Queens Soccer 2017-2018 Preview
2016-2017 Review
Regular season: 4-4-2
The RDC Queens placed 4th in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Soccer South Division and narrowly missed the playoffs.
2016-2017 Awards
ACAC Women's South All-Conference team – Chelsea Webster (defence) and Jessie Stewart (goalkeeper)
RDC Athletics Awards Night
Coach's Award – Krysten Strand
Most Improved Player – Kaitlin D'Arcy
Rookie of the Year – Riley Morey
Most Valuable Player– Chelsea Webster
2017-2018
Head Coach, Esad Elkaz, will enter his first year as the coach of the Queens but has over 12 years of competitive coaching experience.
"My philosophy is to develop a positive environment for the advancement of soccer, soccer skills and the knowledge of the game," says Elkaz. "By improving the skill level and knowledge of the game, winning will be the end result."
Assistant coaches - Deanne Good, Admir Sarcevic, Katrina Rennie
Returning players
Goalkeeper - Kayla Kaip (Bachelor of Kinesiology/Humboldt)
Defence - Krysten Strand (Bachelor of Arts/Calgary), Chelsea Webster (Bachelor of Science in Nursing/Calgary), Jaden Humphrey (Bachelor of Education – Elementary/Red Deer)
Midfielders - Nicole Phillips (Bachelor of Education – Elementary/Carstairs), Malinka Voytechek (Bachelor of Education – Secondary/Camrose)
"Being the technical director for the Red Deer City Soccer Association (RDCSA) and coaching in the Alberta Major Soccer League (AMSL), I know the capability of all of the returning players," says Elkaz. "I know that they are very skilled technically and tactically."
New players
Goalkeeper - Erin Gill (Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences/Red Deer)
Defence – Brownyn Pfeifle (Bachelor of Arts/Lacombe)
Midfielders – Alexandra Murphy (Open Studies/Red Deer), Reesa Garez (Open Studies/Stettler), Corrin Graham (Bachelor of Science in Nursing/Winnipeg), Kayla Yeo (Bachelor of Kinesiology/Calgary), Natasha Saleem (Open Studies/Calgary), Teryn Wright (Bachelor of Kinesiology/Sherwood Park)
Forwards - Adama Soumah (Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Hamilton), Haley Nassichuk-Dean (Bachelor of Science/Crossfield)
"The new players are very eager to prove that they belong at the college level," says Elkaz. "They bring a lot of speed to the game."
Not returning - Jessie Stewart, Chelseay Campkin, Mikaela Kykkanen, Riley Morey, Brooklyn Davies, Roxanne Unrau, Kaitlin D'Arcy, Taylor Heist, Olivia Orman, Kailey Turner
2016-2017 ACAC Women's Soccer South All-Conference team selection Jessie Stewart is one significant departure in goal but promising first year Erin Gill will help solidify the position along with Kaip.
In a pair of non-conference games, the RDC Queens defeated the University of Alberta (Augustana) Vikings 2-1 and played to a 2-2 draw against the Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves. It was a good test against the Wolves, who won ACAC silver last season. "At the start of the preseason in August, I realized that I have a very skilled team in all positions," says Elkaz. "In the games, I liked the Queens' work ethic, chemistry between teammates, positive attitude and understanding of the game."
The regular season begins in Lethbridge on Saturday, September 9 at 2:00 pm against the Kodiaks.
Concordia University will host the 2017-2018 ACAC Women's Soccer Championship October 28-30, 2017 at the Concordia University of Edmonton Field.