Blazers Add Denora And Are Optimistic About 2021 Season
Cara Isaak and Lianna Bestvater continue to add to their CMU women's soccer roster as they build towards the 2021 MCAC season, this week announcing the commitment of Collegé Beliveau defender Alyssa Denora.
A former club Most Valuable Player, as voted by her coaches and teammates, Denora has shared her development between Lorette CC on the outdoor pitch and Winakwa CC indoors.
"We're really glad to have Alyssa on board," said Isaak. "She will add to the strength and depth of our backline. Alyssa is versatile and can play both centrally or in a wider position. She is really coachable and has been a leader in her youth teams and we really like that about her. I think she will grow into a solid player in our conference, a strong defender for us and a good organizer at the back."
Last winter, Denora and her Winakwa teammates enjoyed a lot of success, finishing third at the Golden Boy indoor tournament at the u17 level. Then with Lorette, Denora was part of a team that lost only two of their twelve regular season matches.
Earlier in her youth career, Denora was advanced from u14s to play with the Winakwa u16s and helped the club earn gold at the Slurpee Cup tournament.
On top of her playing, Denora is an aspiring and committed young coach, mentoring u6 and u7 players with Timbits soccer and most recently coached a group of u11s indoor.
"I love helping young players develop, find their favourite positions or score their first goal," she said. "Seeing them enjoy the game as much as I do is so amazing!"
Added to the joy that a return to the pitch will bring in 2021, CMU and the MCAC will step into their first season as full-members of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Accepted into the national conference in 2018, Manitoba has endured two seasons as probationary members of the CCAA, playing friendlies across regional borders to prove their competitiveness, in anticipation of future years where provincial success will earn a berth in a National Championship.
That opportunity begins this November, when the 2021 CCAA Women's Soccer National Championships will be hosted at Toronto's Seneca College with the winner of the MCAC championship competing for a nationwide audience.
"I'm extremely excited to play the sport I love at a college-level and get to play alongside accomplished players and in a positive team atmosphere!" added Denora.
Print This Article
