No Excuses

Adopt - a - COUGAR

It's that time again, to raise some money for Adopt-a-Cougar (AAC).

I wanted to give you all a heads start to see if you can start to spread the word to raise some money, ask for donations, or pay for it yourself.  In the past players have been asked to fund $300-500 for the entire year.  Use this as a guide for gaining donations and all funds allocated will go directly to your player account.  

You will find the form to be submitted with each donation at: http://www.mtroyal.ca/CampusServices/AthleticsRecreation/Athletics/Adopt-a-Cougar/index.htm

Donations ($25+) are eligible for a tax receipt.

What is the

Adopt-a-Cougar program for?

Student-athletes make numerous sacrifices over the course of a season in order to compete at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. The Adopt-a-Cougar program is designed to help support student-athletes’ efforts and maintain the standard of excellence of Canada’s most successful collegiate athletic program.

Cougar student-athletes are seeking contributions to help cover team specific expenses which are not covered by existing university budgets.

Funds generated by the program will be used to enhance the post-secondary experience. Such uses include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Team Clothing • Travel • Equipment • Event Hosting • Scholarships

Cougars add one more training match to their pre-season

The Cougars have confirmed a mid-week pre-season training match vs the Blizzard U18 squad for August 24th 6:45pm @ MRU Stadium Field.

This match will be used to prepare the squad for their upcoming Alberta Cup on the following weekend also held at MRU.

*See the team training calendar tab for dates and times in August.

Admission is free - come out and see the squad for yourself.

MRU and Canadian Soccer Connection

Once again for the upcoming NTC training year, Coach Fusco has confirmed his coaching participation with the NTC-Prairies.  The NTC-P is a program for aspiring local Canadian identified athletes looking to train with like minded, like-skilled abilities with the hopes of being selected into the Canadian National Teams.

"I think it is very good for post-secondary institutions to help assist with programs like this and provide guidance to players looking to play at the next level." --Fusco.

Players coming into the MRU squad for 2011, who have had the pleasure of being considered for the NTC-P in the past include; Kelsey Kinzner and Karlee Hodl.   We are pleased to have them in our squad as we transition to the CIS in 2012.

Cougars add familiar face to 2011 coaching staff

For the 2011 season, the Cougars will be adding a graduate coach of the program with the financial assistance of the CCAA Female in Coaching Grant.  We welcome, Dixon to the staff and feel her experience as a player will help groom the youth coming into the program as we transition into the CIS for 2012.

Dixon, was a multiple ACAC All-star, All-Canadian, and one of the 2010 team captains.
As the program continues to grow and add new and exciting developments, Dixon will have her coaching role defined in the coming days.  She will be under the direction of mentor head coach Fusco, who holds his National B licence and is a certified instructor of the NCCP soccer certification.  Ashley also received her NCCP coaching certification from the MRU soccer course; which coach Fusco also instructs.

With MRU's commitment to growing the female game - this is another step in the right direction to get female's educated and experienced in coaching and being a female role model to the up and coming local MRU players.   Welcome Ashley!

Wishing you back to health

Recently, the coaching staff received confirmation that 2009 ACAC All-star goalkeeper for the MRU Cougars will not be returning for the 2011 season.  Swereda, missed the entire 2010 season due to a concision she received during training leading into the season.  She was placed on the red shirt list and during the 2010 futsal off-season was unable to participate due to surgery she received on an injured hand.

The MRU Cougars have been blessed with depth in the keeper position over the past few years.  With the news of Swereda missing 2011, this opens the door for new keeper prospects coming into camp as well as returning keepers, Cardoso-Wagner in her final year and Marklund.

For the 2011 season, the squad will look to carry three keepers on the roster.  In the past, all keepers have received match minutes throughout the intensive season.

Swereda, we wish you well and hope to see you back in 2012.