Pitch perfect
Association recognizes top players, team, coach, officials, administrator during recent awards night
The top athletes, officials, coach, team, administrator and volunteer were recently recognized as the Prince Edward Island Soccer Association presented its 2017 awards.
The following is a look at the winners provided by the association:
Senior players
Jill Curley, captain of the University of Kings College Blue Devils, was named the senior female player of the year.
In her fourth season, Curley led her team to a place in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) final. Her excellent defensive play earned her all-conference honours.
Her summer soccer sees her playing with the Source For Sports team out of the WinsloeCharlottetown Royals F.C. club.
Ibrahima Sanoh, a member of the Sherwood-Parkdale Rangers S.C., has scored more than 100 goals in four seasons with the Holland College Hurricanes, leading the team to ACAA titles in each of those years.
In 2017, he scored 34 goals as the team went 12-0 and he helped the Hurricanes win a national bronze.
Sanoh cleaned up in all of the major awards, winning ACAA and national player of the year honours. He recently was named Sport P.E.I. collegiate male athlete of the year and was invited to the Toronto FC identification camp, where he impressed the coaches enough to earn a second invitation.
Junior players
Caitlyn McCloskey from the Eliot River Ramblers S.C. earned the junior female player of the year award. She also played for Bluefield High School, the provincial program and in the McCain New Brunswick Premier Soccer League with the Canada Games team.
In 2017, McCloskey attended the Vancouver Whitecaps high potential payer camp in Vancouver. She rejoined the provincial team to attend the under-16 Atlantics, playing an integral role solidifying the teams spot in the gold medal game and eventually earning the team the silver medal.
Goalkeeper Brandon Lund of the Eastern Eagles S.C. was thrust into the spotlight last season, as his performance for the men’s Canada Games team in the televised game against Alberta won him rave reviews. Lund’s performances meant P.E.I. was competitive in every match.
He also had a fine rookie season with the Hurricanes. He backstopped the team to a 12-0 regular season record and an Atlantic title, confirming the school’s place at the nationals. Lund excelled as the team came home with a bronze medal.
Lund was named ACAA goalkeeper of the year and made the all-conference team.
Team
The Eliot River Ramblers S.C.’s under-13 boys’ premier squad took home team of the year honours.
The Phil Visser-coached boys went 11-1 in the regular season, which saw them score more than 60 goals scored and conceded eight. They fiinshed atop the standings and repeated as provincial champions, defeating Summerside and Sherwood to win the cup. The Prince Edward Island Soccer Association recently held its annual general meeting with a couple of new board members being elected by the 12 member clubs. From left are Bruce Norton, outgoing board member; Kirk McAleer, new president; John Diamond, outgoing president; and Bill McKinnon, incoming vice-president. McAleer takes over the position after having served as vice-president. Diamond had guided the organization since 2012. MacKinnon has a long history in the game as an administrator with the Eastern Eagles S.C. as well as chairman of numerous national club championship host committees. Norton oversaw the technical development of the game with the association. He has been involved with the association since its incorporation in 1979.
They were champions at both the Central Queens Clippers and Codiac Cup (New Brunswick) tournaments. Andrew
Coach
Dobson was recognized as coach of the year for his knowledge, passion and dedication, as well as his players’ improved soccer skills.
He coached the Summerside United under-15 premier girls. They finished the regular season tied for third place with a 3-4-3 record and defeated .C. United 1-0 in the quarterfinals and Kensington 4-0 in the semifinal, setting the stage for the championship game against Hillsborough United, which they won in a shootout.
Recognition
Matteo LeClair, of the Stratford S.C., received the Lowell Stewart Memorial Award, which recognizes skill development, dedication, sportsmanship and support within a club.
Referee
Aiden O’Regan, Souris, was presented the senior referee award while Emyvale’s Adele Arsenault earned the junior referee of the year honours.
O’Regan has brought a wealth of experience to P.E.I. from his native Ireland, having once been a national referee for 15 years and a nominated FIFA official. He has refereed at many of the top tournaments throughout Europe. O’Regan takes charge of many of the top-level games, including UPEI, Holland College, and P.E.I. F.C.
Arsenault has grown in maturity and confidence, and now takes charge of many high-level under-13 games in the province, as well as acting as assistant from games under-15 and up, including senior.
She has grown as referee, despite a busy schedule that saw her playing on the Canada Games team. She was an assistant and referee for the under-13 and -14 Atlantic all-stars competition, and her performances were so good she was given the referee assignment for the under-13 girls’ championship game.
Volunteer
Juanita Diamond was named the Alan Godfrey volunteer of the year.
A board member of the Winsloe-Charlottetown Royals club for many years, she is the first to help out at the canteen when it needs manning, and this past year she re-designed and organized the club’s equipment room with new shelving and racks for better storage.
Diamond’s biggest strength is her organization, and for many years she has taken on the task of organizing the annual tournament, which attracts more than 60 teams.
Administrator
Wendy MacLaren has been the Morell Strikers club president since 2007. She has helped build a steady club that plays a very important role in the community.