NEWS RELEASE
SIMCOE COUNTY ROVERS
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The Simcoe County Rovers women are preparing for the League1 Cup semifinals on Wednesday, July 17 at J.C. Massie Field in Barrie.
The League1 Cup is a new addition to the League 1 Ontario 2024 season. The tournament format is simple. Win and advance, lose and be knocked out of the Cup draw.
The Rovers had a bye into the round of 16 where they faced St. Catharines Roma and won 5-0. The team then aced Scrosoppi FC women and won 3-0 with goals scored by Holly O’Neill, Maddie Robbins and Captain Cloey Uddenberg.
The team is now set to face FC London, a familiar opponent. The other semifinals see the North Toronto Nitros playing Darby FC Women on July 16. The winners earn their way to the final and a chance to lift the League1 Cup trophy. The game is tentatively set for the Ontario Soccer Centre on Aug. 17.
Peter Raco, president and CEO of the Simcoe County Rovers, said: “We made a commitment when we launched Rovers Football Club in 2021 to develop pathways for young players in Barrie and Simcoe County. Our group has worked tirelessly over the last four years, alongside Barrie Soccer Club, HDSA, and other youth community clubs, to create a proper development environment for our region. It's outstanding to see local female footballers have the opportunity to play for a trophy at home in Barrie.
"We also made a commitment to the football community to win trophies. We won the region's first major football trophy with the League1 men's championship in 2023, and League1 men's reserve championship in 2022. The club is excited about the opportunity to win a major competition on the women's side this season. No question this is the biggest match in Barrie women's soccer history."
The results and the moment are not lost on COO and women’s sporting director Will Devellis.
“This semifinal match is the biggest match in club history for our women’s program. We are looking to secure a spot in the championship final, something we have aspired to do in our short history as a club. Our goal has always been to develop talented players, help them move on to professional environments and also to win trophies for our fan base and community. We have had huge success helping players move on to pro contracts, and now we look at this match as an opportunity to secure the trophy we have been working towards," he said.
Devellis, who is president of Barrie Soccer Club, has been involved in local soccer for 18 years believes strongly in developing pathways for Barrie and Simcoe County based players.
“Since our inception, we have had a focus on developing young talented players from within the Barrie community. I can truly say we are making huge strides in the direction of player development. We have seen female players who have developed through the Barrie SC youth program solidify permanent roster spots with the Rovers Women Premier Team and will be in the line up next Wednesday during our Cup semifinal.”
“I have also had the luxury of working with our Rovers League2 team who currently sits in third spot in the league’s reserve division. This team is comprised mostly of young talent that has developed through the Barrie SC. These players have played a big part in pushing our program forward and ensuring we will continue to have a strong base of female players ready to step into our Premier team.”
Collectively with these two groups, along with many other up and coming female youth teams and players within the Barrie SC, we have created a strong pathway for high-performance soccer in the community. I am confident that this will see us bring home several League1 trophies — hopefully we are well on our way!
Players recognize the magnitude of the match and are excited as well. Midfielder Annika Gross is one of them.
“Reaching the semi final of the League1 Cup is a great milestone for us. It's a reflection of our team's hard work and perseverance. We're excited about the opportunity to compete at this level and hopeful that we can continue to have success moving forward. Moving from British Columbia to play in League 1 Ontario has been an incredible opportunity for me. The Simcoe Rovers organization has been super supportive throughout this move and their support has allowed me to challenge myself in a new environment and grow significantly as a player.”
Defender Holly Tarves who also hails from British Columbia feels the move to Rovers has been beneficial for her development as a player.
“Moving to Ontario to play in League1 has allowed me to play alongside and against top players on a consistent basis, all of which has helped me develop and improve my game. Being in the semi finals of the League Cup is an exciting time for the team, club and our supporters. We're focused on taking each match as it comes and giving our best to reach the final.”
Local player and stalwart defender Michelle Plowman can’t wait to play in the semifinals. “I grew up playing with the Barrie Soccer Club, so playing for the Rovers in a community that helped me develop within the game of soccer is special to me. The girls have been playing some fantastic football, and we are looking for to the opportunity to win a spot in the Cup final.”
Please join us at J.C. Massie Field this Wednesday, July 17 at 8 p.m. Help cheer on our women’s program as we make a push for a place in the League1 Cup championship final!
For more information on the Simcoe County Rovers FC, including schedule details, ticket purchase options and sponsorship opportunities, please click here.
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