My experience at Conestoga College these past 2 years has been great. I’m in a program I love and have made many new friends within the college. When I entered the college last September I was nervous, coming straight out of high school was a big step for me, but I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to train with the women’s soccer team while I was still in grade 12. The girls were awesome, they made me feel like I was at home. They gave me tours around the college so I got a better feel for it before attending in September. My first-year experience was successful for me with the women’s soccer team because I was a rookie so I didn’t expect much playing time or anything, but I played almost 90% of the time last season. For me as a first year, I was setting goals for myself and I achieved my goals. I was ranked top 10 goal scorer in the OCAA and won Indoor Rookie of The Year for the college. I was honoured to have won that award and was also honoured to represent the college as a rookie in the OCAA. My first-year experience was one to remember for sure. 

     On August 20th, training camp started for the 2017/18 outdoor season. It was a new year for myself and my teammates, we were ready to train harder than last season and we were prepared for the best and the worst after being switched into the Central division. Which meant playing the top 2 teams, Cambrian College and Humber College. We had great additions to the team starting with two 5th year players Amy Lintack and Paige Howard who graduated From the University of Western Ontario and were a part of the women’s soccer team there for 4 years. Another big addition to this team was our head coach Peter Mackie, which I’m lucky to have had the privilege of knowing him since I was 7 years old. It’s great when a new coach comes in but you also have a great connection with them already before the season even starts. I was happy that the athletic department choose Peter to be the men and women’s head coach because he has experience in the soccer world. He’s played at the highest level possible and has been to two OUA championship finals with Laurier and one U Sports national finals with the Golden Hawks. Having a coach who has played and knows the game so well and who was also a part of the University of Waterloo soccer program for 16 years is extremely important. We were excited and prepared as camp set that day after 4 hours of training… September 9th came and the season began as we had our home opener against George Brown College. That game resulted with a big 5-2 for us Condors and with 3 OWSL players scoring in that game, myself, Paige and Amy. I was proud with our work ethic that game. We brought our game and left it out on the field that day. The season kept going and we were half way through. We had to hit the road and face Humber College. This was a game I was nervous for and I don’t ever get nervous before games because I’ve been through it all. That game was our best game all season. We were tough and we were competing to their level. Nothing got by us. Peter made the choice to put me in defence as he quotes after the game “Good players can play anywhere. You played your best game of the year in left defence. Well Done.” I was proud because the undefeated Humber Hawks only beat us 1-0 with an 80th minute goal scored by Peter’s daughter Hayley Mackie. The odds of that happening were pretty crazy. I’ve had the privilege to play with Hayley over the years since we were kids and she is a great player and holds the ball well when she’s in the middle of the park. We knew we can compete with any team in the OCAA if we only lost 1-0 to the undefeated Hawks. Our team bonded better I think after those tight wins and especially road trips we came together more.

     I think my second year was a memorable experience for me because we were 5-5 this season and the women’s soccer team hasn’t ever gone 5-5 in 12 years at the college. So being a part of that was an accomplishment on my part. Our second biggest game by far in my last 2 years of being at Conestoga was definitely the Sheridan vs Conestoga game. We were on the road to Sheridan College and they were above us in points so it was a very important game to determine who comes 3rd in the standings before playoffs. The game started and we were battling hard for the ball, then just out of know where the Bruins were up by 2 goals. We managed to pull back and put one in the back of the net before half. We headed to the change room and Peter gave us a talk about how we need to bring our game up. We got pumped and we ran back out to the field. Second half started, still sitting at 2-1. We got a free kick and I was the one who was taking it. 30 yards out I shot the ball and it went right over the Bruins goalie hitting top cross bar and in. we tied it 2-2. They came back and made it 3-2. We came back and made it 3-3. Then we hit the 89th minute and we had 1 minute to go and Lora Desilva tapped the ball in and we were up 4-3. We held our line for 2 more minutes until the final whistle blew. It was by far the most exciting game I have played in the OCAA. Great memories and a great group of girls this season and I couldn’t have been happier to call Conestoga my home. 

     I would like to thank Peter Mackie and the coaching staff for pushing me to my limits and making me the better player I am today. Without them I wouldn’t have been named OCAA athlete of the week for Conestoga. I'd also like to say thanks to Darren Stevenson and 519 Sports Online for capturing over the years my accomplishments with Grand River Collegiate.
 

Breanna Senfner - November 2017