The "Sudbury Soccer Snapshot" is a weekly feature that is being presented courtesy of Martin Martic Dentistry. Each and every week, from May 1st through until the end of September, a weekly newsletter will be produced, covering off much of what is on the go in the world of competitive soccer locally.
As well, a recreational soccer "game of the week" will be highlighted, rotating between the various houseleagues that exist in and around Greater Sudbury. In the off-season, the newsletter will scale back to a bi-weekly feature, focusing heavily on the hundreds of young soccer players who shift to the indoor game as the fields become snow-covered for the winter.
********************The SDSC (Sudbury District Soccer Club) Royals could not have received a complete team effort at a better time. Faced with a one game showdown, with the winner offered a spot in the CGSL (Central Girls Soccer League) next summer, the locals knocked off the Whitby Iroquois 1-0 last Saturday in Innisfil.
While coach Maurice Feron again looked to his one-two punch up top, Haylee Lavigne and Allie Weiler, to generate the offense, this contest was as much about the Sudbury defensive resolve as anything.
The back-end unit of Alex Baxter, Anna Weiler, Samantha Micelotta, Emily Squarzolo and Hunter Mihaichuck were "fortress-like" in their protection of keeper Cierra St Germain, who recorded her biggest shutout of the season.
With a midfield medley of Heidi Lamothe, Lilia Samuels, Aaliyah Robinson, Ella Cocco, Julia Roy, Katie Chomiak, Logan Waltenbury and Olivia Gingras providing the support that the top targets needed, the Royals would break through in the 60th minute.
Just as she had all season long, Allie Weiler delivered when opportunity arose, curling a ball from the right side of the 18 yard box into the far left corner of the net.
From there, it was a matter of holding the Whitby squad at bay, as the Royals stifled the 10-2-2 southerners at every turn. Rounding out the Sudbury roster this year were Ella Teeter, Ellie McIntyre and Julia Roy, with Alex Francis assisting coach Feron in mentoring the young ladies.
*********************Much like the local U21 men, the Sudbury (SDSC) Celtics U17 boys were frustrated more than most by their ability to keep things close, without necessarily racking up the wins this summer.
The Celtics dropped six of their last seven games of the year, but none by more than three goals, including late season defeats at the hands of the Whitby Iroquois (2-1) and Pickering Power (2-0).
Kevin Rojas drilled home the only goal of the weekend for the Sudbury reps, who take their 2-9-1 record into one last tournament appearance in Richmond Hill, as well as their final league game against the Vaughan Azzurri (1-9-1).
The Celtics will join 11 other teams, including the likes of Collingwood, Milton, Etobicoke and Oak Ridges, competing at the 2016 Richmond Hill Challenge Cup from September 16th to the 18th.
********************Facing the first place Oshawa Turul to close out their CGSL schedule, the Sudbury (SDSC) Rocks U15 girls took it on the chin, falling by a final score of 6-2. Nevertheless, the locals proved to be more than respectable again in 2016, despite some key losses, posting a mark of 7-4-4, good for 7th place in a division that included 16 teams.
McKenna Cresswell and Ariane Saumure hit the mark for head coach Marilyn Bodson, who has overseen a core of this group dating back to their very first days of competitive soccer.
********************GAME ON:
On the Road - Sudbury (SDSC) Celtics U17 Boys @ Vaughan (Sept 25th)
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If you are interested in seeing each and every edition of the Sudbury Soccer Snapshot, as they are uploaded to SudburySports.com, simply forward your email details to the attention of Randy Pascal at "statsman@sudburysports.com"
