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Impact soccer update: U21 sweep weekend home games

Avenging their one and only loss of the season, the GSSC (Greater Sudbury Soccer Club) Impact U21 men swept a pair of games at home on July 11 and 12, edging the Toronto Skillz Academy 2-1 in their opener.
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Much as they did last year, the GSSC Impact U14 girls kicked off their soccer season with some hard fought games. File photo
Avenging their one and only loss of the season, the GSSC (Greater Sudbury Soccer Club) Impact U21 men swept a pair of games at home on July 11 and 12, edging the Toronto Skillz Academy 2-1 in their opener.

A late penalty kick goal from Jesse Johnson provided the margin of victory, with Shawn Wilcox adding an earlier goal for coach Ed Veilleux and company.

Toronto handed the Sudbury crew their first setback of the year one week earlier, edging the locals 3-2 in Toronto.

With payback now behind them, the Impact relaxed on Sunday, completely dismantling the visiting North York Cosmos by a final count of 6-0.

Wilcox and Josh Alvarenga scored two goals apiece, with Johnson and Bruno Veloso adding singles, and Connor Vande Weghe recorded the clean slate in net.

If there is one primary benefactor to the summer that the U21 lads are enjoying, it will be the Cambrian College team come the fall, with several players enjoying the opportunity to work on their game.

Among them, Pembroke native and sophomore with the Golden Shield, Troy Gauthier-Charlebois.

Opting to work and train in Sudbury over the summer, the physically imposing defender cites some key positive outcomes for his team, first and foremost.

"It's building that simple camaraderie, and knowing where your players are going to be," he said.

"Even bringing in the recruits that are going to play there (Cambrian) next year, integrating them early, it's going to make a difference in the fall, for sure."

However, on a more personal level, Gauthier-Charlebois is expanding is soccer horizons, tackling the role of central defensive midfielder for coach Veilleux.

"I was usually a middle back, with Aaron Dent as my partner," said Gauthier-Charlebois.

"I'm still kind of a developing player, and it kind of gives me that cushion, knowing that I still have "captain Dent" behind me here. It's always good to be able to lean on him. It allows me to jump into the attack a little more."

As for the big win against Toronto, Gauthier-Charlebois noted that returning to their roots really paid dividends for the Impact. "I think our physicality took over," he said.

"We definitely took it to them. We were not soft on the ball. We were really kind of 'pesty' out there. You could see it in the turnovers, and we were very opportunistic with our chances."

The Impact U21 men also scored an easy win in round one of the Dagostino Cup earlier this month, eliminating Northway Painting.

Following an off weekend, the team hits the road for two more CSL (Central Soccer League) games, before moving up to challenge themselves in the Sudbury Star Cup, going toe-to-toe with men's teams from the north, as well as Mississauga A.C. Diavoli, Toronto Celtic and Wexford Hi-Profile.

Women's soccer

The GSSC Impact U17 girls will play their second last home game of the summer this weekend, taking their 4-2-1 record into a matchup with Glen Shields FC Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Delki Dozzi Sports Complex.

The Impact dropped their only contest last weekend, 3-0 to Newmarket, but booted the Oshawa Kicks 5-1 earlier this month, as Lina Audet scored twice.

Sarah Cholewinsky, Alexis Belanger and Morgan Melnek rounded out the scoring for the locals.

Cholewinsky added two more goals to her season total the previous day in a 4-3 loss to Toronto, with Belanger chipping in with one.

The Impact currently sit in third place (in a division of eight teams) with 13 points, one ahead of Pickering, but well back of Toronto and Newmarket.

Under 13 boys

Meanwhile, the Impact U13 boys remain in the thick of the race in the Huronia District Soccer League, merging together talent from a number of GSSC teams that faced each other, head to head, in prior years.

Coach Aziz Almuwallad has fortunately inherited a group of players who have largely bought into his soccer philosophy.

"I don't think we have focused on one thing specifically, but more in getting better in general," said midfielder Eric Huneault.

"We've worked on crosses, a lot of passing, and moving the ball quickly. We're sending it off better, really getting the strikers involved."

Given his position on the pitch, Huneault has even more focus in this area than most. "Managing the ball is my most important job," he said. "Keeping the ball from the other team, not giving it away, and making good passes."

In fact, it is in part this willingness to tackle the role you are given that has helped this crew show plenty of signs of progress.

Playing at the competitive ranks for the first time this summer, left fullback David Pigozzo undertook one of the more arduous challenges, playing his weak side as a natural right-footed kicker.

"Normally, if I have time, I try and switch it to my right foot and play it up," said Pigozzo.

"But if I don't have time, I've practised a lot with my left foot. I'm getting kind of good at it, I guess," said the soft-spoken twelve year-old.

"In soccer, you have to be good with both feet, not just one. It's an advantage that I can play on either side."

The team is next in action on the first week of August, scheduled for a home and home set with the North Bay Selects.

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