Junior Girls Soccer

Athlete of the Week: Tamara Wood-Downey

Every successful soccer team needs solid defence, which usually means four defenders at the back. But thanks to AOTW Tamara Wood-Downey and her two defensive teammates, Sophia Farfan and Joliane Legault, this year’s junior girls soccer team has been able to outnumber teams in the midfield by playing with just three defenders.

And what defenders they are! Tamara, Sophia and Joliane are as solid as any fence. They are as sturdy as the posts, as blanketing and confining as the boards and as tough as the nails. Collectively, the girls put the fence in defence.

Just this week, in two critical season-ending games which ultimately booked a ticket to the playoffs, the Spartans allowed a grand total of one goal. “The Fence” played fast, smart and brilliantly, with perfect angles of pursuit, well-timed pinch-ins, synchronized covering runs and counter-attacking clearances. Their spatial awareness was spot-on and their first touches were smart and controlled, which allowed them to completely shut down their opponents’ most dangerous players.

On behalf of “D Fence,” talented central defender Tamara Wood-Downey is the recipient of this week’s Athlete of the Week award. Congratulations, Tamara!
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