Bold women's soccer look to take next steps using family approach

Toronto Metropolitan University's (TMU) success in soccer has seemingly always been orchestrated around imperishable moments. For the women's soccer team, last season's quarter-final loss to the rivaled Ottawa Gee-Gees greatly overshadowed one of the most memorable moments in program history.

The team's highly-anticipated return to Downsview Park last season brought a colourful array of emotions from both the players and fans in attendance. However, the biggest sentiment of the evening came in the final minutes of the October 2 match that marked the team's first ever victory over the Toronto Varsity Blues.

The monumental win brought out a more promising feeling for now interim head coach John Yacou, who shared that very same emotion with this group in 2019 following a 1-0 win over the Nipissing Lakers. Not only would the team advance to the quarter-finals following that particular win, but Yacou and his side would put a bow on the program's record-breaking season that saw them pick up their first ever postseason win..

Looking back to that memory now, Yacou believes that all-important win in North Bay "brought a different type of energy" to the team and wishes to gain plenty of similar results as the season rolls along.

To get to that point however, Yacou continues to instill the values of the program within his team as they gear up for a fresh season. With winning being the prime objective heading into the year, the TMU coach holds the journey to becoming a family in the highest regard.

"Before [our cheer] was 1, 2, 3, TMU. Now we changed it to 1, 2, 3, Family," said Yacou.

Despite being evident in a literal sense, Yacou anticipates the value of family to become rooted much deeper within the pitch. Through the determination of his players does the team's head coach wish to rally his message around, hoping that his side can "get together as a family for every game…fighting for no longer just yourself, but your family as well."

With the season right around the corner, players are gaining familiarity to Yacou's style daily while doing their part to help their 'family'. This trait, however, is far from foreign to midfielder Savahnna Robinson, who played under Yacou in her second year.

For Robinson, preaching the importance of family still remains prominent within her life on the pitch. Now playing as a senior, Robinson continues to be pleased with her teammates - both old and new - heading into 2022, noticing that, "all the girls are really happy to be here and everyone is focused on one main goal."

With all the players meshing together well, Robinson believes the team's 5-4-2 record from last year will be greatly improved upon through her side's uptick in aggression, teamwork and determination. These three traits failed to present themselves throughout the short-lived postseason for both Robinson and her teammates last fall.

Though the thoughts still linger from the team's shutout loss to the Gee-Gees in last year's quarter-finals, Robinson believes that keeping the composure through both herself and the team will guarantee a different result against the team that she credits as TMU's "biggest rivals at the moment."

Robinson, Yacou, and the entire women's soccer team will look to deploy their familial values while conquering the season ahead. With the University of Ottawa being the team's first obstacle of 2022, this family looks to ditch their broken record of consecutive losses to the Gee-Gees starting on opening day.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Savahnna Robinson: MF; 5' 4"; 4

Players Mentioned

#9 Savahnna Robinson
: 5' 4"; 4
: MF

Players Mentioned

#9 Savahnna Robinson

Players Mentioned

#9 Savahnna Robinson