Orozco, Marchio earn MVP honours
Mariana Orozco of Saint Francis and Mia Marchio of Notre Dame shared MVP honours at the Ninth Annual Knights Niagara Region Girls Soccer Showcase Wednesday night at Youngs Sportsplex.
Orozco scored a goal in Team White’s 5-4 win over Team Blue while Marchio had two goals in a losing cause.
Kayleigh Digirolamo of Sir Winston Churchill had two goals for Team Blue while Jayna Stanley of Port Colborne High School and Joop Hockham of Greater Fort Erie also scored.
Samantha Dino of Saint Paul and Jayla Eaton of Lakeshore Catholic rounded out the scoring for Team White.
Orozco enjoyed the experience.
“My goal is to try my best to play those long balls, get them into the box, shoot and keep my head up and check my shoulder always,” the 17-year-old said. “I feel like we had a lot of communication on the field which helped us perform and get the win.
“I think we played awesome.”
Orozco, who plays for Burlington OPDL (Ontario Player Development League), has soccer in her blood.
“It’s always been soccer since I was three,” she said. “My older brother played and coached and learned from him and I’ve gotten better and better. I’ve trained on my own to get better.
“Soccer is my thing, it always has been. If it’s not school, it’s soccer. And if it’s not working out, it’s just soccer. It’s soccer all the time.”
Orozco has set her sights high for the future.
“Trying to get into becoming a gym teacher and become a pro,” she said.
Orozco impressed Niagara College head coach Rob Lalama.
“I thought she was the best player on the field. It’s not always about scoring goals, although she did score. She controlled the ball and her vision and her soccer IQ was exceptional,” Lalama said.
Marchio stood out for Team White with a pair of goals.
“She was always an offensive threat every time she was around,” Lalama said. “She makes good runs off the ball and gives her attacking midfielders good targets for which to pass the ball into her runs.
“She’s dangerous.”
Marchio, who plays for the Niagara Falls Soccer Club U17 squad, was thrilled with the MVP honour.
“It feels great,” she said. “I just go to play and try my best to let it happen.”
Marchio, who has been playing since she was five years old, took the game seriously.
“I think no matter what game you’re playing you should always put out 100 per cent effort, no matter what,” she said.
She appreciated being on the same pitch with the top players in Niagara.
“I’ve played with some and go to school with some. It was fun to get together and play.”
Marchio’s plans for the future are still wide open.
“Honestly, I’m just looking for success and hope everything works out in my favour. I just want to work as hard as I can,” she said.
Following were the rosters for the game:
Blue Team
1. Tessa Pingue, Denis Morris.
99. Julia Schwegler, Saint Michael.
3. Jenna Berry, Denis Morris.
4. Miriam Wambulwa, Saint Michael.
5. Kylie Newson, Saint Michael.
6. Syenn Pylypiw, Saint Francis. DNP
6. Maya Belcastro, Notre Dame
7. Mariana Orozco, Saint Francis.
8. Tessa Vahrmeyer, Holy Cross. DNP
9. Jayna Stanley, Port Colborne High School
10. Regan Hildebrandt, E.L. Crossley.
11. Leah Waselovich, E.L. Crossley. DNP
12. Olivia Tehrani, Blessed Trinity. DNP
14. Kayleigh Digirolamo, Sir Winston Churchill.
15. Mikaela Burke, Heritage Christian.
16. Addison Bremner, Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf.
17. Joop Hockham, Greater Fort Erie.
White Team
G. Sarah Haist, Welland Centennial.
0. Emilia Martuccio, Saint Paul.
2. Samantha Dino, Saint Paul.
3. Ashlyn Armstrong, Welland Centennial.
4. Holly Bogusat, Governor Simcoe.
5. Briar Rogers, Governor Simcoe.
6. Mia Marchio, Notre Dame.
8. Sarah Cox, Notre Dame.
9. Marlie Droppert, Smithville Christian.
10. Savannah Speck, Eden.
11. Katie Cairns, West Niagara.
12. Jayla Eaton, Lakeshore Catholic.
14. Sara Walsh, Lakeshore Catholic.
15. Siera Warkentin, A.N. Myer. DNP
16. Carly Casciano, A.N. Myer.
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