Women's soccer re-vamps for 2010-11 season

After claiming an ACAC silver medal last season, the 2010-11 edition of the Mount Royal University Cougars women’s soccer team is looking to re-vamp and re-energize come September, and with the addition of four new faces, the Cougars look well on their way to recapturing ACAC gold.

Gillian Doubleday

Joining the fray, come September is former Cougar standout Gillian Doubleday, who starred with the Cougars in 2003-04 as well as in 2005-06, before joining the SAIT Trojans in 2007-08.

During her time with Mount Royal, Gillian accumulated an outstanding 24 goals in only 23 games leaving her second on the Cougars all-time goal scorers list behind former teammate Julie Cook, with 26 goals.

Gillian will look to provide the Cougars with some much needed ‘big game’ scoring punch, as the team lost a narrow 1-0 decision to the Concordia Thunder in last year’s ACAC final – a feat the team is hoping to improve upon.

Gillian will be hoping to enroll in the Social Work diploma at MRU.

Kristan Votta

Midfielder Kristan Votta, will be joining the MRU Cougars for the ‘10 season after transferring from the Medicine Hat Rattlers soccer program.

The 5’2” Bachelor of Education transfer student will provide versatility and strength to the Cougars mid-field as she earned South Division all-star honours last season, for her consistent and reliable play in the middle.

“I can’t take the credit for recruiting Votta rather she looked to come to MRU for her own personal growth – we just happened to win the lotto,” said Cougars head coach Tino Fusco.

Votta look to enroll in the Bachelor of Education transfer program.

Kristin Deeks

Joining Votta in the mid-field is local Calgary graduate and current Calgary Football U18 squad member Kristin Deeks.

Deeks is expected to fight for a spot come September, and will join a Cougars mid-field that is losing perennial ACAC all-star Tina Basi, a void coach Fusco, hopes she can fill.

Luci Tansley

Last but not least, is defender Luci Tansley. Tansley, a teammate of Deeks and also a member of the Calgary Foothills Soccer club, is looking to earn a starting position after earning a U18 National gold medal last season with the Foothills club. Known more as stay at home defender coach Fusco hopes to improve the offensive side of her games as she grows into a complete player with the Cougars.

Luci will look to enter the Business Program at MRU come the fall.

Overall, coach Fusco is impressed with the first round of commitments for his squad, and hopes to add in another big name recruit or two before the season officially gets underway on September 11th, versus the Votta’s former team, the Medicine Hat Rattlers.

Congratulations and best of luck to our four new Cougars!