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Cast Of Talented International Level Players Driving Early Season Women's Division Leaders

By Anthony Gallo, 05/26/17, 4:00PM EDT

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The 2017 League1 Ontario women's division kicked off with a bang after convincing wins from Vaughan Azzurri, Woodbridge Strikers, Unionville Milliken SC and reigning champions FC London.

Unionville and Vaughan remain unbeaten at the top of the table after only three matches, with some outstanding international level players among those driving their results of these and other teams.

Last year's L1 Cup winners Vaughan Azzurri have a history of showcasing some star studded women's talents since the league was created four years ago. One remarkable example is when Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence suited up for the Azzurri before heading to the 2016 Rio Olympics.


Anna Kowalczyk (Photo: Martin Bazyl)

Head coach Carmine Isacco is able to deploy a similarly dynamic squad in 2017, featuring a strong and determined striker in Poland U17 international Anna Kowalczyk, Jamaica women's national team goalie Taylor Grant and OUA West All-Star Kiyani Johnson.

In their first three matches, these three players have been a key pieces in the Azzurri's unbeaten run.

Kowalczyk, who played five matches for the Poland U17 team in the UEFA U17 Championship qualifying and elite round play and scored three goals, including a brace against Estonia, started her 2017 campaign with a goal against expansion side West Ottawa SC.

She followed that up with a stellar two goal performance against Sanjaxx Lions, coming off the bench and guiding her team to a 5-0 victory.

Both Grant and Johnson also put in strong performances in the victory over Sanjaxx, with Grant able to hold on to her first clean sheet of the season, and Johnson opening the match with her 31' minute goal.


Nicole Kozlova (Photo: Martin Bazyl)

The Azzurri's local rivals, the Woodbridge Strikers, also have a talented youth international on their roster.

Ukraine U17 women's player Nicole Kozlova has only appeared in one match for the Strikers, but it was a player-of-the-match performance against Durham United FA. Her curling strike in the 42’ minute was the eventual match winner.

At the international level, Kozlova has been a dynamic player for Ukraine, recently scoring four goals and adding five assists in the UEFA U18 Development Tournament at the end of May.


Marissa Zucchetto (Photo: Martin Bazyl)

Keeping up the trend of international players in the women's division, newly expanded side Unionville Milliken SC have shown why veteran teams should not take their team for granted.

Unionville have started their campaign with a stellar undefeated record after three league matches, conceding only two goals and outscoring their opponents 8-2.

A big reason why their goals against has been so low is Canadian U17 keeper, Marissa Zucchetto, who has been able to make big saves in key moments in a match.

In three matches so far this season, Zucchetto has posted a 0.67 goals against average (GAA), grabbing a clean sheet against North Mississauga Panthers on May 12.

The Canadian keeper was called into the U17 womens team last summer, playing one match in their U17 Womens World Cup campaign in Jordan and another in the CONCACAF Womens U17 tournament in Grenada.


Unionville Milliken SC (Photo: Martin Bazyl Photography)

Unionville's international list doesn't stop there. Kennedy Faulknor, Shana Flynn, Kavina Ganeshan and Samantha Chang are all regular selections to the national team program.

For example, Unionville captain Samantha Chang was a teammate of Zucchetto’s at the U17 level, playing a total of 450 minutes in their U17 CONCACAF run last year.

So far, Chang has registered two goals in three matches for Unionville, scoring in the clubs first ever League1 Ontario match against Aurora FC and most recently against Durham United on May 19.

Finally, Isabelle Nashmi from Unionville has also been influential, scoring two goals in three games for the women's division early leaders.


Jade Kovacevic (Photo: Samantha Connell-Tombs)

Tori Chia from Darby FC - who are currently sitting in third with four points from their first three matches - also has two goals in three games. 

In turn, Costa Rica U17 player Carmen Marin helped get League1 newcomers West Ottawa SC their first win after a goal in their 3-1 away win over Aurora FC on May 1.

Former CWNT player Diamond Simpson has also made an early impression, scoring the first goal in a 2-1 away defeat of FC London.

Last year's League1 womens divisions champions, FC London had the first weekend off and have only played in two matches so far. However, last year's Golden Boot winner, Jade Kovacevic, continues to be a dominating force.

In her two matches to date, Kovacevic has two goals, and helped set up the winner in the clubs opening match against Woodbridge.

Kovacevic has also been dominating the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA), being named the 2016-17 Womens Player of the Year, the West Division scoring leader, a OCAA All-Star and a CCAA All-Canadian.