Our transition to Navy:
The pre-season started with daily training at MRU leading into the first weekend of the 2nd annual Alberta Cup Pre-season Tournament. Since Coach Fusco’s arrival as head coach of the program, the team has hosted various schools in it’s annual tournament. Such schools have included; U of Alberta, U of Calgary, U of Regina, Concordia University College, UBCO, & TRU.
This was a great opportunity to see who is coming into camp ready to play. As the outdoor University season is very short and intense, it is vital that players are entering camp fit and prepared. The coaching staff use this tournament to provide opportunities for the new prospects to play at this level as well as to get a feel for the current players in the squad and try to apply what the coaches are looking for. Overall, I was quite happy with the performances.
In 2010, we also took a traveling team of 19 players to Kamloops, British Columbia to play in the TRU's pre-season tournament against my former University; the University of Saskatchewan, as well as UCFV and TRU. Another great test for the players to play against top quality competition and CIS squads.
The pre-season saw some new faces comes back into the team. One face that will be remember will be Gillian Doubleday. Doubleday, contacted the coaching staff notifying here intentions of coming back to the program after a break in studies at MRU. With the departure of ACAC All-conference Jessica Stewart who left the program to pursue other opportunities, this opened the door for Doubleday to earn a starting spot as the team’s dominate striker.
Doubleday, made an immediate impact on the team, leading the team in scoring (and chances), as well as moving up the all time scoring leader table.
Other notable missing players from pre-season camp were Richelle Christie who torn her ACL in club summer league play making her ineligible to contribute to the team in 2010. Arika Ness, who’s ankle injury was a hindering factor in her ability to play in 2010. Tina Basi, (2009) All-Conference midfielder was ineligible for 2010. With these vacancy’s the coaching staff was fortunate enough to add quality first year players like Kristin Deeks, Luci Tansley, Lesley Oosterhoof, & Donella Lockhart to fill the team's void.
The team went on throughout the season with a perfect 10-0 record in league play. Scoring a total of 50 goals and 4 against. As the women's playoff's were hosted in the North, the team travelled up to Edmonton to play NAIT (host of the 2010 CCAA Nationals) in the semi-final after NAIT beat MHC in the quarter-final. As we prepared for the game, we knew NAIT would be tough. As we don't get to see NAIT in regular season play, the coaching staff headed up to Edmonton early to scout their playoff match vs Medicine Hat. The game was played on a cool, wet overcast day - the game was heading into extra time after a 0-0 score when in the 89th minute, MRU failed to get the ball out of the defensive third and a NAIT midfielder picked up the lose ball and lobbed it over the MRU goalkeeper to the far-post for the only goal of the game. A heartbreaker to lose in the last minute of a playoff match, especially for the 5th year players.
The team was crushed, but regrouped to play the following day in the third place match vs Grant Mac who lost to Concordia in the other semi-final. After another hard fought match, MRU was taken to PKs and managed to find the net earning the victory and the ACAC bronze medal for 2010. *Note: NAIT went on to finish second in CCAA Nationals that year.
