women's soccer: One more chance
Scott Wright, Sports Editor

A local radio station used to claim that it played the favourites of yesterday and today. In terms of the SFU women's soccer team, Jeanette McKay and Jillian Stewart represent a link to the past while being very much a part of the present.

McKay and Stewart are the only remaining players from the Clan's national championship squad of 2000. They are team captains and senior leaders in the 2002 season. Behind their leadership, SFU has raced to an 11-1-1 record and a number two national ranking.

"Being a part of the championship team enabled me to feel what it was like to win an NAIA banner as a team," explained Stewart. "As a leader on my team now, it's important that we take it one step at a time and not let anything get ahead of us."

Coach Shelley Howieson has been impressed with the performance of her seniors both on and off the field.

"Every player on this team is important to our success as a team. Our seniors, however, are the glue that holds the program together," said the veteran coach. "Since there are only two of them and we are a young team, the responsibility is greater."

McKay, a communications major from Burnaby, has been impressive in the Clan net this season, posting 6 shutouts. She has surrendered only seven goals on the season. SFU has totaled 54.

"The shutouts are nice, but they are a team effort," said McKay. "Everyone has to be on the same page defensively for them to happen."

Stewart, a geography major and communications minor from Nelson, has been one of the catalysts of SFU's offensive attack. She is second in team scoring with nine goals and nine assists.

"I attribute my individual success to my work ethic on the field, but more importantly to the work ethic of my team as a whole," said Stewart. "Part of my job on the field is to create and finish scoring opportunities, and it's team effort that makes that happen."

There is something special about being a senior. While it can be difficult because this is your last chance, that is also what makes it so exciting.

"They go through a process as a senior that the rest of the team doesn't have to deal with... namely all the things they're doing will be for the last time and so everything has greater significance," explained Howieson. "With only two players sharing that experience it's more intense and they have handled that very well."

As the regular season winds down and the Clan prepare for their playoff push, expect McKay and Stewart to come to the forefront. The coach is counting on it.

"Leaders always step forward when the going gets tough and Jill and Jeanette are important to the process of preparing our team for the increased intensity that will come in the next month," said Howieson.

Stewart believes that this year's edition of the Clan is capable of great things.

"We have a very talented group of athletes. We really work as a team. We're young, but we have a lot of fire on the team and I feel that we can achieve that goal [national championship]. We just have to stay disciplined and take care of the task we have at hand."

McKay echoes her fellow captain's feelings.

"The amount of talent we have on this team is just absolutely exciting," she said. "If we play well and just take everything one step at a time by playing our game, I think we can definitely win a championship."

[ Back to issue 8 ] [ Send The Peak a comment on this story ]

The contents of The Peak are protected by copyright. For information on rights regarding specific articles (including reprinting, where applicable), please contact epeak@mail.peak.sfu.ca with the full URL of the content in question.