ANCASTER, ON. The Annual OCAA Soccer awards have been announced and the Royals were not left out. Eleven Royals from the Men's and Women's teams were recognized for their outstanding performances. The 2024 Soccer season will go down as one of the most successful years in Royals' history.
Headlining the award winners is Women's Head Coach Meaghan Rudd who was named the OCAA Coach of the Year. The fourth-year head coach has had the Royals improve each season which culminated with a Division Championship this season. In Rudd's first season with the Royals, they posted a 0-5-1 record. The following three seasons drastically improved recording 5-2-3, 5-1-4 and 7-1-2 records. Rudd's second, third and fourth seasons all beat or tied the programs previous win and points record. Meaghan's coaching excellence goes beyond the field where she and the Royals coaching staff pour into the lives of their athletes, developing them in their faith, leadership and character.
Adrianna Kanisek co-headlines the awards being named the OCAA West Player of the Year. Kanisek is the first Royals soccer player to be named player of the year. Additionally, Kanisek is a CCAA All-Canadian and OCAA West First Team All-Star. For the second time in her Royals career, Kanisek has also been named the OCAA West Defensive Player of the Year.
Women's Soccer awards do not stop there. A total of seven women's soccer members received recognition for their performances. Accompanying Rudd and Kanisek are five other Royals. OCAA West First Team All-Star members include Mia Palango, Emily Walraven, Jasmine DeBoer, and Ivana Kanisek. Mya Sieders follows up with an OCAA West Second Team All-Star nod. In addition to Jasmine DeBoer's First-Team All-Star, she is also on the OCAA West All-Rookie team.
Redeemer Women's Soccer concluded the regular season as the West Division Champions, as well as the OCAA West Best Defensive Team.
Men's Soccer also posted an impressive four OCAA awards. Hunter Packalen, Matthew Derks and Derek Proulx were named OCAA West Second Team All-Stars. First-year sensation Carter Vanderkruk joins the Royals as a member of the OCAA West All-Rookie Team. Three of the four Royals Men's Soccer award winners are set to return to the pitch next season. Men's Soccer concludes an impressive season that has laid a foundation to build on.
Women's Soccer Award winners will be presented their awards before their quarter-final match this Saturday at David Mantel Field. Kick-off is set for 2:00 PM where they host the East-seeded #4 Cambrian Golden Shield.
Award Winner
Women's Soccer
Meaghan Rudd - OCAA Coach of the Year, OCAA West Coach of the Year
Adriana Kanisek - OCAA West Player of the Year, CCAA All-Canadian, OCAA West Defensive Player of the Year, OCAA West First-Team All-star
Mia Palango - OCAA West First-Team All-star
Emily Walraven - OCAA West First-Team All-star
Ivana Kanisek - OCAA West First-Team All-star
Jasmine DeBoer - OCAA West First-Team All-star, OCAA West All-Rookie Team
Mya Sieders - OCAA West Second-Team All-star
Team Awards - OCAA West Division Champions, OCAA West Best Defensive Team
Men's Soccer
Hunter Packalen - OCAA West Second-Team All-star
Derek Proulx - OCAA West Second-Team All-star
Matthew Derks - OCAA West Second-Team All-star
Carter Vanderkruk -OCAA West All-Rookie Team
