Montreal’s Laverdière named player of the year

CHARLOTTETOWN (CIS) – Fifth-year University of Montreal striker Véronique Laverdière was named the Canadian Interuniversity Sport player of the year in women's soccer, Wednesday night.

The Montreal native became the first-ever Carabin to claim the Chantal Navert memorial award as CIS MVP.

Other CIS major award winners announced during the All-Canadian Banquet in Charlottetown were Wilfrid Laurier sweeper Kelsey Tikka of Thunder Bay, Ont., who was named rookie of the year; Memorial midfielder Samantha Hansford of St. John's, who received the Student-Athlete Community Service award; and UPEI's Mike Redmond, who earned his second coach-of-the-year award, a prize presented by Coaches of Canada.

The 2010 CIS championship, hosted for the first time by the University of Prince Edward Island, gets under way Thursday and culminates with the national final Sunday at 1 p.m. Atlantic Time. All games from the tournament will be webcast by SSN Canada (www.ssncanada.ca )

CHANTAL NAVERT MEMORIAL AWARD (player of the year): Véronique Laverdière, Montreal

Laverdière was the best player on the best team in Quebec in her fifth and final university campaign. The 23-year-old team captain finished fourth in conference scoring with 13 points in 12 games, including a league-leading seven assists, and was named Montreal player of the match on eight occasions. Her brilliant play helped the Carabins take first place in the standings with a stellar 10-1-3 mark.

The physical education and health student resumed her domination in the playoffs. She was chosen MVP of the Quebec final as Montreal shutout Laval 2-0 to claim its third straight RSEQ title and earn a fourth consecutive appearance at the CIS championship.

Laverdière was named a first-team all-Canadian for the first time and earned a spot on the first all-star team in Quebec for the fourth year in a row. A Team Canada member at the 2009 Summer Universiade in Serbia, she ends her university career with 48 goals and 29 assists for Les Bleus. She was selected a CIS tournament all-star in 2009 when the Carabins reached their first-ever national final, and also helped Montreal win CIS bronze back in 2008.

In addition to soccer, Laverdière excels in broom ball and competed at a national championship in the sport.

"This is a great way for Véronique to wrap up her university career. We lost a number of star players following our run in 2009 and she really stepped up to the plate, she has been the key to our success this year," said Montreal head coach Kevin McConnell. "She was in on most of our big goals and is a constant threat on the field. She fully deserves this award."

UPEI striker Tessa Roche of Charlottetown, Queen's striker Jacqueline Tessier of Peterborough, Ont., and Alberta defender Keshia Wallin of St. Albert, Alta., were the other nominees for the 2010 Chantal Navert award.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Kelsey Tikka, Wilfrid Laurier

Tikka is the first Golden Hawk to earn CIS rookie-of-the-year honours since the inception of the award in 1996.

The 5-foot-6 freshman started all but one game in her university debut and was instrumental in the Hawks' defensive success as Laurier allowed an OUA West-low 10 goals in 14 conference matches. The biology student, a graduate of St. Patrick High School in Thunder Bay, demonstrated leadership skills beyond her age and excelled in building attacks from the back.

Her addition to the roster was key to Laurier posting a remarkable 11-1-2 record in the regular season for its first first-place finish since 2000. The Hawks went on to capture their second OUA title in three years thanks to another defensive gem, a 1-0 gold-medal shutout of top-ranked Queen's, and now hope to claim a first CIS banner since 1999.

"Kelsey has been the biggest difference for us this year, taking us from a good team to an excellent team," said 15-year Laurier head coach Barry MacLean. "She anchors our backline, reads the game exceptionally well and her decision making on the ball is unparalleled."

Cape Breton midfielder Jessica Furtado of Hamilton, Bermuda, Laval striker Mélissande Guy of Quebec City and Alberta goalkeeper Kelti Biggs of Spruce Grove, Alta., were also in the running for the top-freshman award.

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Samantha Hansford, Memorial

Hansford is the first Memorial winner of the student-athlete community service award, presented for the first time in 2005.

The Sea-Hawk captain played her fifth and final varsity season in 2010 while completing a full course load in biochemistry, with a focus in nutrition.

The St. John's native has been involved as a tireless volunteer for a number of community organizations since arriving at Memorial. She is currently a volunteer with Turning Addictions Services, the Medical Genetics Centre with Eastern Health, the Boys and Girls Club, the under 14 girls' provincial soccer program, and the City of St. John's.

With the Turning Addictions Services program, Hansford attended volunteer circle groups for convicted offenders on a weekly basis. With the Medical Genetics Centre, she coordinated a research project for a genetic counselor and a geneticist, observing clinical sessions. Her work with the City also was athletic in nature, organizing and directing several inclusion sessions that helped promote athletic involvement for children with a variety of disabilities.

Hansford also has been involved in a number of cancer research awareness events for the past number of years including the Terry Fox Run and the Relay for Life.

"Samantha has matured into a leader on and off the field over her five years of varsity soccer. She excels in the classroom, in the community and on the field of play," said Memorial head coach Walt Mavin. "This is an example of what it means to be a Sea-Hawk for all of her teammates, particularly those just starting their careers. She brings passion and integrity in whatever she takes on - and she takes on quite a lot."

The other nominees for the award were Bishop's Samantha Juraschka of Waterdown, Ont., Ottawa's Brittany Harrison of Burlington, Ont., and Calgary's Morena Ianniello of Calgary

COACH OF THE YEAR (presented by Coaches of Canada): Mike Redmond, UPEI

In his seventh campaign at the helm of UPEI, Redmond, who was first honoured by his peers back in 2004, became the fourth multiple winner of the CIS coach-of-the-year award. He follows in the footsteps of Queen's Dave McDowell (1998, 1993), UBC's Dick Mosher (1999, 1994) and Ottawa's Steve Johnson (2005, 1996).

