OUA announces 2016 Women's Soccer Major Awards and All-Stars

BURLINGTON, Ont. – Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is excited to announce the 2016 OUA women's soccer major awards and all-stars.

It was a season of firsts for the UOIT Ridgebacks.  Following a 13-2-1 regular season, UOIT finished in first place in the OUA East Division for the first time in program history and now have their first Most Valuable Player award winner in school history as Ridgebacks defender Kylie Bordeleau (Cambridge, Ont.) has been honoured following an outstanding season. 

The Cambridge, Ont. native shored up a staunch UOIT defence that allowed only nine goals against in 16 games, the lowest mark in the division.  Appearing in 15 games for the Ridgebacks, Bordeleau scored a pair of goals on her way to also being named an OUA first-team all-star for a third straight season.

Following a fantastic freshman second in the conference, Ridgebacks midfielder Rhiannon Kissel (Peterborough, Ont.) has been named OUA East Division Rookie of the Year.  In her first season, the Thomas A Stewart SS graduate appeared in 15 games for UOIT and finished tied for the league lead in goals with 14.  Kissel becomes the second UOIT player in the past three seasons to bring home the award, following in the footsteps of midfielder Katherine Koehler-Grassau (Greely, Ont.), who was named Rookie of the Year in 2014.   

Koehler-Grassau finished tied for fourth in goals (5) on a potent Ridgebacks lineup that led the conference with 60 goals in just 16 games.  The Greely, Ont. native is an OUA first-team all-star for a third straight season and this year is joined by Ridgebacks goalkeeper Helen Frampton (Toronto, Ont.), defender Sara Voisin (Waterloo, Ont.), and forward Cassandra Sribny (Pickering, Ont.), all of which are first-team all-stars for the first time in their careers.

In 14 games this season, Frampton led the league in wins (10) while her goals against average (0.65) and save percentage (.855) both ranked in the top 10.  In addition to being a shutdown defender for the Ridgebacks, Voisin, who was named a second-team all-star in 2014, also showed she could find the back of the net, scoring three goals in 14 games. Sribny, who was also named a second-team all-star in 2014, appeared in all 16 games this season for UOIT and finished second on the team behind Kissel with nine goals.

Ridgebacks forward Taijah Henderson (Ajax, Ont.) will represent UOIT on the second-team this season and is an OUA all-star for the first time in just her second season in the league.

Coming off a historic season, UOIT head coach Peyvand Mossavat has been named OUA East Division Coach of the Year for the second time in the past three seasons.  This is the fourth time Mossavat has won the award, previously bringing home the honours in 2012 with UOIT and in 2007 while coaching the Ryerson Rams.

uOttawa finished third in the OUA East Division behind the aforementioned Ridgebacks and the Gee-Gees roster features a pair of first-team all-stars as midfielders Katherine Bearne (Halifax, NS) and Morgan McNeil (Ottawa, Ont.) have been selected.

Appearing in all 16 games during the regular season for the Gee-Gees, Bearne led the team with seven points, while her three goals tied her for third.  In just her second season, the Halifax, NS native is an OUA all-star for the second time in her career.

After being named an OUA first-team all-star in 2014, McNeil is back on the squad this year after starting all 16 games for her hometown Gee-Gees, scoring one goal and one assist.

 A trio of defenders, Kayla Da Costa-Pacheco (Gatineau, Que.), Brooklynn McAlear-Fanus (Ottawa, Ont.) and rookie Cooper Lee (Toronto, Ont.) will infuse some garnet and grey into the OUA East Division second-team.

For the first time since 2013, the Laurentian roster features an OUA first-team all-star and in 2016, two Voyageurs, defender Amy Fitzgerald (Mississauga, Ont.) and midfielder Catherine Rocca (Woodbridge, Ont.), have been selected to the squad.

After being named a second-team all-star a season ago, Fitzgerald is an OUA first-team all-star for the first time her career after she appeared in all 16 games, anchoring a stingy Vees defence that only allowed 1.18 goals against per game.  In just her second year, Rocca appeared in 15 games for Laurentian, scoring a pair of goals, while adding an assist.     

Laurentian forward Sarah Sanford (Napanee, Ont.) will represent the Voyageurs as an OUA second-team for a second consecutive year.

The Voyageurs roster also features a major award winner as defender Allison Pilon (Whitby, Ont.) has been recognized for her accomplishments away from the pitch with the OUA East Division Community Service Award. 

Since 2007, Pilon has been involved with "Free the Children" where she volunteers domestically and international to help raise funds to build a school in Kenya.  The third-year health promotion major has also volunteered with the organization on several other events, including We Day, Water Walk and Vow of Silence.  In addition to travelling to Kenya, Pilon has visited China to build clean water systems as well as to Costa Rica where she taught English while assisting with sustainable community development projects.  Back at home, the Whitby, Ont. native gives regularly of her time to the girls' junior and senior soccer teams at Father Leo J Austin Secondary School.

