediately after. Goalkeeper Brittany Duffey missed two games in early September. Stephanie Davis, who was second on the team in scoring, missed two games later in the year also.

Those injuries are all to players with at least a year of experience, so the missed games just compounded the growing pains for first-year players. But it will pay off in the future. Having games under the belt is a key to developing players. Watching from the sidelines has benefits, but getting in the action is arguably more important. For proof, you can look to the aforementioned group of players, who all gained on-field experience in their first year.

The end of the 2013 campaign marks the start of something. What that “something” turns out to be is in the hands of a team who saw their capabilities in the first eight games of the season. The ceiling for a squad of this age, with a captain who has two years of eligibility left, with a defensive group and goalkeeper who have an abundance of experience, with a rookie who is on the Rookie of the Year shortlist after leading the Maroon crew in goals, is a CIS national tournament berth. Anything less is to sell the accomplishments short.

The men’s soccer team is currently second in the nation and have sights set on a CIS championship. With the right amount of work, it should not be long before the women’s squad is in a similar situation.

 

 

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