OCAA honours Thunder women

By Courtney Rodriguez

rodr0086@algonquincollege.com

After an impressive start to their season, the Thunder women’s soccer team was named the Women’s Team of the Week by the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association on Sept. 24.
The team faced off against the top two ranked teams in the province, the Durham Lords and Seneca Sting, on back-to-back nights. They finished off the week with a 1-1 tie against Durham on Sept. 19 and a close 1-0 win over Seneca on Sept. 20.
Stephanie Young scored the tie goal against Durham. Tamara den Hartigh scored against Seneca, with goalie Melissa Urguhart in net for both matches.
Team captains Ally Pross and Allie Browne expressed excitement, and relief, over the game outcomes against their high-ranked rivals.
“It’s smooth sailing after this [week],” said Browne.
The Thunder will next face Durham and Seneca at the OCAA provincial tournament held at Algonquin on Oct. 24-25.
Browne and Pross credit off-the-field activities with their teammates for keeping chemistry and friendships strong amongst the team.
“We’re together seven days a week,” said Pross. “We’re all pretty close.”
“I was proud of the girls,” said coach Garth Gittens. “They played quite well.”
His goal for the team is to continue to “improve from last year” and raise the level of their game, no matter who they are playing, said Gittens. “I’ll be happy (with the team) if they play to their ability.”