.jpg "STM soccer players")
By Larry Moko
A veteran St. Thomas More midfielder is poised to follow in her sister's footsteps by playing NCAA Division I women's soccer.
Francesca Pugliese of the Knights has accepted a scholarship offer from Georgia-based Mercer University.
That school, in Macon, competes in the Southern Conference.
Pugliese and her sister, Ava, were teammates on More's squad that won an OFSAA gold medal three years ago. Ava then agreed to attend Southern Illinois University on scholarship but since has transferred to Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y.
She is a sophomore with the Seahawks.
Francesca scored a goal from a penalty kick during Thursday's Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic league game at St. Mary against the Crusaders. It won't count, however. That's because a storm with lightning threats forced postponement after 19 minutes of play.
The Knights were ahead 2-0 at the time but, after a delay, it was decided to restart the contest (FIFA rules) from its outset on May 5.
Emma Sakfie, a Grade 9 student, had opened the scoring in the first minute.
"I signed last August," Pugliese said in an interview while the teams waited inside the school for a possible resumption of play. "(Mercer) was a perfect fit for me. It's a very good school, as well."
More currently has a record of 1-2-1, while St. Mary is 2-1-1.
"Francesca is very talented," Knights coach Giovanni Carboni said. "She's been with the senior team for four years. At OFSAA, when she was in Grade 9, she scored two goals and assisted on the winning goal in the final."
It was the first OFSAA soccer gold in More's history.
Pugliese also plays for Buffalo's Western New York Flash where she received All-Conference First Team honours with that club.
Mercer Bears coach Tony Economopoulos likes what he's getting. He commented: "Francesca is a five-star recruit and she's exactly what we need in our program."
Carboni points out that Pugliese is "so good technically" that she can be utilized at various positions on the field.
"Today was the first time I actually put her where she normally plays, which is holding midfielder," the More coach said. "Usually we play her further up front, either striker or attacking midfielder or sometimes winger. You can put her anywhere. She's a good defender, as well."
Passing, dribbling and shooting are her other strengths.
"She can score in any way," Carboni added. "She can do it all."
Pugliese is a product of the Hamilton United organization.
"I'm very aggressive," she said. "I like to keep possession of the ball and attack when I can.
"This year we (the Knights) are a good, young team. I'm sure we can make it to the championship game."
As for the Crusaders, they are coming off a strong season where they captured a silver medal in the AA division of OFSAA.
"We're a young team," Crusaders coach Lora te Boekhorst said. "It's definitely a rebuilding year. We lost nine graduates, which is a big hit to us. But every team goes through it.
"We're athletic again and we work hard."
In the earlier boys' half of the soccer doubleheader at St. Mary, the Crusaders and Knights tied, 0-0. And at St. Jean de Brébeuf, the St. John Henry Newman Cardinals improved their record to 5-0 with a 4-1 decision over the Braves.
Photos by Richard Andoga
.jpg "St. Mary and STM players on field")
.jpg "STM and St. Mary's players on the field")
