NORTH YORK, Ont. – Alex Bianchi has become the first Durham College women's soccer head coach to be named OCAA coach of the year since 1996.
The award was presented at the women's soccer championship banquet on Wednesday night. He was also selected as the CCAA nominee from the conference.
In only his second full season behind the bench, after taking over in an interim role in 2016, Bianchi continues to improve the program. In his first season with the Lords he led them to their first winning season since 2013 and followed that this year by coaching Durham College to their first nine-win season since 1999.
Personally, winning coach of the year is a major accomplishment as the last Durham College women's soccer coach to win was Ike Altensta in 1996. It was previously bestowed to Durham's Gail Reid in 1991 and 1993.
"For me, it means the vision Karen (Michalicka) and I had when we set forth with this team is the proper one," said Bianchi. "This is validation of that and says that we're on the right path. I have a great coaching staff and support staff at the college. To me this is a DC award, not an
Alex Bianchi award. It is exciting news for the school and bodes well for the program, showing we're on the right path."
With men's head coach
Dave Ashfield also winning the OCAA coach of the year award, this is the first time that both Durham College soccer coaches have received the honour in the same year. The last time the Lords had two coaches in the same sport win coach of the year awards was the 1999-00 season when volleyball coaches Gord Williamson and Stan Marchut were recognized.
Alongside the head coach, five women's soccer players were named all-stars.
In back-to-back seasons,
Bailey Colangelo (Whitby, Ont.) has been named a league all-star. In her rookie campaign, last year, she cleaned up at the awards banquet with the OCAA women's soccer rookie of the year and east division defensive player of the year awards.
Fellow defender
Erin Dicaire (Oshawa, Ont.) was also named an all-star for the first time.
As members of the Lords backline, Colangelo and Dicaire were key in cutting Durham College's goals against in half from 34 in 2016 to 16 in 2017. This year was no different as they assisted the Lords in cutting that total to six.
Also, a first-time recipient, the team's leading scorer
Cory Lapointe (Whitby, Ont.) was honoured on Wednesday night. She finished with nine goals, which was good enough for fifth overall in the conference.
Not far off her mark,
Milinda Roblero (Pickering, Ont.) and
Madison Haigh (Bowmanville, Ont.) rounded out the Durham College winners. Roblero and Haigh finished with eight and five goals respectively.
"I'm proud of those five ladies, they've done well and worked hard to earn these awards," said Bianchi. "To have them recognized with these (awards) by other coaches, that says a lot about the impact they have in the conference. From the team aspect, it is gratifying to have almost half of the all-star team be from Durham College."
Now the Lords turn their focus to their opening match of the OCAA women's soccer championship presented by belairdirect. They face the Niagara Knights at 1 p.m. at Seneca College's Newnham Campus.
This is the first time in over 10 years that the two programs have met in preseason or postseason play.
This year the Lords finished second in the east, earning a bye to the championship with Seneca as host, while Niagara finished second in the west and defeated the George Brown Huskies 3-0 in a qualifying match to earn their berth.
For more information about the OCAA women's soccer championship visit:
http://ocaachampionships.com/championships/wsoc/2018-19/index
