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Second Place Vaughan Azzurri Women Pressing For First

By lo admin, 06/17/15, 3:30PM EDT

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Second Place Vaughan Azzurri Women Pressing For First

Wed Jun 17 
Written By: Kelly, Tim
 

It's been a start of extremes for the Vaughan Azzurri Women, who have filled the net, but have had it filled on them as well.

The Azzurri women kicked off their season on opening day with a tidy 4-1 victory over rivals Woodbridge Strikers at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton May 23.

But the Azzurri were quickly brought back to earth when they were thumped 5-0 in Pickering by the first-place undefeated Durham United FC Women May 30.

VA: CARMINE ISACCO

The Azzurri women then bounced back June 6 in Mississauga at the Hershey Centre and defeated North Mississauga SC 2-1, before demolishing Sanjaxx Lions on June 13 9-0 - running their record to three wins and one loss after four league games.

For longtime coach Carmine Isacco, the new league is a fresh experience that he's approaching with an open mind.

"We didn’t know what to expect. We heard a lot of things about national team players and youth national team players. We (Vaughan) went in with predominately university players and some of the younger players from our club. We've put together a good brand of soccer."

"We haven’t had everyone available as of yet and even in the game we lost, it sounds funny, but we were in the game, it was just a matter of their finishing versus our lack of finishing," said Isacco.

Nadya Gill has been the key striker for Vaughan with six goals, just under half the team's tally through four games so far.

"She sees the game incredibly well, she's very technically aware. She's just a little thing too, she's a wee thing and she just finds a way to get around people, she's fantastic one v. one. Her ability suits our group very well," said Isacco of Gill.

VA: NADYA GILL

Other goalscorers for Vaughan have been Colleen Beesley and Nicole Lyon, with two each, and Aisha Lewis, Christina Morelli, Navneet Aujla, and Sydney Hoareau - all of whom have a goal apiece.

Nour Ghoneim has stepped up and played well for the Vaughan women, said Isacco.

"Because of injuries and absences she's had to play everywhere. She's a very good player."

VA: NOUR GHONEIM

Wingback Peyton Lozzi has been steady, Maxine Murchie is a good one v. one winger who Isacco said, "is getting familiar with everybody and getting into the system," and Sarah Won-Yin Sang, a central midfielder, "sees the field well, is a very good passer of the ball, gets us out of situations, and gets us into the attack with good combination play."

Isacco said his team is good off the ball, defends well and, as a unit, we "have a lot of players who do a lot of very good things."

VA: SARAH WON-YIN SANG

He believes Durham United FC Women, which so far have won all four games scoring 15 goals while allowing none, is the League 1 Ontario Women’s Soccer pacesetter.

"I think it's a very good league, but the Durham team, because they have older players, they stand out. They've raised the bar where we need to all be and that's important. Slowly but surely we're going to get there," said Isacco.

VA: MAXINE MURCHIE

Now in second place in the League1 Ontario women's standings with nine points, Vaughan is only three points back of Durham United F.C. 

Vaughan Azzurri returns to league play on Saturday June 27 vs. Pro Stars F.C. @ McNaughton Field, 2 p.m. kickoff.