Concordia Stingers Women’s Soccer Preview: New Groove

Women’s Soccer Team Look To Climb Up The Standing After Undefeated Preseason

SportsAlexander Perez — Published September 6, 2016

It was a rather lackluster season last fall for head coach Jorge Sanchez and his staff. The Stingers finished in sixth place in the Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec with a 4-9-1 record and ten points out of a playoff spot.

Last season’s Stingers squad had displayed several impressive performances, but were not decisive enough to show the results—a problem Sanchez looks to rectify this time around.

“I think if we can cut down with the goals against especially early in the game,” said Sanchez “Until we find our way, until we’re scoring goals regularly against CIS opposition, we have to make sure we defend well and we take advantage.”

Despite a handful of departures from the team, including star forward Katelyn Fournier, Sanchez wasted no time integrating new players to help boost his team.

“We added some CIS ready players right away,” said Sanchez

“We’re deeper, we have a lot more options and variety in the way we’re gonna play.” said Sanchez. “The biggest [difference] I think, from last year, is most of our rookies were 20 years up, so we have a more mature, self aware team, so the girls coming in are more CIS ready, they know what their roles gonna be, and it shows.”

“As opposed to last season, we have a lot of new rookies that are bit older. So now we have some more experienced players.” said last season’s rookie of the year, Laura Lamontagne

As a former central defender, Sanchez has preferred a more defensive minded approach, but the Stingers seemed to have found a new groove. The Stingers went undefeated in preseason, winning three and drawing one, including a convincing 3-0 win over the State University of New York in Plattsburgh Cardinals.

The team displayed a strong tactical performance at midfield and were quick on the attack. The Stingers’ ability to find the short passes was an aspect to their game that sorely lacked last season.

After an impressive preseason, and a summer of recruitment, the Stingers will looks to make their mark, and make a significant rise in the standings.

“We’re gonna be hard working as always, but we’re gonna really thrive to win. This year is our year.” said Lamontagne

The Stingers looked to have started their season off on a positive, grabbing a point away from home with a 1-1 draw over rivals the McGill Martlets. However the Stingers will feel they should’ve gained all three points if it wasn’t for a late striker by Martlets forward Striker Daphnee Morency.

The Stingers will look to seal all three points on Friday, September 9 as they face the Université de Montréal Carabins in their home opener.