Stingers Soccer Previews

A Look Ahead To Your Stingers Soccer Teams

SportsLeigha Vegh & Jordan Namur — Published August 26, 2014

Men’s Soccer

In his second year coaching the men’s soccer team, former Montreal Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton is banking on a more defensive team to end the playoff drought of ten seasons.

“Defensively, we are going to be a lot stronger,” said Sutton, “which was important for us to rectify because last year we weren’t the greatest defensive team in the league.”

Last season, the Stingers had five wins and seven losses, a less-than-average run, which saw them void of a playoff spot. With 27 goals against, the highest in the league, a lack of a strong defense was apparent.

Another area Sutton is looking to improve during training camp is endurance and conditioning, as he felt the team “wasn’t in the best of shape going into the season,” something he learned was detrimental to their performance last year.

Veteran forward Gabriel Quinn, who scored two goals last season, agreed that physical fitness has already been a challenge in training camp this year.

“It’s been rough considering we have [had] two or three months without any physical training,” he said.

Sutton is banking on some new high-profile recruits, some of which he had a hand in bringing to the team, to bring the Stingers to the playoffs this year.

“We’ve brought in a bunch of new players,” said Sutton. “That’s going to bring more quality to our team,”

“My [expectation] for these guys is to go out and win a championship, to win a league title,” he added.

The Stingers open their regular season on Sept. 7 at the Concordia Stadium against the McGill Redmen at 1 p.m.

-Leigha Vegh

Women’s Soccer

Video by Shaun Michaud

After a season where the women’s team finished with a 5-9 record and missed the playoffs by only one point, the Stingers are looking to put themselves back in the playoffs. They haven’t reached the playoffs since the 2006-2007 season.

Stingers head coach Jorge Sanchez, who enters his 12th season behind the bench, shared an optimistic approach about his expectations for the season.

“I think this is a team that can get into the playoffs. Once you get there, anything is possible,” Sanchez said.

The Stingers have sought to fortify their defense with additions like defender/midfielder Laurence Thivierge, defenders Courtney Lundell Streeter, Elisa Spadafino and goalkeeper Rebecca Bensimon. In addition, the Stingers have added striker Keisha Lewis and midfielder Rachel Dragan.

Despite the numerous additions to their defense and midfield, all in the hopes of allowing fewer goals this season, Sanchez doesn’t intend on holding his team back offensively.

“I’m not a coach that likes to sit back and play anti-soccer. I like a little flair in the game,” he said. 

The season kicks off on Sept. 5 against Bishop’s University at 6:30 p.m. at the Loyola campus. 

-Jordan Namur