Midfielder/forward Megan Estrada practising alongside Donn Sparks at the Minoru Park in Richmond, B.C. on Oct. 15
2019. MAXIM FOSSEY PHOTO

Coach ‘sparks’ players

Former assistant trainer returns to Langara

By HENRI NGIMBIS

ith the return of

coach Donn Sparks

and his training

methods, Langara
women’s soccer team is feeling more
confident in the PACWEST league
— even with the loss of several play-
ers to university transfers.

Sparks, who has been involved
with soccer in Vancouver since
1992, is returning as head coach. He
was previously the Falcons’ women’s
assistant coach in 2005 and then the

full 2006-07 season.

Carly Dhanda, captain of the
team, said she and her teammates
have been playing together for at
least one year, but the team regu-
larly loses players who transfer to
a university.

“Our trainer is aware of that prob-
lem. His training methods, based on
tactic and motivation, considerably
increase our confidence and fighting
spirit,” Dhanda said.

Addressing a new scene and
adjusting team chemistry can
always be tough factors for a new

Se

Donn Sparks watching his team training at Minoru Park on Oct. 15 2019

NATHAN GAN PHOTO

head coach once settled in, but
Sparks said he and his players are
like a family.

“Conversation and tactic are the
key elements of my teaching meth-
ods,” said Sparks. “I motivate the
players, by talking to them and
showing them all the aspects of
mistakes that they can make.”

Assistant coach Nick Riccardi
said that he has definitely noticed
a change in team chemistry.

“It’s been progressive over all with
the time we've had.”

With only two games remaining,
Oct. 19 and 20, the Falcons sit at the
bottom of the PACWEST rank-

“Tdo not think
they lived to their
potential this year.”

— NICK RICCARDI, FALCONS ASSISTANT
COACH

ings, with a 1-9 record. Still, Sparks
is optimistic about improvements
within his squad.

“My players have a very good
tactic and an excellent passing
pace,” he said. “Unfortunately, in
modern soccer, a tiny detail can cost
you points.”

Riccardi is confident and said that
he expects the team to make the
playoffs next season, “100 per cent.”

“I want to see these girls going
again, because I do not think they
lived to their potential this year
and I want to see them do that next
year.”

W-D-L

1-0-9

Win %: 0.100

Goals for: 8

Goals against: 28
Games played: 10
Ranked: 4th/4th (3 pts)

Source: pacwestbe.ca

Top Falcon flies
East for nationals

All Star winner eyes crown; Langaras
first female golfer still swinging

By SOUBHIK
CHAKRABARTI

ohn Jamieson will end his season

as the only Falcons player at the

2019 CCAA Golf National
Champion- -
ships. Natalee
Okamura became
the first Langara
female golfer in
the PACWEST
league this year

but didn’t qualify

for nationals. ayaalee
i amura
qt will mark FIRST YEAR KINESI-
Jamieson’s secon OLOGY STUDENT

appearance at
the prestigious
tournament, and he comes off a
recent success of having won the

PACWEST Golf All-Stars award
at the begin-

‘These tournaments need you to have
focus and concentration, as you have
to come up on top every day,” said
McCallum, adding that Jamieson
has been doing that perfectly.

Okamura and Jamieson are aiming
to make golf more popular among
students.

“The season is short, so it won't
interfere with your schoolwork,”
Okamura said. “There is no reason
not to join.”

Jamieson said the team was in
good shape though depth was always
a challenge at Langara.

“The issue is that of eligibility, as
players graduate, they aren't able to
play,” he said, but lauded Christine
Wong, the Falcons’ golf coach. “We
have around five players in the team
now, and with our coach, it’s in good
hands.”

Okamura said

i f he PACWEST
October ° “As players graduate, league was the
Jamieson , highest level she
said he hopes they arent able to had ever played.
to finish in play.” “T have played

the top half
at nationals.

“7 am
working on
my short games, especially chip-
ping and putting,” said Jamieson, a
second-year marketing management
student.

Jake McCallum, the director of
athletics and intramurals at Lang-
ara, said that John has been an asset
to the team.

“He has performed really well.

—JOHN JAMIESON, SECOND YEAR MARKETING
MANAGEMENT STUDENT

a few club tour-
naments before,
but not a major
one as this,” she
said, adding that it had come as a
surprise to her that was the first-ever
womens Falcons golfer to play in the
PACWEST league.

On the lack of female players,
McCallum said, “It’s what I and
Christine have been working on,
and are looking at ways to gain more

DS Riggs A> t

Doh a er EN

engagement.”
eo Ye i}

bis za

12)

John Jamieson adjusting on his putting skills at the Langara golf course on

Oct. 10 2019 SouBHIK CHAKRABARTI PHOTO