LeNeveu Attends Canadian Junior Team's Camp

Cornell sophomore netminder David LeNeveu was invited to attend the Canadian junior national team's summer development camp held in Halifax, Nova Scotia from Aug. 10-20. The ten-day camp featured 46 of the best junior players in the country and was held in preparation for the World Junior Championships which will be played in Halifax from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.

"It was truly a great experience," remarked LeNeveu. "When I went out there, I didn't really know what I was getting into.

"Then I saw the other players who were attending the camp, truly some great talent -- guys like Jason Spezza, Jay Bouwmeester, Rick Nash, all drafted in the top three spots in the past two NHL prospect drafts," he continued.

The Canadian junior team has finished either second or third at the past three tournaments, and won a record five-straight gold medals from 1993 to 1997. Upon arrival at the first practice at the Halifax Metro Centre, the camp attendees were split into two squads, the Red team and the White team. LeNeveu and Olivier Michaud of the Shawinigan Cataracts were the goalies on the Red team. The two groups then played four intersquad games over the course of ten days. LeNeveu, along with Duncan Keith of Michigan State, were the only two college players attending the camp.

"I felt I might have had an advantage going and being a college player because I know the strength and conditioning program we have here at Cornell set us way above already," said LeNeveu. "I was just glad I was recognized being a college player and got the opportunity to compete with all the other WHL, OHL, and junior league players."

"David's a strong kid both mentally and physically. He has a good handle on his abilities," remarked Blair Mackasey, head scout for the Canadian junior team. "He probably wasn't as well known as some of the other players at the camp, but he left his mark."

On-ice practices focused on getting the players accustomed to the new systems they would be using during the games. There was also a skills competition and two scrimmages. On off days, the players were able to experience the sights of Halifax, including a ride on a navy ship, a dragonboat canoeing competition, and a lobsterfest with tournament sponsors. The four Red-White games offered the players some valuable game experience with their future teammates.

"Intersquad games were definitely not like a Cornell game. It was very fast-paced, very transitional, no defense whatsoever," said LeNeveu. "It was just everybody trying to display their talent, and us goalies, we were doing to the best we could to keep the puck out of the net."

The games were very high scoring, with the two teams combining for 48 goals in four contests. In his four games, LeNeveu posted excellent numbers, including an impressive performance in game two, stopping 20 of 22 shots. He had the lowest goals-against average of the four goalies at the camp and the second highest save percentage.

LeNeveu's performance drew the praise of team officials.

"I'm quite happy with his performance," commented Mackasey. "Having worked as a scout for the Phoenix Coyotes who drafted David, I'd already seen him play several times, and his level of play was as expected."

The games drew a decent-sized crowds, with an average of 3598 fans in attendance at the 11,000 person Metro Centre.

"The atmosphere was nowhere near Lynah. Nothing can recreate Lynah Rink's atmosphere. I thought it was great to see fan support in a summer development camp," remarked LeNeveu.

The World Junior Championships have been host to many future NHL players such as Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Eric Lindros, Peter Forsberg, Brian Leetch, and John LeClair. Team USA's highest finish came in 1997 when it finished second behind Canada. In December, some players will be invited back to the selection camp, after which the final roster will be named.

"[The tournament is] going to be very highly competitive. Obviously, Canada wants to reestablish our reputation as the number one hockey country in the world, so there's definitely that behind us. It's in our home country, so we should have great fan support for that as well," commented LeNeveu. "I'm just hoping to get invited back to the December camp, and prove that I'm able to play with these guys and make the team."

"Barring any injury, there's a very good chance he'll be back for selection camp in December," said Mackasey.

W. Soccer Moves To 4-1 With Win

The women's soccer team earned its fourth win yesterday, defeating Lafayette 1-0 at Berman Field in the fourth meeting between the two programs. The Red (4-1, 1-1 Ivy) has already equaled its entire win total from last season in the just the fifth game of the season. The Leopards, meanwhile, fall to 4-3 on the year as they begin their conference schedule on Saturday at Bucknell. There were several lineup changes for the game, with four backs starting instead of the five started in the past two games.

"We had to make a few changes; a couple of people were playing injured, and then our leader in the back, [junior] Karne [Hukee], didn't play at all. Given those things, we're happy with the results," commented head coach Berhane Andeberhan.

