The Bridge
Coach David Porco called them “the core”, referring to the Strikers’ key players en route to their 2021 League 1 Championship. Veterans April Syme, Christina White, Cat Rogers and Christobel Oduro are all 25 or older and have been part of L1 since the beginning. In a league reliant on university-aged players who have specific availability, this senior core led their team to a much-deserved first franchise championship, proving that the way to field a consistent product and peak late in the season is through senior players. This year, a few key players have gone back to playing pro soccer abroad (Dolan, Oduro), but most of the core remains and Alyscha Mottershead (Blair) is back following a year off related to becoming a mother. The Strikers will be set up for success again this season.
“The Woodbridge Soccer Club, established in 1976, is a non-profit organization of long standing in the community of Woodbridge.”
1 on 1 with David Porco
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On-field Identity: Our League 1 and League 1 Reserve teams train together in both the winter and summer season
Off-field identity: Our players get together for socials; players are encouraged by coaching staff to transition to coaching roles at Woodbridge SC
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On-field Goals: Defend the L1 Championship, Develop the younger players and prepare them to play League 1 Premier
Off-field Goals: Introduce more players to coaching, host socials/events for players to foster positive environment
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Age range: 17-30
Focus on recruiting players within the Club — players on L1 team are from OPDL, Canadian & US universities and colleges.
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Short term: we have to many teams and this has watered down the league
Long-term: Im excited about the new direction, it creates competition because every game matters and you will have the best players competing in the Premier division
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It’s so important to start supporting women’s soccer and it really needs to start at the grassroots level. With Canada’s women’s team winning gold, it will hopefully make young women aspire to play at the National level one day.
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In my opinion, the biggest challenge for girls and women’s soccer is that there is no Canadian women’s professional league. Most women who want to play at the highest level, have to leave the country in order to play professionally elsewhere and so we’re losing Canadian talent to other leagues, especially in Europe.
I think a professional league in Canada would also support the growth of our National Program. For example, NDC competing in League 1 will only help players develop because they would be playing against the best, which would better prepare the players for national team competitions.
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Unfortunately, this decision is not up to me and is up to the Board of Director’s at Woodbridge SC. With that being said, as a coach, I would absolutely want Woodbridge to be part of a pro league.
About David
David Porco is an institution. The CSA A licensed head coach of the women’s program also doubles as the girls Technical Director for Woodbridge, since 2012, a club that continues to produce elite talent year-by-year. His first coaching job was at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, his alma mater, in 1987.
We wish David the best of luck pursuing the team goal of defending the Championship.
