FC Edmonton signs new crops of girls and boys for Reserve program

FC Edmonton’s Reserve side will have a league to play in when 2014 comes around — but it’s not certain exactly what league that will be.

FCE assistant coach Jeff Paulus said the search for a league for the team’s elite youth players is ongoing, and a return to the Alberta Major Soccer League hasn’t been ruled out. What is out of the question, though, is FCE’s Reserves joining any American-based league, including the PDL. The costs are simply too prohibitive.

Paulus and other FCE staff members, including new women’s team coach Sergio Teixeira, were at Edmonton’s St. Joseph’s High School Monday night as the NASL club signed a new crop of male and female players into its youth system.

The boys will now be guided by coach Eric Munoz, an Edmonton native who played with Canada at the 1997 U-20 World Cup. Since FCE joined the league and launched the Reserve program in conjunction with St. Joe’s, seven players have graduated to first-team contracts, eight more have gone on to CIS or NCAA programs, and five have represented Canada at various youth-team levels.

The women’s program was launched this year in conjunction with the Alberta Soccer Association, and a satellite boys and girls feeder program has also been launched in Calgary, where the FCE kids will begin play in October.

“There had been talk about it (the women’s team) for some time now,” said Teixeira. “But, definitely when the call came I was very excited. I am looking forward to working with this group.

“I have worked with most of them through the Alberta program. But to have them all together at the same time will be great.”

For Breanne Ilkuf, a goalkeeper who has already committed to an NCAA program, St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia, being able to play for the FCE women’s team will allow her to sharpen her skills before heading to America.

“It’s going to mean a lot, especially with all the training we do. Consistent training. Consistent improvement.”

The women’s team in Edmonton will train indoors at the Commonwealth Fieldhouse come October. And, through the winter, they will play the University of Alberta Pandas twice a month.

The boys will play the U of A Golden Bears twice a month. But, when spring comes, Munoz will have a league in which to place his charges.

FCE’s Reserves played in the Alberta Major Soccer League in 2012, but there were concerns about elite players facing off against players who had to work the next day or maybe had axes to grind. As well, some of the matches weren’t competitive, with FCE Reserves being able to run up big scores. Some matches were downright dirty. It wasn’t a good marriage for either side.

So, in 2013, the Reserves began a schedule of exhibition games, trying to play whoever they could. University sides. College teams. But there’s no denying the team needs some structure.

The female and male prospects, along with their families, heard presentations from many members of staff and owner Tom Fath. Coach Colin Miller told the players that their work ethic will need to be of the same standard as the first team.

“If you do not make it to the next level, make sure it’s not because of a poor attitude,” Miller said.

Players were also warned about the evils of embarrassing themselves or the club on social media, and not to forget that their education is still their first priority. They were also warned that it will take their bodies a couple of months to adjust from being part-time elite players to training full-time.

BOYS TEAM
Connor James
Kristian Kaiswatum
Cole Kramer
John Andrew Koe-Kulig
Thomas Shores
Justin Esteves
Matthew King
Yuseph Kalenga
Noah Cunningham
Zachary Rochat
Shamit Shome
Gloire Amanda
Cyle Mercer
Vladimir Tadic
Jose Lopez
Carlos Patino
Armaan Bhinder
Bruno Zebie
Haris Kevac

WOMEN
Amy Gartke
Jamie Misiaszek
Breanne Ilkuf
Kendra Baretta
Anna Dunn
Avery Lakeman
Izabella Ponciano
Alessandra Parth
Peyton Ross
Karissa McNutt
Kailyn Hermanutz
Tehya Davey
Sarah Riddle
Yasmine Hall
Rebecca Leavell