For some of the GSSC (Greater Sudbury Soccer Club) U21 women’s delegation, this summer of competitive soccer marks the ascension from the ranks of the youth, preparing to embark on the next step of their journey in the fall versus either OUA or OCAA adversaries.
For others who already have some of that post-secondary experience under their belts, the next few months is all part of the annual cycle of their athletic involvement, an option that best prepares them for what is to come in September as well.
For all those, however, who are donning the Impact jersey under the guidance of head coach Connor Vande Weghe, there is hope that the Ontario Women’s Soccer League (OWSL) schedule that lies in store for 2023 far exceeds the adventure that was less than ideal twelve months ago.
“Last year, we had two teams drop out right at the beginning of the season,” noted veteran centerback Arijana Tuttle, already with three years of OWSL play on her resume as she squeezes in a little extra soccer prior to beginning her second season with the Laurentian Voyageurs.
“There’s a lot more teams this year,” added the graduate and now assistant coach of Collège Notre-Dame. “It seems like there are some U18 teams moving up, so we will play more games, a better schedule. This is keeping me in the game, keeping me in share for training camp in August.”
Tuttle is clearly part of the “old guard”, those returnees who have been mentored in recent years by brothers Matt and Christopher Binks.
Opting to forego a U18 campaign in favour of a merged effort with the Tuttle clan - and company – is a solid core of the GSSC girls who spent the last two years with Vande Weghe as members of the U16 (2021) and U17 (2022) entry, providing for an interesting dynamic for a team which appears set to compete with eight other squads in the Central Region Under 21 division.
“We’ll have a mix of Laurentian players, Cambrian players, Laurentian-committed players, Cambrian-committed players and players who are still looking to make that jump,” said Vande Weghe. “As the coach, it’s my job to build an identity for this team that works with the players that I have, whether they come from Laurentian or Cambrian and no matter what style they are used to.”
Tuttle is just one of the young women that Vande Weghe will coach for the very first time this summer – very interesting timing as she transitions to a somewhat different role with this group. “I feel like more of a leader; the girls look up to me more now because I have been on the team for a couple of years,” said the Nursing major at L.U.
“I try and make it a good environment for everybody, help them out when they have questions, always be talking out there, being very communicative.”
Tuttle will have at least a couple of familiar faces from the blue and gold around with the Impact as Barrie native and Behavioural Neuroscience senior Charlie Frew opted to spend the off-season in Sudbury, working with one of her professors. “It’s an exciting opportunity, so I took the chance,” said the multi-faceted athlete who has been something of a Swiss-army knife for Voyageurs’ head coach Brian Ashton.
“At Laurentian, I have kind of played every position except centerback and goalkeeper,” said Frew with a laugh. “Brian has relied upon me quite a bit to support the team in positions where I wasn’t really natural at. It’s been a good opportunity for me because it’s given me time on the field – as well as connecting with the rest of the team.”
With time spent in her youth with competitive soccer programs from Barrie and Innisfil, Aurora and Richmond Hill, the need to adapt is engrained in Frew perhaps more so than anyone else on the team. “Because I switched teams every now and then, I would have a position that I was strong at, but I would also have a secondary position that I could fill in to get playing time,” she said.
“We’re trying to figure that out here. My preference is likely out on the wing, up front or in the midfield,” Frew added. “I do have good endurance; I am good at crossing, a generally supportive player, so those would fit my skills.”
Given the likes of Kiana Levac and Kate Pauli that will be joining the Voyageurs in the fall, Frew is sure to share some words of advice in order to ease the freshman from the OWSL into the OUA. “Decision making is probably the biggest thing,” stated the well-spoken young woman.
“As you get older, your skills don’t change that much; you kind of settle into the player that you are – but the one thing that can change is your mind. The game at the OUA is much faster.”
The two-time OUA all-star who is a big part of the guidance process for his core of younger talent from the past two summers is not about to challenge that assessment. “I am definitely going to approach this season differently than I have in the past,” said coach Vande Weghe.
“We’ve transitioned to a style that is far more reflective of a university program. What I inherited here is a little bit more of what I suppose you could call professionalism versus the U16/U17 years, where it was more youth-focused.”
Strategically, however, the changes will be more gradual.
“To start, the identity will probably stay similar to what it was – at least at the beginning,” stated Vande Weghe. “That’s mainly because I have 13 or 14 players that are returning that know that style already, and that will make it easy for me to get them ready for that May 27th weekend kickoff.”
“We’re building on the foundation from last year – but throughout the season, you never know where take will take us.”
Ideally to a place where each and every player can draw upon a positive or two when the OWSL schedule wraps up in early August.
The U21 Impact women not yet mentioned in this story include Emily Levesque, Olivia Lawrie, Emily Winsor, Carys Franklin, Kaja Beljo, Dea Begic, Caitlyne Kervin, Alyssa Eid, Kiara Levac, Sydney Coe, Taylor St Onge, Aidyn Franklin, Brooke Dugas, Sophia Oommen, Jenna Lowe, Shannon O’Reilly, Elyssa Oystrick, Sophie Hunault and Makayla Bertrand.