After leading the Varsity Blues in goals and finishing third overall in the conference, Toronto forward Natasha Klasios (Unionville, Ont.) is an OUA first-team all-star for a second consecutive season.  In just her second season, the Unionville, Ont. also finishing tied for third in points (14) in 16 games this season for Toronto.

While Klasios is the lone Blues player named to the first-team, the Toronto team features four second-team selections, as goalkeeper Tori Edgar (Oakville, Ont.), defender Laura Krkachovski (Markham, Ont.) and midfielders Chelsea Cheung (Toronto, Ont.) and Nicki Parkes (Sarnia, Ont.) have been honoured.

Coming off a fifth place finish with a 7-4-5 regular season record, the Ravens roster features three OUA all-star selections for the first time since 2013 when four players were named.  Ravens defender Melat Cherent (Ottawa, Ont.) is a first-team selection after she started in 16 games for Carleton and played a prominent role in a defensive unit that averaged a measly one goal against per game.

Midfielders Abby Nicastro (Ottawa, Ont.) and Sarah Zutrauen (Ottawa, Ont.) will represent the hometown Ravens on the OUA second-team.

In just her first season in OUA, Windsor Lancers midfielder Abby Hunt (Macclesfield, England) took the league by storm and has been named OUA West Division Most Valuable Player and a first-team all-star.  Hunt, who played for Faillibroome Academy before joining the Lancers prior to this season, finished second on the team with eight goals while appearing in 15 games.  The Macclesfield, England native becomes the first Lancer to be named MVP.

Joining Hunt as OUA West Division first-team all-stars is goaltender Krystin Lawrence (Tecumseh, Ont.) and defender Keely Baggio (Chatham, Ont.).

Lawrence, who splits her time between the Lancers women's soccer and women's hockey teams, finished the year with a 0.64 goals against average to go along with a .833 save percentage.  The Tecumseh, Ont. native recorded shutouts in 50% of her starts with six clean sheets in 12 games.

Along with Lawrence, Baggio is a major reason the Lancers only allowed 10 goals against during the regular season, as the second-year bio-science & biotechnology major anchored the Lancers back line.

Lancers midfielder Giulia Barile (Tecumseh, Ont.) and forward Becca Fuerth (Woodslee, Ont.) are OUA all-stars for the second time in as many seasons as the pair have once again been named to the second-team.

Following a 6-10 season in 2015, Gryphons head coach Randy Ragan has been named OUA West Division Coach of the Year after he led Guelph to a third place finish in the division with a 9-2-5 record.  This is the second time Ragan has been recognized with the award and the first time since 2011 when he previously earned the honour.

Ragan will be the first person to point to his players for the Gryphons on-field success this season as the Guelph roster features four OUA first- and second-team all-stars for the first time since 2013, including the OUA West Division Rookie of the Year, forward Victoria Hinchliffe (Guelph, Ont.).

In just her first season with her hometown Gryphons, Hinchliffe, who was also named an OUA first-team all-star, led the team with nine goals while appearing in all 16 regular season games for Guelph.

Defender Allison Clouse (Oakville, Ont.) joins Hinchliffe as an OUA first-team all-star selection after helping to solidify a Gryphons defensive unit that only allowed six goals against all season.

A big reason for that was the play of Gryphons goalkeeper Elizabeth Brenneman (Baden, Ont.) who has been named a second-team all-star.  After allowing two goals against on Sept. 24 against Western, Brenneman turned aside every shot she faced over her final six games. 

Also joining Brenneman on the team is Guelph midfielder Andrea Cimino (London, Ont.).

York finished atop the OUA West Division for a second straight season and five Lions have been recognized with all-star nods, including midfielders Marilyn Grammenopoulos (Whitby, Ont.) and Kiyani Johnson (Markham, Ont.), along with striker Nour Ghoneim (Aurora, Ont.).

In her fifth and final season with the Lions, Grammenopoulos is a first-team all-star for a third straight year after she provided support for both the Lions offence and defence.  Johnson is an OUA all-star for the first time after she finished second on the team with seven goals and two assists.  Ghoneim, the 2014 and 2015 OUA West Division MVP, tied with UOIT's Kissel for the league lead with 14 goals in 15 games.

After being named a first-team selection a season ago Lions defenders Tomika McIntosh (Bradford, Ont.) and Peyton Lozzi (King City, Ont.), will represent York on the second-team this time around.

The Western Mustangs will be in search of their first title since 2004 as they get set to host the OUA Women's Soccer Final Four this weekend and with a roster that features four all-star selections, you have to like their chances.

Defender Jenna White (Winnipeg, Man.) has been recognized for her strong defensive play on a Mustangs squad at allowed an average of 0.47 goals against this season.  While White was helping keep the ball out of the net, midfielder Stefanie Di Tella (Mississauga, Ont.) was filling it up at the opposite end as the fourth-year nutrition major finished tied for second on the team with seven goals.

