Written by Mason Bugaresti
The Carleton Ravens women’s soccer team is gearing up for their 2022 regular season which kicks off September 2 at Queen’s where the Ravens will take on the Gaels.
Last season was a tale of two halves for the Ravens. After struggling out of the gate, Carleton finished the 2021 season strongly losing just once in their final five matches. The Ravens came up just short of a playoff spot. Head coach Dom Oliveri returns to the sidelines for his fourth season as Carleton’s manager. Oliveri led the Ravens to an impressive third-place finish back in the 2018 season.
“We are very excited for the 2022 season and a return to some normalcy for our student-athletes and coaches both on and off the field,” Oliveri says.
This year’s squad features a number of key returning veterans as well as some exciting recruits hoping to help push the program forward. After leading the Ravens and finishing 9th in the OUA with 6 goals in 9 matches, forward Chloe Doherty (Ottawa, Ont.) returns hoping to lead the Carleton attack once again this season. Doherty was able to score the Ravens’ only hat-trick last season, scoring 3 against the RMC Paladins in Carleton’s impressive 9-0 home victory in early October.
She is joined by fellow returning forwards Lauren Illman (Whitby, Ont.) and Mikayla Moser (Ajax, Ont.), as well as defender Elodie Sylvain (Ottawa, Ont.). Illman and Moser look to be an integral part of this Ravens attack, with Illman and Chloe Doherty developing some impressive chemistry towards the end of last season. Elodie Sylvain will be leading a young defence that conceded fewer than two goals-per-game last season.
Joining the veteran Ravens is an impressive recruiting class. With several Ravens graduating last season, Carleton added four key recruits hoping to see some game-time this season including Sydney Atwell, Brooklyn Stephen, Allison Domingo, and Chloe Doiron. Doiron and Stephen hope to add some depth to the Ravens attack, while Sydney Atwell joins a talented midfield and Allison Domingo joins a young defence. They will aim to fill in for key veterans that are no longer with the team like defender Yuoma Konate (Ottawa, Ont.).
“The team has shown tremendous growth over the past year. The players have been committed to working hard during the off-season and are eager to showcase all of their hard work and dedication,” Oliveri says.
Coach Dom Oliveri says that creating a home-field fortress is crucial for this season’s success,
“We hope that you will join us in the support of the Ravens Women’s Soccer program by filling TAAG Park with caring, passionate Ravens fans.”
The Ravens’ home schedule kicks off on September 11 when Carleton faces off against the RMC Paladins at 1 p.m. live from TAAG Park. Tickets are available now at goravens.ca/tickets.