The booters came out strong in the opening minutes, pressuring the Lafayette defense. Senior co-captain Sarah Olsen opened the scoring chances when she launched a shot from 20 yards that just missed the right post. Lafayette was unable to muster any drives upfield for most of the first half, as Cornell's backs would immediately clear the ball back to midfield.

Freshman forward Shannon Fraser demonstrated her speed early in the game, streaking down the right side of the field, beating several backs in the process. In the 27th minute, Fraser found junior Emily Knight upfield, who outmaneuvered several Lafayette defenders before returning the ball to Fraser, who was open in the middle of the box. Fraser then drew out Lafayette goalie Ashley Wesmiller before placing the ball in the right side of the net for the only goal of the game. This was Fraser's second goal of the season, with her first score recorded last week against Colgate. Both of her goals have been game-winners.

The Red mustered 12 shots against the Leopards in the first half, with Lafayette keeper Ashley Wesmiller recording four saves in the half. On the other end, sophomore Katie Thomas wasn't challenged early, with Lafayette barely getting the ball through the midfield until the later part of the half.

Emily Myers, Lafayette's leading scorer this season, entered as a substitution midway through the first half. She immediately began to show her presence as she generated the Leopards' best scoring chances of the half. Her first two surges downfield were stopped by freshman back Phela Townsend. Towards the end of the first half, Myers rushed down the left side of the field on a breakaway and crossed the ball in front. Fortunately for the Red, no one was there for Lafayette, and Thomas quickly smothered the ball.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Lafayette applied offensive pressure that had been almost completely absent in the first half. It took a while for the Red to regain control and push the ball back towards the other end.

"In the first half, it was a little too easy to move the ball around, so then we started to get complacent and we lost our edge," remarked Andeberhan. "When you lose your edge during the course of the game, it's hard to regain it. They did their best, and they tried to do what I asked at halftime."

The Red's best scoring chance in the second half was stopped by two brilliant saves from Wesmiller. The Leopard keeper deflected a Cornell shot near the right post, and the ball bounced in front of Knight, who had an open look at the net. Wesmiller recovered from her first save attempt and made an incredible dive to block Knight's shot.

The second half was played very physically, with Lafayette trying to outmuscle the Red. This led to five fouls committed by Lafayette and three by the Red. During the latter part of the half, the game turned into a big shoving match, with both teams fighting intensely for the ball.

The booters got quite a scare in the 75th minute when Olsen slid a pass to freshman Michelle Quensell in the Lafayette box. After completing the pass, Olsen fell on her shoulder, and remained on the ground for a few minutes before being helped to her feet.

"I was glad they taped her pretty heavily, and for her confidence I wanted her to get back in for the last five minutes," said Andeberhan. "Last year she played all but two games with a bad injury she suffered in the summer. She's a tough one, which makes it hard to know how badly hurt she is," he continued.

Lafayette applied some offensive pressure in the last ten minutes. Myers took a long shot from the left side that Thomas deflected into the middle. Fortunately for the Red, sophomore back Kate Quintalino was there to clear the ball out of the box. Knight nearly put the game away for the Red after receiving a pass from junior Whitney Cale. Her shot beat Wesmiller but inched just wide of the right post.

In the last three minutes, the Leopards kept the ball at the Cornell end but failed to convert. Thomas ended the game with four saves for the Red and earned her third shutout of the season, lowering her goals against average to 0.60. Wesmiller finished the game with eight saves for Lafayette.

The Red will look for its fifth win of the season on Saturday when they face off against Ivy rival Yale at 4 p.m. at Berman Field.

W. Soccer to Host Lafayette

The women's soccer team will look to resume its winning ways this afternoon when it faces Lafayette (4-2) at Berman Field for a 4 p.m. contest. The Red (3-1, 1-1) is coming off a 2-1 loss to Ivy rival Penn (4-2, 1-0) in the home opener last Saturday.

The booters faced a determined Penn squad in a competitive game this weekend. The Quakers struck first when sophomore Katy Cross beat two defenders and found the back of the net in the 19th minute. Junior Emily Knight notched the tying goal for the Red in the 46th minute after heading a feed from Whitney Cale past Penn keeper Vanessa Scotto. After a fierce 30 minutes of play, Cross beat sophomore goalie Katie Thomas for the game winner in the 76th minute.

