OUA Announces 2014 Women's Soccer Major Awards and All-Stars

(Photo: Richard A. Whittaker / Lawrence Ho)

HAMILTON, Ont. – The Ottawa Gee-Gees women's soccer team closed out the season on a 15-game winning streak and is heading to OUA Final Four ranked No. 1 in CIS, so it should come as no surprise the team also led the East Division in all-star selections with six.

Goalkeeper Cynthia Leblanc (Granby, Que.), defender Chiara Quadri (White Rock, B.C.), midfielder Morgan McNeil (Ottawa, Ont.), and forwards Pilar Khoury (Ottawa, Ont.) and Julia Francki (Orleans, Ont.) were all named first-team all-stars; midfielder Katherine Bearne (Halifax, N.S.) received second-team honours.

It was a second straight first-team all-star appearance for Leblanc, the league leader in both save percentage (.915) and goals against average (0.30). Khoury, also a first-teamer in 2013, took home the division's Most Valuable Player Award. Khoury led the team in scoring with 14 goals, ranking fourth in the league. It is the third consecutive year a Gee-Gee has won the award; last year it was Francki who received the honour. Both Francki and Quadri made the first-team all-stars in 2013.

The UOIT Ridgebacks became the first varsity team in school history to make the CIS Top10 rankings, and the team is now on its way to a first ever OUA Final Four. One reason for the team's success was the play from its five East Division All-Stars.

Defenders Kylie Bordeleau (Cambridge, Ont.) and Katherine Koehler-Grassau (Greely, Ont.) were both named to the first-team. For Koehler-Grassau, this was just her first season in OUA soccer and took home the East Division Rookie of the Year Award as well. Her strong defensive play was a main reason for the team's success, and she also chipped in offensively scoring two goals this season.

Another Ridgeback defender, Sara Voisin (Waterloo, Ont.), was named a second-team all-star. Joining her with the distinction were, midfielder Kayla De Souza (Scarborough, Ont.) and forward Cassandra Sribny (Pickering, Ont.). Sribny tied for the team lead in goals with seven.

Also taking home major awards were head coach Peyvand Mossavat, who won the Coach of the Year Award for the second time in three seasons and forward Jessica Mithrush (Thunder Bay, Ont.) who won the East Division Community Service Award. The third-year nursing student has made a huge difference in her community by organizing a free soccer camp for inner city children, arranged for the team to volunteer at a local homeless shelter, and also coaches youth house league soccer.

The Toronto Varsity Blues put together a strong 10-4-2 season and send four players to the all-star team. The Blues lone first-team all-star is midfielder Claudia Piazza (Brampton, Ont.). Named a second-team all-star in 2013, Piazza improved even further this season, leading the Blues with seven goals and some strong defensive midfield play.

Goalkeeper Sara Petrucci (Bolton, Ont.), and midfielders Lisa English (Scarborough, Ont.) and Olivia Gonsalves (Scarborough, Ont.) round out the Blues all-star selections, all were named to the second-team.

The Queen's Gaels have two players on the East Division first-team. Defender Melissa Jung (Mississauga, Ont.) and midfielder Jessie de Boer (North Vancouver, B.C.) led the Gaels to a 9-4-3 record and a playoff appearance. De Boer tied for the team lead with eight goals. Forward Brittany Almeida (Kingston, Ont.) was named to the second-team.

Carleton midfielder Veronica Mazzella (Sudbury, Ont.) is a first-team all-star once again. After making the first-team in 2013, Mazzella put together another strong season scoring one goal, while providing the Ravens with strong defensive play in the middle. Defender Alexandra McIntyre (Waterloo, Ont.) is the only other Ravens all-star, receiving second-team honours.

The Ryerson Rams and Laurentian Voyageurs each have one player named an East Division all-star.

From Ryerson, defender Sarah Slattery (St. Catharines, Ont.) receives second-team honours, as does Laurentian defender Allison Pilon (Whitby, Ont.).

In the OUA West Division, the defending OUA champion Laurier Golden Hawks have six players off their roster named West Division All-Stars.

Leading the way is forward Emily Brown (Waterloo, Ont.), last season's MVP tied for first in OUA with 21 goals and finds herself on the first-team all-star roster once again. Three teammates join Brown on the first-team; defender Kelsey Tikka (Thunder Bay, Ont.), and midfielders Katie Bishop (Surrey, B.C.) and Julie Maheu (Oakville, Ont.). All four athletes made the first-team in 2013. Making the second team from Laurier were defender Pauline McCordic (North Vancouver, B.C.) and midfielder Jessica Craig (Pickering, Ont.). McCordic's all-star selection was accompanied by the West Division Rookie of the Year Award. The first-year athlete was an integral part of the Golden Hawks defence, appearing in all but one of the team's games.

The York Lions also boast six all-stars this season, including the West Division Most Valuable Player Award winner.

