Identifying the biggest single challenge facing the Laurentian Voyageurs women’s soccer team this fall is not all that difficult.

Remedying that concern, however, is not going to be easy.

In posting a record of 2-8-2 and finishing four points out of a playoff berth in the OUA East last year, coach Brian Ashton’s crew would be outscored 36-3, finding the back of the net only in their home and home set with the RMC Paladins.

Sure, lopsided losses to the likes of the Nipissing Lakers, Queen’s Gaels and Ottawa Gee Gees only served to tilt the table far more than was the case in the remaining eight games, but unless they can find a consistent source of offensive punch, playing for a scoreless draw might be the best case scenario this year.

Just a year away from fielding a roster of completely his own recruits, Ashton is hopeful that there are some answers in the making this year.

“Every year, we’ve gotten a little bit better,” said the former captain of the Toronto Lynx, preparing for his fourth season at the helm of the Voyageurs. “This is probably the most talented group we have ever had. This is the most confident I have been of making the playoffs since I have been here.”

Six of the ten teams in the East will qualify for post-season play, with L.U. likely to battle it out with the Toronto Metropolitan Bold, the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks and the Trent Excalibur for the final playoff spot.

With Oceane La Via potentially lost for an extended period (injury) for the second straight year, the trio of Charlene Frew, Caitlyne Kervin and Kiera Smyth will be looked upon to shoulder a big load through the middle of the pitch, along with freshman Mary Whiffen who will debut at the top of the formation.

“She looked really strong as a striker,” said Ashton following a pair of exhibition setbacks versus the Laurier Golden Hawks last weekend. “We’re encouraged with what we saw from her. It’s a heavy burden as a rookie, but she seems ready to accept the challenge.”

The pedigree certainly looks solid.

A member of the Newfoundland team that competed at the 2022 Canada Summer Games in St Catharines, Whiffen was among the top scorers in her league back home last summer, suiting up with a unit from Saint John.

Still, as Ashton knows all too well, expecting too much too soon from incoming recruits can be a recipe for disaster. “In the past, we’ve relied on them more than we should have – and that’s the situation we’re in right now,” he said. “I think it’s unfair to have first years come in and be relied upon in that capacity.”

“They shouldn’t be – but I think it’s still going to be an issue until next year. Next year is a big recruiting class for us.”

The lack of overall depth is certainly forcing his hand at certain positions.

While it might be nice to see captain Clare Dasek more involved in helping the team transition from defense to offense, perhaps as a holding midfielder, her skill-set dictates the need to at least start the season at centerback this fall.

“She is so quick at the back and we really need that speed because other teams like to press against us,” said Ashton. “If anything gets over her head, she is quick enough to get back and clear the line for us. My fear is that if we put somebody else back there who doesn’t have that same pace, we’re going to get exposed.”

Beyond the need to start layering strong classes of recruits over one another lies the absolute necessity to remain healthy. Despite signing a roster of 25 earlier this month, Ashton found himself with just five healthy subs (plus two backup goalies) for the two game set on the road last weekend.

That, once again, means that he may not have the comfort to slowly ease his incoming class into situations where they are more likely to succeed. “I don’t mind sticking one or two of the first years in there, but I have a hard time when it’s five or six in there.”

The silver lining, at least from a local standpoint, is that the situation might well open the door a little wider for the likes of Kiana Levac, Sophia Oommen and Kaja Beljo, all products of the Greater Sudbury Soccer Club system and all starting their post-secondary studies next month.

Same applies to midfielders/wingers Adriana Primerano from Richmond (B.C.) and Ella-Rose D’Ambrosio, a member of a top-end Brampton Soccer Club squad. Despite the influx of youth, Ashton is determined to shuffle the deck at least somewhat in 2023.

“Usually I start with the defensive side of things but I didn’t do that this year,” he stated. “We’re going to take a little bit of the opposite approach, start playing a little bit more offensively.”

If the benefits are not seen this year, they might well be in seasons to come.

“The experience our young players are getting should be invaluable,” said Ashton. “By the time they get into their second and third years, they are already somewhat solid veterans.”

Rounding out the 2023 Laurentian roster are keepers Hunter Jones, Noemie Bouchard and Lucy Lalach as well as Megan Short, Cassandra Armstrong, Kaylee Spridgeon, Amelie Pires, Ava Garcia, Ayla Bernhard, CND graduate Arijana Tuttle, Shannon O’Reilly, Grace Schisler, Kate Pauli and Chloe Luoma.

The Voyageurs open their campaign this coming Saturday with a noon home encounter opposite TMU, with the men taking to the field at 2:30 against the same opponent.