V-Reds women's soccer squad aiming for playoffs - Cameron

Andy Cameron likes what he's seeing from the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds women's soccer team so far.

He hasn't always been able to say that.

The V-Reds have had their struggles in recent seasons in the Atlantic University Sport Women's Soccer Conference - most recently last season, when they finished in the cellar with just two wins in 13 starts, scoring just 11 goals and surrendering a conference-high 29.

But Cameron, buoyed by a solid exhibition schedule which saw them fall 3-0 to the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers in a game which was closer than the score suggests, and 3-1 to a solid McGill squad out of Montreal, believes a return to the playoffs is possible for his squad this season.

The march begins Saturday at 1 p.m. at Chapman Field when they host the Mount Allison Mounties, and continues in Halifax on Sunday when the Saint Mary's Huskies are the home team. The UNB men's squad provides the entertainment on the back half of the doubleheaders, Saturday at 3:15 p.m. against the Mounties at Chapman and Sunday at 3 p.m. in Halifax.

Turnover is heavy on the V-Reds roster, as you might expect of a last-place squad. The team carried 23 players last year. Cameron has trimmed it to 15 to begin the season, with seven new kids among them. Four others are rookies from a year ago, returning with a year's experience under their belt, "which is huge," said Cameron.

Among the veterans, "three of the four players on our back line are in their fifth year ... it's all about experience this year," he said.

In that vein, an experienced rookie in the person of fullback Wanda Luinenburg, originally from the Netherlands, but with good experience there, will help.

The keeper will be New Brunswick Canada Games backup Erica Ermen, who was the understudy to Team Canada goaltender Dayle Colpitts. Ermen played well in exhibition.

The veteran backline includes Sacha Demers, Lisa Naburrs and Maura Carter, fifth-year players all.

Elise Arseneau and Heather Ambery will provide leadership and direction in the midfield. Scoring will come from veteran Robyn Potter, who scored four of the team's 11 goals last year and had the marker in preseason against McGill, and Sam Legacy, who added three. Arseneau and Olivia Jennings should supplement the scoring as well.

Cameron believes the ambitious pre-season schedule bodes well for the V-Reds.

"UPEI is probably a top 10 program (in the country) and McGill's coach was coach of the year last year and they look to be very strong, and we competed well with them," he said. "We're looking for playoffs, and to make a splash when we get there.

"I think the experience we have - and the first- and second-year players have that extra experience - will eliminate a lot of the mistakes we made last year," he said. "The girls are positive and we're looking for results."

Cameron counts Dal and UPEI among the league's elite. With Acadia hosting the AUS playoffs and thus guaranteed a playoff berth when it might not otherwise have qualified - the Axewomen were two points ahead of UNB a year ago - that leaves essentially three playoff berths available. Cameron has his eye on one of them.

"I think it's realistic, and I think the girls think it's realistic," he said. "I think this weekend will be a big indicator."