World Youth Bid Withdrawn

By KATHY RUMLESKI -- London Free Press
April 22, 2005

A London soccer group has withdrawn from a process that could have seen the city play a role in the 2007 world youth soccer championship.

An intent to bid for first-round games was filed with the Canadian Soccer Association in January by the London Gryphons, an elite women's team that begins play next month in the U.S.-based W-League.

The team will eventually play at a stadium to be built on a 12-hectare parcel of land on Adelaide Street north of Windermere Road. That complex was a key part of the city's bid.

"We removed our bid because I'm not sure if the stadium will be ready in time," Gryphons GM and part- owner Aldo Caranci said yesterday.

"We didn't want to end up with a black eye in not having a portion of the facility ready for the event."

Eleven other cities submitted intents to bid for a host role at the world tournament but Hamilton, Winnipeg and Calgary also withdrew.

Six cities will hold first-round games, with Toronto and Edmonton playing major roles.

Although the planned London stadium won't see an international soccer tournament in the near future, the facility may be ready for the 2006 world field lacrosse championship. That tournament will be played at several locations throughout the city.

The International Lacrosse Federation, the Gryphons, London United Soccer Club and Fanshawe Optimists are some of the groups involved in the facility project, which calls for eight multi-use fields to be built and seating for 5,500.

"The groups come together and we all have expertise in our area," Caranci said.

"I think we should be in the ground in the next 30 to 60 days."

Canada Defeats Scotland 3-0

Sunday, April 17, 2005

Canada Defeats Scotland 3-0

Canada’s U16 National Team (1989) defeated Scotland 3-0 on Saturday at the Soccer Centre in Vaughan, Ontario.

Following an even 2-2 result on Thursday against Scotland, the Canadians dominated in this second encounter as forward Todd Rutledge of London, Ontario scored in the 55th and 68th minutes.

Midfielder Fabrice Lassonde of Mt-St-Gregoire, Quebec netted the third in the 82nd minute.

Saturday, April 16, 2005 - International Friendly
The Soccer Centre - Vaughan, ON, Canada
CANADA – 3 (0)
SCOTLAND – 0 (0)
Goals: CANADA – Rutledge 55, 68; Lassonde 82
CANADA: 2–OWUSU-ANSAH Kennedy; 3–ATTAKORA, Nana (4–SMITH, Liam 84’); 6–MELO, Joey; 8–PEREIRA, Michael (Captain); 9–RUTLEDGE, Todd (10–GAUDET, Derek 89’); 12–HABER, Marcus; 13–AUGRUSO, Adam; 15-LASSONDE, Fabrice; 16–ROBERTS, Dane (7–ROSA, Sean 67’); 17–LEKO, Christopher; 22–STREET, Adam (1–GILL, Jaswinder, 46)
Head Coach: HART Stephen
Subs not used: 5–SURPRENANT, Alex; 11–GALA, Gabriel; 14–SAIKO, Shaun

Jacksonville U Signs Two from Ontario

Women's Soccer Signs Seven For 2005 Season

Orange Park native Michelle Lavine highlights Chris Kouns' first class

April 7, 2005

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The JU women's soccer team signed seven players to national letters of intent, head coach Chris Kouns announced today. The signees include All-First Coast midfielder Michelle Lavine (Orange Park, Fla.), midfielders Heidi Dettmer (Snohomish, Wash.), Angela Hulse (Kirkland, Wash.), Stephanie Kormanik (New City, N.Y.), Katie Orr (London, Ontario), forward Keri Zwikker (Woodstock, Ontario) and defender Kirby Hutton (Clifton, Va.).

"I am pleased with all of the additions and believe they will make contributions immediately for our program," said head women's soccer coach Chris Kouns. "Each young lady adds a new element to our program, including a tremendous work rate and attitude."

Lavine, a first-team all-state, all-district and All-First Coast player, scored the game-winning penalty kick to lead St. John's Country Day to the Class 2A title this year. She is the school's second leading scorer with 103 goals and career leader with 151 assists. She teamed with UAB signee Anna Martorana to lead the squad to two straight Class 2A championship match appearances, including the title this year.

Dettmer earned second-team all-state and All-WESCO honors as the captain for Snohomish (Wash.) High, while also leading her Emerald City club teams to the Northern California Mustang Classic title and a semifinal appearance in the Diadora Cup. Hulse, a club teammate of Dettmer, was twice named Best Offensive Player for Juanita (Wash.) High while earning All-WESCO honors three straight years.

Kormanik was named first-team all-section for her senior and junior years while taking home first-team all-county and all-league honors her senior season for Clarkstown South (N.Y.) High. Kormanik led the squad to the New York state semifinals for two straight years. She also competes with the Eastchester Patriots club team, which is ranked 24th nationally and seventh in Region I, which covers the mid-Atlantic.

Orr participated in the Canadian National Team Prospects Clinic under head coach Evan Pelleruad and led her club team to a bronze medal at the Ontario Summer Games. Zwikker led St. Mary's High School to an Ontario Provincial Cup Championship last season and also scored six game-winning goals in club competition last year. Both Orr and Zwikker hail from the same London United club team as current Dolphin Stephanie Elgie (London, Ontario). Hutton, an All-Concorde (Va.) District honoree this past season, led Centerville High School to a state runner-up finish last season.

Last season under first-year head coach Kouns, JU finished 5-9-5 and advanced to the Atlantic Sun Championship semifinals after defeating third-seeded Florida Atlantic in the first round.