Thomas was banged up in the game against Penn, and did not practice on Monday. Head coach Berhane Andeberhan is very optimistic about Thomas returning to play in today's game.

"I'm very pleased with Thomas's performance. She was spectacular in the Penn game, making some crucial saves," remarked Andeberhan. "She has kept us in games this season."

The Red's defense has been solid in the first four games, allowing only three goals. Thomas has already recorded 2 shutouts in goal, and comes into today's game with an impressive 0.75 goals against average along with 22 saves.

So far this year, the Red freshmen have been outstanding. First year forward Shannon Fraser recorded the game-winner against Colgate last week, while classmate Phela Townsend netted the game-winner against Columbia.

"I'm not surprised [with the performance of the freshmen]," commented Andeberhan. "We've seen these kids play before. A couple of them can play even better once they make the transition to college life."

The Red will face a Lafayette squad coming off a 5-1 blowout of St. Peter's College, in which senior Emily Myers recorded her third career hat trick. Myers was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for netting 5 goals in two games. She is an explosive offensive player who has led Lafayette in scoring for the past three seasons, and is currently ranked second in career goals, assists, and scoring at the school.

Last year, the Leopards won a program-record 12 games and will look to make a run for the Patriot League title this season. The booters bested the Leopards last year 3-0 in the Red's first game of the season in Easton, PA.

The Red continues its homestand on Saturday with a 4 p.m. showdown with Ancient Eight foe Yale at Berman Field.

Olsen Leads Way for Booters

Senior Sarah Olsen began her soccer career at age five by joining a boys' club soccer team coached by her dad. She has since risen to the ranks of captain of the women's soccer squad, achieving numerous awards and recognition along the way. Olsen has been a dominating force in the midfield ever since she arrived at Cornell three years ago.

"I honestly had no idea what to expect [my first year]. I was, as all freshmen are, very nervous about playing, and I didn't know if I would get to actually get to play too much my freshman year, so I wasn't really sure what to expect coming in," remarked Olsen.

Her nervousness subsided quickly as she became a key part of the Red's offense in her rookie year, netting four goals (three of them game winners) and earning the team's MVP award. She fared no differently in her sophomore season, when she led the team in scoring and was again named the team's MVP.

Named co-captain last season, Olsen has proven to be a leader on and off the field. She values the teamwork that soccer requires, and makes sure to represent the concerns of her teammates.

"I love being part of the team and the whole idea of team unity. You can have a bunch of great athletes together, but if there isn't a lot of team unity and team chemistry, then you can't really go anyplace with that," commented Olsen. "It's not just about the competitiveness, it's about being able to join as a team and being able to rely on everybody's strengths and play together."

This year's recruiting class provides a much deeper midfield than the Red has had in the past, giving Olsen and the other midfielders more support on the field.

"Sarah will always play all-out, but because the team around her is improved, it'll be more fun and more productive," commented head coach Berhane Andeberhan. "I don't see her slacking off or anything like that, but she can become effective, and the team, as a result, can be more effective."

Last season, Olsen tied for the team lead in goals with three tallies, including a game-winner against Ivy foe Yale in overtime. She is a consistent performer, creating many scoring chances with 28 shots in 2001. In addition to being named team MVP for the third year in a row, Olsen also earned All-Ivy second-team honors for the second year in a row.

Playing the midfield allows her to play a role in both the offense and defense. On the field, Olsen is a focused and determined workhorse.

"My main concern during the game is staying focused and staying in the moment and looking at what's happening right then and keeping composure; staying calm regardless of what takes place is always key," said Olsen. "My other main thought is just the idea that I always want to work harder than my opponent or harder than my mark. If that's happening, then I feel everything else will fall into place eventually."

This year, the Red is off to its best start since 1992 with a 4-1 (1-1 Ivy) record. Olsen has tallied 16 shots in the first four games and will look for more scoring opportunities in the coming weeks.

Looking back at her soccer career at Cornell, Olsen doesn't recall one specific defining moment on the field.