Forward Nour Ghoneim (Aurora, Ont.) took home the MVP trophy in one the most talented fields of candidates in recent memory. Leading the Lions to a 12-2-2 record, Ghoneim finished third in the league with a team-leading 17 goals, while appearing in all 16 of York's games.

Midfielder Sarah Wong (Toronto, Ont.) is again a first-team all-star after receiving the honour in 2013. Defenders Shannon Wood (Brampton, Ont.) and Taylor Lyons (Brampton, Ont.), along with midfielder Marilyn Grammenopoulos (Whitby, Ont.) round out the Lions first-team selections. Midfielder Aisha Lewis (Mississauga, Ont.) was the only Lion named a second-team all-star.

Five Western Mustangs athletes have been named all-stars as the team prepares to head to the Final Four.

Goalkeeper Tori Edgar (Oakville, Ont.) receives first-team honours for the second straight season. Edgar led the West Division with a 0.42 goals against average in 2014. In front of her, defender Jessi Couto (London, Ont.) was named to the first-team, while two other Mustangs defenders, Jenna White (Winnipeg, Man.) and Lauren Vandenbygaart (Oakville, Ont.) were named to the second-team.

Amanda Boyle (Vaughan, Ont.) put together another stellar campaign, tying for the league lead with 21 goals. In most other seasons Boyle likely would have earned a first-team selection, however, in stiff competition with Brown and Ghoneim this year, Boyle's season landed her second-team honours. Joining Boyle on the second-team, and rounding out Western's all-star selection is midfielder Jessica Friend (Bomanville, Ont.).

Two Windsor Lancers received second-team all-star recognition this season; midfielder Laura Leece (Tecumseh, Ont.) and forward Bella Riccardi (Tecumseh, Ont.) The two seniors provided Windsor with strong defensive play and veteran leadership throughout the year. Lancers head coach Steve Hart was named West Division Coach of the Year for leading Windsor to an 8-7-1 season; it is the third straight season the team has improved its record.

The Guelph Gryphons and McMaster Marauders are each represented with one second-team all-star.

From Guelph, defender Sarah Magalhaes (Ajax, Ont.) receives the honour, while from McMaster it is goalkeeper Brittany Duffey (Markham, Ont.).

Women's Soccer All-Stars

East Division First-Team All-Stars

Cynthia Leblanc – Goalkeeper – Ottawa

Chiara Quadri – Defender – Ottawa

Kylie Bordeleau – Defender – UOIT

Melissa Jung – Defender – Queen's

Katherine Koehler-Grassau – Defender – UOIT

Jessie de Boer – Midfielder – Queen's

Morgan McNeil – Midfielder – Ottawa

Veronica Mazzella – Midfielder – Carleton

Claudia Piazza – Midfielder – Toronto

Pilar Khoury – Forward – Ottawa

Julia Francki – Forward – Ottawa

East Division Second-Team All-Stars

Sara Petrucci – Goalkeeper – Toronto

Alexandra McIntyre – Defender – Carleton

Sara Voisin – Defender – UOIT

Sarah Slattery – Defender – Ryerson

Allison Pilon – Defender – Laurentian

Katherine Breame – Midfielder – Ottawa

Kayla Desouza – Midfielder – UOIT

Lisa English – Midfielder –Toronto

Olivia Gonsalves – Midfielder –Toronto

Brittany Almeida – Forward – Queen's

Cassandra Sribny – Forward –UOIT

East Division Rookie of the Year

Katherine Koehler-Grassau – Defender – UOIT

East Division Most Valuable Player

Pilar Khoury – Forward – Ottawa

East Division Coach of the Year

Peyvand Mossavat – UOIT

East Division Community Service Award

Jessica Mithrush – Forward – UOIT

West Division First-Team All-Stars

Tori Edgar – Goalkeeper – Western

Jessi Couto – Defender – Western

Kelsey Tikka – Defender – Laurier

Shannon Wood – Defender – York

Taylor Lyons – Defender – York

Sarah Wong – Midfielder – York

Katie Bishop – Midfielder – Laurier

Marilyn Grammenopoulos – Midfielder – York

Julie Maheu – Midfielder – Laurier

Emily Brown – Forward – Laurier

Nour Ghoneim – Forward – York

West Division Second-Team All-Stars

Brittany Duffey – Goalkeeper – McMaster

Pauline McCordic – Defender – Laurier

Jenna White – Defender – Western

Sarah Magalhaes – Defender – Guelph

Lauren Vandenbygaart – Defender – Western

Jessica Friend – Midfielder – Western

Aisha Lewis – Midfielder – York

Jess Craig – Midfielder – Laurier

Laura Leece – Midfielder – Windsor

Amanda Boyle – Forward – Western

Bella Riccardi – Forward – Windsor

West Division Rookie of the Year

Pauline McCordic – Defender – Laurier

West Division Most Valuable Player

Nour Ghoneim – Forward – York

West Division Coach of the Year

Steve Hart – Windsor