Time to shine

Meagan Cormier is putting on a goal-scoring clinic this year

Paige Kreutzwieser
Contributor

Meagan Cormier’s four years of experience on the University of Regina women’s soccer team is clearly paying off.

The team is currently ranked second in Canada West and eighth in the CIS, partially because Cormier has stepped up to the plate.

Cormier was named Athlete of the week twice for the U of R, and was also named Canada West Female Athlete of the week on Sept. 18.

With awards added to her personal repertoire, and her team slowly climbing the charts, it is easy to think some of this might go to her head; it is just the third week of the season after all. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

“Honestly, I am just happy to be on the field,” she said.

Her modest attitude clearly apparent, Cormier said she doesn’t want this season to be about her, she wants it to be about the team. But the stats don’t lie.

The team is ranked eighth in the CIS after week three – making this the best start in U of R Cougar women’s soccer history – largely because of Cormier’s efforts.  Cormier is the conference leader in total shots and shots per game. She comes in second and third in both points per game and total points respectively, third in total goals, and fourth in goals per game, making her the first Canada West female player to do so since 2009, and also caused her to break a U of R record early in the season.

Although her roles as a striker is a different position for Cormier this season, she would be happy to play pretty much anywhere.

Defence was her role in 2011, mid-centre in 2010, and her rookie season was also spent at striker.  

Cormier was also named the Canada West Female Athlete of the week during the first week of the 2009 season. Receiving the same award again three years later was just as special as it was the first time.

“Honestly, I am just happy to be on the field." – Meagan Cormier

”[It] meant a lot personally,” Cormier said. “But also, at the same time, I won’t let it get to my head.”

Cormier also won’t let being individually recognized affect her performance on the field either.

“In previous years, I would have put a lot of pressure on myself,” expressed Cormier. “But that’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, that I can’t let it get to me.”

Cormier admits that there are a lot of other players on the team just as capable as she is.

According to Cormier, being such a close team makes supporting one another second nature, and she attribute this to her achievements. She calls her teammates her best friends, and said that on the field everyone is willing to work for the teammate next to them. And when teammates work together, success is an easy target.

Speaking of targets, Cormier is not afraid to have a giant target on her back for everyone to see. Despite the frustration of being man-marked the entire game against Winnipeg, she is not afraid.

“It opens up another opportunity for another player [on our team] to score,” she said, once again, looking out for the best interest of the team.

But, the quality of skill and the positive attitude Cormier shows makes it easy to understand why – alongside fifth-year defenceman Sarah Novak and third-year defenceman Nicole Westcott – she is one of the team’s captains.

With the help of a mental trainer, an increased personal fitness level, and being back at the position she loves most, teams like Trinity West – who are tied with the U of R at 5-0 – better watch out for Cormier.

With her team right beside her, Cormier plans to make this one of the best years the U of R women’s soccer program has ever seen.