Rookie mid-fielder Brittany Szcerbakow, right, is turning heads.
photo by alison brownlee

First year mid-fielder impresses her elders

Alison Brownlee
Sports Reporter

With the indoor soccer squads looking ahead to regional playoffs on March 9, one player the women’s team is counting on is mid-fielder Brittany Szcerbakow.

“Mentally, she’s a smart player,” said assistant coach Stephanie Wardell.  “Her level of understanding about the game was well above the other players who tried out in the fall. She has a lot of skill and speed, too,” said Wardell.

Szcerbakow, a 19-year old first year fitness and health promotion student, said she was a very shy person when she started playing soccer at six.

“My mom literally dragged me kicking and screaming into the registration office,” she said.

Szcerbakow stayed with soccer while attending Iona Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga, but does not regret turning down a scholarship and chance to play for Oakland University in the U.S.

She said she made the right decision.

“I have friends in the States with scholarships and they say they’re very unhappy.”

Humber gave Szcerbakow a scholarship last fall and she has paid off for the Hawks, winning a provincial all-star award and being named MVP in the team’s bronze medal finish at the outdoor nationals last semester.

“Other players on the team have won awards because they also deserve it, so we don’t really think about it,” said Hawks captain Joanna Alexopulos. “On the field, though, you just know Brittany is a really good player and she works really hard. No one gets by her. She never gives up.”

Wardell said she has a lot to learn, “But that will come with experience at the different levels of play,” she said.  “Right now, she moves the ball well, and defensively she’s a strong player.”

The women’s team heads to the playoffs after a strong showing at the Feb. 14 Sheridan tournament, earning four shut-out victories and taking down Fanshawe 2-0 in the final to finish first overall.

The men finished second, tying two and winning two before losing the final 1-0 to Sheridan.

At regional’s, both teams will have to get past Confederation, Georgian, and Sheridan to earn a place in the provincial championship on March 26th.