This season, the Panthers were the only team in the AUS – and one of only two in the country - to remain undefeated in league play. Their 10-0-3 mark allowed them to edge Dalhousie by a single point for first place in the always competitive Atlantic conference. While the Panthers were more than potent on offence and finished third in AUS scoring with 20 goals, they were simply dominant on defence allowing a CIS-low one goal in 13 matches thanks in part to the brilliant play of keeper Chanelle Roy, one of three team members selected as all-Canadians and one of five named AUS all-stars.

UPEI went on to claim the silver medal at the AUS championship and a third CIS tournament berth under Redmond, whose career regular season record now stands at 60-15-14 (.753).

"The University of PEI is both proud and excited that Michael has been selected coach of the year," said Athletic Director Ron Annear. "He puts a tremendous amount of time and energy into supporting student-athlete development and providing an elite program offering. His coaching excellence notwithstanding Michael's leadership and commitment to supporting his athletes' academic success and community engagement is impressive."

Montreal's Kevin McConnell, Queen's Dave McDowell and Alberta's Liz Jepsen were the other nominees.

ALL-CANADIAN TEAMS:

The all-Canadian teams were also announced on Wednesday, with Montreal, Wilfrid Laurier, UPEI and Alberta each placing two representatives on the top squad. Alberta also earned a pair of second-team nods, while Laurier and UPEI received one apiece.

Joining Laverdière on the first CIS unit were conference MVPs Roche, Tessier and Wallin; UPEI goalkeeper Chanelle Roy of Bathurst, N.B., as well as McGill's Katherine Green of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Dalhousie's Jeanette Huck of Halifax on defence; Laurier teammates Tania Pedron of Maple, Ont., and Alyssa Lagonia of Kitchener, Ont., and Montreal's Éva Thouvenot-Hébert of Montreal at midfield; along with Alberta striker Heather Lund of Red Deer, Alta.

Roche is the only returnee from last year's first team. Green was a member of the second CIS unit last season, while Huck was a second-teamer in 2008.

The second all-Canadian squad for 2010 is comprised of McGill rookie keeper Victoria Muccilli of Mississauga, Ont.; Alberta's Shalla Kadima of Edmonton and UPEI's Sara Stewart of Charlottetown in the backfield; Dalhousie's Kate MacDonald of Elmsdale, N.S., Alberta's Carleigh Miller of St. Albert, Alta., Sherbrooke's Andréanne Gagné of St-Hyacinthe, Que., Carleton's Amanda Ngwafusi of Ottawa and Trinity Western's Natalie Boyd of Surrey, B.C., at midfield; as well as Queen's Kelli Chamberlain of North Bay, Ont., Laurier's Ali McKee of Bracebridge, Ont., and McGill's Alexandra Morin-Boucher of Montreal at the striker position.

Gagné was selected to the second team for the third straight season.

CIS WOMEN'S SOCCER: 2010 AWARDS & ALL-CANADIANS

Chantal Navert Memorial award (player of the year):
Véronique Laverdière, Montreal

Rookie of the year:
Kelsey Tikka, Wilfrid Laurier

Student-Athlete Community Service award:
Samantha Hansford, Memorial

Coach of the year (presented by Coaches of Canada):
Mike Redmond, UPEI

First Team

Position - Athlete - University - Year - Hometown - Faculty

Goalkeeper Chanelle Roy UPEI 3 Bathurst, N.B. BScN
Defence Keshia Wallin Alberta 5 St. Albert, Alta. Business
Defence Katherine Green McGill 3 Richmond Hill, Ont. Political Science
Defence Jeanette Huck Dalhousie 5 Halifax, N.S. Com
Midfield Tania Pedron Laurier 4 Maple, Ont. Business
Midfield Alyssa Lagonia Laurier 3 Kitchener, Ont. Business
Midfield Éva Thouvenot-Hébert Montreal 3 Montreal, Que. Administration
Striker Jacqueline Tessier Queen's 2 Peterborough, Ont. Music
Striker Véronique Laverdière Montreal 5 Montreal, Que. Physical Education & Health
Striker Tessa Roche UPEI 5 Charlottetown, P.E.I. Unclassified
Striker Heather Lund Alberta 4 Red Deer, Alta. Nursing

Second Team

Goalkeeper Victoria Muccilli McGill 1 Mississauga, Ont. Science
Defence Shalla Kadima Alberta 2 Edmonton, Alta. Science
Defence Sara Stewart UPEI 2 Charlottetown, P.E.I. BA
Midfield Kate MacDonald Dalhousie 5 Elmsdale, N.S. Kinesiology
Midfield Carleigh Miller Alberta 3 St. Albert, Alta. Nursing
Midfield Andréanne Gagné Sherbrooke 4 St-Hyacinthe, Que. Psychology & International Relations
Midfield Amanda Ngwafusi Carleton 4 Ottawa, Ont. Criminal Justice
Midfield Natalie Boyd Trinity Western 2 Surrey, B.C. SLMG
Striker Kelli Chamberlain Queen's 4 North Bay, Ont. Physical & Health Education
Striker Ali McKee Laurier 4 Bracebridge, Ont. Arts
Striker Alexandra Morin-Boucher McGill 3 St-Gabriel-de-Brandon, Que. Physical & Health Education

-CIS-