Mustangs' defender Sabrina De Nard (London, Ont.) and midfielder Sonja Cvetkovic (London, Ont.) will infuse a little purple into the second-team as the pair are first-time all-star selections.

Waterloo Warriors defender Alisia Mar (Waterloo, Ont.) has been recognized with the OUA West Division Community Award for her contributions within the local Waterloo community. 

Not only is Mar a leader on the pitch for the Warriors but off it as well as the Waterloo, Ont. native dedicates her free time to volunteering with various youth soccer initiatives.  On campus, the fourth-year geoscience major spearheads fundraising efforts for women's soccer team and is a fantastic role model for younger players.  

The Marauders have two all-stars on their roster for the first time 2011 as defender Sarah Fettah (Milton, Ont.) and Stephanie Roberts (Ottawa, Ont.) have both been named OUA West Division second-team all-stars.

Rounding out the first-team selections is Brock Badgers defender Alicia Robinson (Dundas, Ont.), while Laurier Golden Hawks midfielder Katie Bishop (Surrey, B.C.) is the final piece of the second-team.

EAST DIVISION MAJOR AWARDS

Most Valuable Player – Kylie Bordeleau – UOIT Ridgebacks
Rookie of the Year – Rhiannon Kissel – UOIT Ridgebacks
Coach of the Year – Peyvand Mossavat – UOIT Ridgebacks
Community Service Award – Allison Pilon – Laurentian Voyageurs

WEST DIVISION MAJOR AWARDS

Most Valuable Player – Abby Hunt – Windsor Lancers
Rookie of the Year – Victoria Hinchliffe – Guelph Gryphons
Coach of the Year – Randy Ragan – Guelph Gryphons
Community Service Award – Alisia Mar – Waterloo Warriors

EAST DIVISION FIRST-TEAM ALL-STARS

Helen Frampton – UOIT Ridgebacks – Goalkeeper
Kylie Bordeleau – UOIT Ridgebacks – Defender
Melat Cherent – Carleton Ravens – Defender
Amy Fitzgerald – Laurentian Voyageurs – Defender
Sara Voisin – UOIT Ridgebacks – Defender
Katherine Koehler-Grassau – UOIT Ridgebacks – Midfielder
Katherine Bearne – Ottawa Gee-Gees – Midfielder
Catherine Rocca – Laurentian Voyageurs – Midfielder
Morgan McNeil – Ottawa Gee-Gees – Midfielder
Cassandra Sribny – UOIT Ridgebacks – Forward
Natasha Klasios – Toronto Varsity Blues – Forward
 
EAST DIVISION SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS

Tori Edgar – Toronto Varsity Blues – Goalkeeper
Kayla Da Costa-Pacheco – Ottawa Gee-Gees – Defender
Brooklynn McAlear-Fanus – Ottawa Gee-Gees – Defender
Cooper Lee – Ottawa Gee-Gees – Defender
Laura Krkachovski – Toronto Varsity Blues – Defender
Chelsea Cheung – Toronto Varsity Blues – Midfielder
Abby Nicastro – Carleton Ravens – Midfielder
Nicki Parkes – Toronto Varsity Blues – Midfielder
Sarah Zutrauen – Carleton Ravens – Midfielder
Taijah Henderson – UOIT Ridgebacks – Forward
Sarah Sanford – Laurentian Voyageurs – Forward

WEST DIVISION FIRST-TEAM ALL-STARS

Krystin Lawrence – Windsor Lancers – Goalkeeper
Jenna White – Western Mustangs – Defender
Allison Clouse – Guelph Gryphons – Defender
Alicia Robinson – Brock Badgers – Defender
Keely Baggio – Windsor Lancers – Defender
Abby Hunt – Windsor Lancers – Midfielder
Stefanie Di Tella – Western Mustangs – Midfielder
Marilyn Grammenopoulos – York Lions – Midfielder
Kiyani Johnson – York Lions – Midfielder
Nour Ghoneim – York Lions – Forward
Victoria Hinchliffe – Guelph Gryphons – Forward
 
WEST DIVISION SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS

Elizabeth Brenneman – Guelph Gryphons – Goalkeeper
Peyton Lozzi – York Lions – Defender
Sabrina De Nard – Westen Mustangs – Defender
Tomika McIntosh – York Lions – Defender
Sarah Fettah – McMaster Marauders – Defender
Sonja Cvetkovic – Western Mustangs – Midfielder
Andrea Cimino – Guelph Gryphons – Midfielder
Katie Bishop – Laurier Golden Hawks – Midfielder
Giulia Barile – Windsor Lancers – Midfielder
Becca Fuerth – Windsor Lancers – Forward
Stephanie Roberts – McMaster Marauders – Forward