An influx of new new players (born in 1999 or 2000) joins the ranks of those born in 1998, injecting some new blood and fresh skills. And some competition, said veteran defender Cody Nkongolo.
"It's a very different team, a lot of new faces showing up, especially younger ones," he said. "I think it's a good thing. It's very competitive this year, everyone is fighting for their spots, everyone is pushing each other to improve."
What's more, the team knows its strengths, and has identified its weaknesses — they know where they need to improve, something Nkongolo has thought about.
"I think I would like to see us improve on goal scoring, because we lost a lot of games last year by the odd goal," he said.
Teammate Domynik Huot agreed, saying team chemistry is better going into the new season, which gives them a leg up on teamwork and on focusing on their striking and finishing.
"Last year, that's what we had trouble with," Huot said. “This year, with some new players and a little more speed, we'll be able to build some goals."
The U17 Impact again kick off the season with a tournament in Oshawa, returning to the Frank Sobil Spring Classic (May 9-10).
In other GSSC news:
Ontario Cup
Sudbury soccer organizer Wayne Trainor has now received confirmation regarding which divisions will be in town for the Ontario Cup semi-finals slated for the end of August.The U14 boys and U15 girls will take to the turf at the James Jerome Sports Complex on Aug. 29, with the top four men's open teams in the province in town for their penultimate games the very next day.
Impact U17 Girls
The GSSC U17 Impact Girls will be the first off the mark, locally, in terms of tournament play, attending a pair of pre-season showcase events. Coach Brian Coufal and company are at the University of Ottawa from April 23 to April 26, attending the National Capital Invitational Showcase. The team will battle the Cumberland Cobras Academy, West Ottawa Soccer and Ottawa South United Force.The following weekend, it's off to Peterborough for the 2015 Trent University Showcase Tournament.
Letter of Intent
Congratulations go out to Collège Notre-Dame Alouettes sniper and Greater Sudbury Soccer Club product Brianne Rodrigue, who recently signed her official Canadian Interuniversity Sport letter of intent to join the Laurentian Voyageurs women's soccer team beginning in the fall of 2015.A midfielder or striker through much of her soccer career, Rodrigue will compete with the Impact U21 ladies in the Ontario Women's Soccer League this summer. The team captured their divisional crown one year ago, earning a promotion to a higher level of play in 2016.