Lancer women have high hopes this season
Trio of defenders sidelined last year return to reinforce Final Four team
The University of Windsor Lancers women’s soccer team has very high hopes for this season.
The club is coming off its first OUA Final Four appearance in school history in 2016 and that was done with four key players sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
“This year, I think we can make it to nationals with this team,” Lancers striker Cassie Chretien said. “We were really close last year and this year, with this depth, I think we’ll have a really good team with a good chance.”
The Lancers open the OUA season at home Friday against the Guelph Gryphons at Alumni Field. Game time is 6 p.m. and the club will have three of those four players who suffered ACL injuries — all on defence — back and cleared to play in Keely Baggio, Jordan Carr and Jenysis Gordon.
“The three of us were the three defenders that played across the back two years ago,” the 19-yearold Baggio said. “I’m really excited to be back because it’s really crappy not being able to play.”
As a freshman, Mayah Facey stepped in to fill the void when the trio of defenders went down and the Lancers have also added local product Maggie Lyons, who is a former provincial player. Freshman Jade Samping, from Holy Names high school, should also see time along with Sarah Robertson.
The Lancers won’t know until October if midfielder Abby Hunt, who was the West Division MVP a year ago, is ready to return from ACL surgery.
However, head coach Steve Hart has plenty of options at midfield with fifth-year players Giulia Barile, Becca Fuerth and Jazmin Martin. Paiten Stephens had a strong return last season from a broken ankle while lefty Jessica Paglia moves over from St. Clair College and freshman Amanda Anger also figures in the mix.
“When I was in my first year, it was good, but we didn’t have a super deep team and now we do,” Baggio said. “I’m really excited because I think we can do some damage.”
The 20-year-old Chretien starts up front, but freshmen Sophia Ferrazzo and Savannah Marra
will push for time.
All-star goalie Krystin Lawrence returns and the two-sport star has a very capable backup ready to go in Krissy Brooks.
“The team is looking sharp,” Hart said. “We went to the (OUA) Final Four last year and our numbers were a little low, but we’re going to have depth this season.
“We came second in the OUA West (Division), so the target is to win the OUA west. The other target is that I want to go to nationals. I want to win that first game (at the OUA Final Four) and go to nationals.”