Niagara United Juventus captures Ontario Cup
The Niagara United Juventus 2011 girls soccer team is the best of the best.
With a 6-0 victory over Barrie SC, the fourth-ranked squad in Canada was crowned Ontario Cup champion this past weekend. Niagara United Juventus is the first Niagara team to win an Ontario Cup at any age level since the 2016 Niagara-on-the-Lake under-13 girls team.
“It was an exciting day but it was a long journey and this was the longest season I have ever had in my life,” head coach Paolo Sirianni said. “The girls executed the game plan with our defensive structure translating to transitions into offence and capitalizing on goals. Our players played fast and attacked hard.”
On the way to the Ontario Cup final, Niagara defeated the Guelph Junior Gryphons 3-0, the Pelham Panthers 9-0, London Alliance 5-4 on penalty kicks after the game was tied 3-3 after regulation play, and Caledon 7-0 in the semifinals.
Riley Woehl scored twice in the final and singles were netted by Daytona Wiens, Michela Lombardi, Ella Yetman and Ava Covelli. Yetman was player of the game after recording a goal and two assists.
“Ella Yetman set up Riley Woehl 2:30 into the game to get us started.”
It was a great moment when the final whistle sounded.
“This was something the girls had been focusing on. They have heard it from everybody that the Ontario Cup is a big deal,” Sirianni said. “I was very happy and excited and it was validation that everything we are doing is working. We have really focused on player development in the Niagara United Juventus family. One coach told me we play a higher level of soccer and we are not just booting the ball down and hoping for the best.”
The team focused on connection passes, possession soccer, playing the right way and not just trying to get the win.
The most challenging game in the run to an Ontario Cup was clearly the quarter-final victory over London Alliance.
“We were generally considered the two best teams and the draw put the two best teams in the quarter-finals. Everyone around was saying that it was the championship game,” Sirianni said. “We avenged our loss to them in the Top Rated Series championship by going to London and beating them.”
With the excitement of the Ontario Cup, it was a challenge to keep the girls focused on league play, but they persevered and finished undefeated.
“We had to continue to respect all of our opponents.”
It took a lot of effort from a lot of people to bring the Ontario Cup home to Niagara Falls.
“Between all the assistant coaches and technical directors, we have created a great coaching staff,” Sirianni said. “I don’t have to be the smartest in the room. I just make sure I surround myself with great coaches and staff.”
Technical directors of Juventus Academy Niagara Ernie Scervino, Mike Folino, Tony Carbonara and Brian Panunto were supportive of the team and helped devise a plan to develop the players and showcase them in 2024 and beyond.
“They do a lot of behind the scenes work that I truly appreciate,” he said.
Rick Di Gironimo, the GM of Juventus Academy Toronto, was a valuable resource for the coaching staff.
“We are thankful for his support in bringing Juventus to Niagara and I have had great conversations with him,” Sirianni said. “He helped me with a game plan when we played London. He is a great resource for our team as we continue to develop as players and showcase our players internationally in the near future. Being a part of the Juventus family will open a lot of doors for our girls in the near future.”
Previous coach Jera Skeoch laid the groundwork for this season’s success.
“This Ontario Cup isn’t representative of a one-year journey. It began at the U8 level with Jera who was their head coach from U8 to U12. She brought me on as an assistant coach and was instrumental for this team over the years. She was a great coach for these girls, loved them and still today is very supportive of our team,” he said. “There was a core group that started in U8 and the players we have added over the years have been nothing short of magnificent.”
Under-14 coach Andy Yang was an excellent presence at practice for the girls.
Members of the Niagara United executive were also very supportive of the team.
“I was happy that our president (Vince Chieca) and vice president (Tracey Singer) came to the games. It meant a lot to the girls,” Sirianni said. “We are so happy that Niagara United is our home club. We consider it the best soccer club in the region and the support they provided to us is unmatched.”
Members of the team, coached by Paolo Sirianni, Cristina Matesa, Courtney Foster and Alysha Woehl, were Payton Foster, Colbie Sutherland, Ava Covelli, Chloe Carter, Bianca Walker, Ella Yetman, Dhillin Ruggi, Evie Haine, Riley Woehl, Michela Lombardi, Daytona Wiens, Emma Konderka, Sydney Vanklinken, Grace Zwiep, Mya Stienstra, Mia Clark, Lucia Sirianni, Madeline Wood and Ashley Stret.
The team had 13 wins and a tie to win the Golden Horseshoe Soccer League by 12 points. Niagara United Juventus outscored the opposition 64-4 and had the top three scorers in the league (Daytona Wiens 14, Ella Yetman 9 and Mya Stienstra 9) as well as seven of the 12 goals scorers in the league. Emma Konderka led the league with 10 shutouts and Payton Foster was second with nine.
Sirianni credits the team’s success to the girls’ unbelievable determination and its balanced attack.
“They are selfless. The girls are now making the right passes for each other instead of us having one goal scorer. Any team we play that just has one goal scorer is stuck.”
But it is much more than just the scorers.
“Our back line is amazing. We use our defensive structure to transition into our offensive game.”
Niagara United Juventus is still not done with its season. The squad has a tournament in October and the I-model championship game on Nov. 2.
It will be holding tryouts at Niagara United Wednesday and Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Girls from across Niagara are encouraged to come try out. This year’s squad included players from Niagara Falls, Stevensville, Grimsby, Stoney Creek, Pelham and Beamsville.