"Over the past couple of years, we've had many ups and downs, and our records haven't always been incredible. I'd say my accomplishment would be just trying to stay positive throughout it all and learning what I can from each game, and trying to remain focused throughout the season and keeping everyone else up and focused as well, and just not giving up."

Lady Booters Travel to Colgate

The women's soccer team will look for its third win of the season tonight, when it faces Colgate (1-3-1) in Hamilton, N.Y. for a 7 p.m. contest. The Red (2-0, 1-0) is off to its best start since 1992, when the booters went 5-0 to start the season.

"We're all very excited for this game," commented senior co-captain Sarah Olsen. "Colgate always just seems to get up for us and very excited [when they play us]. And we do the same when they come here. It'll be a great game."

The Red opened its Ivy League season with a 2-1 win at Columbia (1-2, 0-1) on Saturday, avenging last year's 1-0 loss at Berman Field. Freshman Phela Townsend found the back of the net after a shot by classmate Kara Ishikawa deflected off a Columbia defender. Junior Whitney Cale scored the team's first goal on a corner kick in the 16th minute. The Lions' only goal came in the 52nd minute, when freshman Courtney Nasshorn beat sophomore keeper Katie Thomas from 10 yards out.

Colgate is trying to rebound after its first losing season since 1989. The Raiders will rely on senior tri-captains Lauren Erickson, Lauren Kaufman, and Kristi Woodworth to lead the team. Last year's meeting at Berman Field ended in a 1-1 tie, with the Raiders notching the equalizer in the 53rd minute, after Olsen tallied the only goal for the Red.

Colgate is coming off a 1-1 showing at the ECAC Soccer Classic held in Cape Cod, Massachusetts last weekend. The Raiders knocked off Vermont 5-1 on Friday, before losing to Brown 3-2 on Sunday. Freshman Kelly Kuss recorded two goals for Colgate in the loss. She was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week for her performance at the Classic, which also included an assist against Vermont. Juniors Kate Barrett and Courtney Hostetler each scored two goals in the Raiders' win against Vermont.

The Red's freshmen have been stellar so far this season, accounting for two assists and one goal in the first two contests. The booters will need to establish the midfield game tonight, something they did not do against the Lions, who bypassed the midfield altogether.

"Hopefully we'll come out strong," remarked Olsen. " No matter what it will be a very close and exciting game."

The Red returns to Berman Field on Saturday for the home opener against Penn at 4 p.m.

Women's Soccer Starts Season on Right Foot

The women's soccer team began its 2002 campaign with a 1-0 shutout win at Stony Brook (0-3). Junior Emily Knight found the back of the net in 75th minute for the Red (1-0, 0-0 Ivy), beating out Stony Brook freshman keeper Cindy Bennett. Freshman Shannon Fraser assisted on the play.

The goal ended the 0-0 tie that had frustrated both teams for most of the game.

The booters had some close scoring chances in the first half, but were unable to convert against the Seawolves. For the first 20 minutes of the second half, neither team mustered a big offensive effort.

"The team hung in there and kept battling," said head coach Berhane Andeberhan. "They found their game [in the latter part of the second half]."

The slow start might have been attributed to Cornell's game-readiness. Stony Brook had two regular season games under its belt; the Red had none.

In the second half, the Red outshot the Seawolves 7-2, with senior co-captain Sarah Olsen recording three shots and sophomore Natalie Dew tallying two.

The Red's defense played a strong game, limiting Stony Brook to only five shots. Sophomore keeper Katie Thomas was solid between the pipes, earning her fourth career shutout.

"Thomas wasn't challenged a lot. There were one or two dangerous situations, and she read them well. She kept the team balanced," Andeberhan said.

This year's win avenged last year's tie against the Seawolves in Ithaca when a late Stony Brook goal resulted in a 1-1 deadlock at Berman Field.

Coming Up

The Red looks to improve on its 2001 record of 4-8-3. With seven freshmen and three transfers, this year's recruiting class will add a lot of depth to the roster.

Next weekend, Cornell starts its Ivy campaign against Columbia in New York City. The Lions bested the Red last year at Berman Field, 1-0. The booters then travel to Hamilton, N.Y. for a midweek battle against Colgate on Sept. 18 before facing Penn on Sept. 21 for the first home game of the season.