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Sports “Connected to your Community”Kevin NagelSports Editorknagel@burlingtonpost.com

University bound

Eighteen graduating U17 Bayhawks to continue playing competitive soccer with scholarships in U.S. and Canada

By Kevin NagelPost sports editor

Part of Casey Downey’s job as coach of the Burlington Bayhawks 1997-born rep girls is to help them gain a scholar-ship to further their soccer careers.

It’s a talented crew, with only six league losses in three seasons, and an Ontario Cup silver and Ontario Sum-mer Games bronze included.

Eighteen of the 19 players have com-mitted to a U.S. or Canadian university to play in the fall. Samantha Mathieu, an M.M. Robinson student, is the lone exception. For the remaining 18, nine of whom call Burlington home, their choices have them travelling as far as Texas or as close as Hamilton.

Four of the city players on the Bay-hawks attend Assumption Secondary School.

Goalie Ashley Almeida turned down one full scholarship south of the bor-der, made the U19 Portuguese women’s team, and will train with the team in Portugal in March. She’s decided to go to McMaster University in the fall.

Born in Hamilton, she was raised in Burlington. She chose McMaster because of its excellent academic busi-ness program, its soccer program and “I love the campus.”

“I grew up watching soccer as I am Portuguese, so soccer is in the blood,” Almeida said. “I became a goalkeeper just like my grandfather.”

“She’s an awesome goalie,” added Downey, “but they’re the toughest

see Switch on p. 23

Photos courtesy

ofKeith Ellison

U17 Bayhawks players include (top row, from left) Ashley Almeida, Deanna Ellison, Alysha Cabral, Aliyah Morgan, Jelisa Joncas, Darcy

Mickalow, Carling Goold, Nakita Scho� eld and Samantha Mathieu; (bottom row) Cassie Wheldon, Kristina Vassallo, Keagin Collie, Emily Wakeford, Val Gladiator, Sam Hewick, Hannah Rempel, Sarah Nixon

and Kristi King. Not pictured is Emily Borgmann.