With a lovely final few weeks of June giving way to an even more enjoyable start to the month of July, it seemed like a fitting time to check in and take the temperature of a few of the GSSC (Greater Sudbury Soccer Club) Impact teams this week.

With pre-qualifying and qualifying round i-Model play out of the way, the Sudbury U14 Impact boys find themselves in the eight team C2 division, facing many of the teams that they went head to head with between April and now.

Noting that a first place finish in this 14-game segment that runs through to the end of August is the ultimate team goal, veteran midfielder Emmett Prodan explained that the keys to success for a team that has experienced some gradual turnover in each and every one of the past few years might not be limited simply to the on-pitch skills for he and his teammates.

“In my opinion, the biggest thing is getting everyone integrated off the field, being able to know each other and develop a chemistry that can apply on the field,” said Prodan, a 13 year-old who begins his high-school journey in the fall at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School.

“It becomes a fluid process. A strong team is not only the talent on the field but how well we play together.”

The Impact open this next segment of their schedule with a pair of road games this weekend, battling KO (Kickoff) Academy from Richmond Hill and the Thornhill Thunder, with Prodan sure to be right in the center of the action in both games.

“Depending on the formation (that we are playing), I either play center mid or center defensive mid – and it’s been that way basically since I joined the team,” he said. “When I was younger, I picked midfield because as an attacker, I didn’t like watching my team have to defend with me off waiting to score goals – and as a defenseman, you don’t get forward as much.”

It’s not that Prodan is opposed to watching qualify soccer, by any means. With the World Cup in full swing, he offered his assessment of his favourite team, from a stylistic standpoint. “I really like France and the way they attack, the way their forwards change positions in developing attacks together.”

Rounding out the Impact U14 boys roster this year are Maximus Georgievski, Sachsen Croome, Marco Ponce, Stephen Ademuyiwa, Glolabo George, Gaddiel Appiah-Hagan, Malik Hussam Eddin, Kofi Ghartney, James Villeneuve, Zandre Rimes, Dat Tran, Emrik Perron, Cooper Annett, Levin Gonder, Clark Lowen, Mofe Olusola-Kuteyi, Owen Marsch, coaches John Georgievski and Anas Hussam Eddin and team manager Tamara Morton.

In a very similar boat, the Impact U15 girls also begin C2 i-Model play, having to regroup from the disappointment of missing out on remaining in C1 after opening their qualifying run with a record of 3-0-1, only to finish at 5-4-1.

But every setback is a lesson, as they say, and 14 year-old midfielder Jessie Fu suggested there are some very clear-cut areas where her team can work to improve in the hopes of ascending to a higher level of play, either indoors or next summer.

“We’re working on communication and getting to know our positions even better,” said the Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School junior. “We need to communicate more. We’re really quiet on the field. The coach says it’s one of the key things in soccer.”

A multi-sport athlete who also enjoyed flag football, badminton and volleyball as a member of the Knights family and tai-kwon-do away from school, Fu is both extremely well-spoken and extremely soft-spoken, creating an on-field dilemma. “I don’t like speaking a lot so I have to remind myself on the field,” she said.

“I get reminded by my coaches on this team and my high-school team to speak more.”

If anything, Fu lets her game do the talking, learning to play to her strength in an area of the pitch where her particular skill-set can be accentuated.

“As a center defensive mid, I like passing; I send the ball,” she said. “I’m not close to being the fastest. I’m more of a technical player.” “They put me there so that I send people.”

In that sense, Fu has an understanding of her role down to a fine art.

“I focus on breaking the lines to send my teammates even better and put them into open space. If I don’t see an option like that, I can re-start it to give us more time. I don’t want to be forcing the ball.”

The remainder of the Impact U15 girls team is comprised of Alexa Boissonneault, Violet Boisvenue, Zoey Brazier, Kara Christine, Julia D’Angelo, Isabella Fraser, Chloe Gascon, Matalyn Hojem, Braya Kelly, Desiree Malmiste, Alayna Marier-Mikus, Taya Messier, Lynn Nzotungwanimana, Veronica Paquette, Elsa Rancourt, Sierra Ranger, Luciana Tellez Romero, Lucie Thibault, coaches Stephane Marier, Steve Kelly and Mason Steen and managers Erin Boisvenue and Silvana D’Angelo.

The GSSC Impact U16 boys also find themselves likely one level below where they would like to be playing, winning four straight in the IMC3 D1 bracket by a combined score of 25-3. Thankfully, the loop features no less than 15 different teams, with at least a few of their opponents sure to give the Sudbury lads a good, solid battle.

In the meantime, it’s a matter of making the most of the practice and game settings, regardless the quality of the opponent. “With more time and space, it’s easier to make a pass and be accurate with it; it’s easier to play the one-two up the pitch,” said centerback Logan Anderson.

“It’s less intense so it’s easier to move the ball and build confidence.”

An academically-inclined grade 11 student at Lockerby Composite, the 16 year-old who is now in his fifth year with this team takes that same kind of thoughtful approach with his long-time centerback partner, Hamoudie Najem. “We’re playing a primary – secondary defense,” said Anderson.

“That way, you have a sweeper in back, essentially, playing more staggered so that you are not getting split as we might with a flat two. But communication is essential. If you don’t know what your partner is doing, it’s easy to get caught.”

Even within a slightly more relaxed setting, Anderson still finds a way to cater to his drive to excel. “This is a fun outlet, but I can still play intensely and I do like competition,” he said. “I am very focused on my academics (perhaps gearing towards NOSM) - but maybe I can play at Laurentian.”

“Whatever happens, happens.”

The U16 Impact boys still have five home games remaining, beginning with a July 18th match at Delki Dozzi (1:00) versus Lake Simcoe Soccer Club. Joining Logan Anderson in that clash will be Corvyn Forest, Devun Panella, Diego Larios, Domadius Aziz, Enyinwa Elandu, Hamoudie Najem, Iliyas Sambo, Liam Muldoon, Nathan Estriplet, Papa Amofa-Badu, Quentin Hallock, Samuel Lazare, Waylan Croome, Xander Millett, Alex Ben-Anteur, Alonso Silva, Karim Kaidi, Toby Solarin and Zayd Qaraqouz.