PCSL

New Era for Xtreme Women
New club, new colours, new coach, same goals

May 6, 2009

Coquitlam, BC - The familiar red shirts are gone. Replaced by the even more familiar black and blue vertical stripes. The Pacific Coast Soccer League begins its 2009 campaign in earnest this weekend. And that means the beginning of a new era in local women's soccer, as the Tri-Cities Xtreme have become the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Xtreme.

Xtreme founder and long time manager Scott Fletcher returns as General Manager of the Xtreme. Fletcher also held the head coach post for the past two season, but has stepped aside in favour of local product and former Whitecap Alex Barnetson. Barnetson is a long time coach in the community, with CMFSC and the Whitecaps' Super-Y program. Barnetson will be assisted by former Xtreme captain Kristine Jack, who will move into the role as coach of the Reserve squad, as well as highly respected goalkeeper coach Dennis Kindel, who will serve as first-team assistant.

Fletcher is excited about the new relationship with CMFSC, and the potential this partnership has in terms of on field success, as well as promoting women's soccer in the community. "Coquitlam Metro-Ford represents one of the most progressive soccer clubs in British Columbia. Their youth teams are among the most successful on a year in, year out basis. And they consistently field senior teams that perform at an equally high level. That kind of commitment, combined with the legacy built by the Xtreme over the past half dozen years, will create an environment in which players and staff alike are more likely to be successful."

With regards to the coming season, Fletcher admits this season may be a challenging one, as the Xtreme are in their own version of a rebuilding year. "We're awfully young this year. We have lost a number of veteran players. Impact players such as Phebe Trotman, Sara Maglio and Rachael Pelat, to name just a few. But we're now counting on the next wave to step up out of their roles as up-and-comers and really grab those leadership roles. We're going to be looking at players like Lauren Lachlan (Port Moody) and Jackie Gant (Burnaby) to lead by example, to set the standard."

"Having said all that, I would put our player development over the past few years up against any other club," said Fletcher, who feels that there are a number of players from last year's "double" winning Reserve side who are ready to make the leap to the top flight. "I can see a number of players from last year's Reserve group taking on full time roles with the first team this year, and it won't be a step backwards.

I can also see us bringing in a number of the younger players throughout the season." Amongst the younger players who are expected to go to the next level is striker Michelle Francis (Port Coquitlam). The Terry Fox grad was the leading scorer in the PCSL Reserve Division last summer, and then followed that up with the same achievement in the BCCAA college ranks playing for Langara College. "Michelle is one of the quickest players in the League," said Fletcher. "But she's more than just quick. She has good touch on the ball, and a good sense of the game off it. She's also got a striker's mentality. She knows how to put the ball in the next. Michelle's a pretty quiet kid, but she's ruthless in the attacking third. I think last year we just saw a glimmer of what she has to offer. I am confident we'll see good things out of her this year."

Despite the changes, the focus on youth and the apparent rebuilding process underway, Fletcher says that one constant remains, and that is the goal is to win. "We go into this season with the same goals we've had every season. And that is League and Cup wins at both levels. Last year we pulled off the 'double' in the Reserve Division, but came up short with the Premier women (3rd place in League; losing Cup final in penalties to Victoria). We expect there to be considerable opposition from the likes of Victoria and the Whitecaps, and the PCSL is arguably the most competitive women's league in the province, top to bottom. It certainly will be a challenge, but it also should make for an exciting time as we move from game to game throughout the season."

The CMFSC Xtreme premier women begin the 2009 season when they play Surrey United on Wednesday May 13, at Cloverdale Athletic Park. The Reserves also open on the road, with a 2:30pm kickoff this Saturday May 9, at Minoru Park against Richmond. As for home openers, the Premier women host North Shore Eagles on Friday May 15, 7:30pm at Charles Best. The Reserves don't play at home until Saturday May 23, when they welcome Semiahmoo to Charles Best for a 2:30pm kickoff.