Cormier's stats are climbing quickly
Sept. 25, 2009 - Regina Leader-Post
By Tim Switzer
It doesn't seem quite right that Meagan Cormier would already be the University of Regina Cougars women's soccer team's all-time second-leading scorer.
But with five goals and two assists in her first four games with the Cougars, that's exactly where the rookie striker sits.
"I'm used to scoring goals, but I never would have thought I'd score this many so far, especially against the strong defenders in the league," said Cormier, an 18-year-old graduate of Campbell Collegiate. "In the past I've played in fast-paced leagues, but this is just as fast or even faster and the girls are like five years older than me so they're bigger than me."
Cormier trails only Jessica Waller, who scored 18 goals from 2001 to 2005.
Cormier will try to add to her total this weekend when the Cougars meet the host Fraser Valley Cascades (Saturday) and the No. 3-ranked Victoria Vikes (Sunday).
To be fair, had things gone a little differently in seasons past, Cormier would not be so far up the list. Nakia Forsberg and Michelle Anderson scored five and four goals, respectively, during their rookie year in 2007 and seemed set to continue down that path. Anderson, however, moved to goalkeeper in 2008 and Forsberg has been hampered by injuries and has barely played since her rookie campaign.
Forsberg is still third on the list with five goals and an assist. Anderson is right behind with four goals and two assists.
Although Cormier was brought in to score goals, even head coach Bob Maltman would not have expected so much success so soon.
"It's difficult to predict right away," said Maltman. "As a first-year athlete, you always expect that perhaps they're going to struggle a little bit with the pace, but she has had a lot of opportunities at a very high level -- she played in Alberta (in a women's' senior league) for a year -- and she has been well-trained here. She has a knack around the net and is cool as a cucumber there."
Cormier has struggled in some areas as she gets used to university-level soccer. During Regina's first two games (Cormier had two goals and an assist in each), Maltman felt her defensive contribution lacked at times, particularly late in the Calgary Dinos' 5-4 come-from-behind victory on Sept. 12.
"What she does is very advantageous to our team, but also there has to be that understanding that you have roles and responsibilities defensively and we saw that to a greater degree against the (Saskatchewan) Huskies," said Maltman, who had Cormier playing midfielder against the Huskies in a 1-0 loss Sunday.
While Cormier will primarily be a striker with the Cougars, Maltman will from time to time move her to midfield. If he needed, he could even have her play as a defender, which she did for Team Saskatchewan during the Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island.
"It has always been my coaches that have switched me around so I've always had practice at anything," said Cormier. "Right now I'm loving striker, but I really couldn't decide."