With the 2009 soccer season well underway, there are a number of strong programs that will battle to the last game for the right to represent the ACAC at the CCAA Championships hosted in Ontario. Below is a brief summary of the women’s and men’s divisions.

Women’s Soccer - North Division

Keyano College
Keyano College Women’s soccer is excited about this season.  The Huskies squad will see a number of new faces this season as they only have 7 returning players from last season’s team. However some of the new faces to the Huskies team are not new to college/university competition. We have a player who has transferred from Grande Prairie , and another who has experience at the CIS level joining us this season. In addition to these players the Huskies have a few of club team players from Winnipeg, Red Deer, and Fort McMurray to round out the roster.

King's University College
This season we have 12 returning athletes, which is one of our strongest returning years yet. Our depth is greater and we hope to see that show on the field from our starting line up, through to our second stringers. We have a few key recruits that will add to our offensive strategies and scoring opportunities. Veteran goalie Katie Wallbaum will lead the team from the back with her experience and excellent goal tending abilities. The season looks to be a very exciting one!

Concordia University College of Alberta
The Concordia University College of Alberta Thunder Women’s soccer team is looking forward to the 2009-10 season with a roster of 9 new players joining the 11 returning players from the 2008 ACAC Silver Medalist team along with 5 athletes from the provincial silver medalist U-18 girls team. In addition to the veteran leadership of the returning players the Thunder has also added more finishing ability up front with key recruits Forward Lindsay Vicente, and more grit in the midfield with Justine Thompson. Head Coach Dean Cordeiro is excited about the new players and confident in his returning players. “We’ve got a perfect mix of rookies and veterans. With two of our three ACAC All-Star players returning for another year we have great leadership. The team is ready for a competitive season” says Coach Cordeiro about the 2009 squad.

MacEwan University
This years MacEwan Griffins will once again have a good number of rookies to introduce to the ACAC.   In addition to ACAC all-stars Danica Miller and Ardyn Melnyk, we are also fortunate to see the return of alumni players Jennie Perri and Kristy Bottriel as well as fourth year Captain Courtney McKinnon.  The continual mix of new and old always presents a dynamic opportunity for the team to excel and develop each year.  The Lady Griffins are looking forward to another hard fought year in the ACAC North.

NAIT
With last year’s head coach Sergio Teixeira taking a year’s leave of absence, assistant M.P. Duxbury takes over a NAIT squad that features a mix of promising rookies and returning veterans. The team will be led by CCAA All Canadian Alex Mah a third year player who will look to control the midfield and a number of returning vets , including Michelle D’Angelo, Alison Pierce and transfer Lisa Martin.  Look for the Ooks to challenge for a playoff spot in the hotly contested ACAC North.