Coaching consistency key to Lady Hawks success

Pileggi, Ongaro are in 19th season as Humber soccer head coaches

Head coaches Vince Pileggi (left) and Mauro Ongaro look on as Humber face Niagara. Toronto Observer/Robert Cerjanec

The Humber Hawks women’s soccer team defeated the Redeemer Royals and Conestoga Condors last week, improving their record to 4-0-0 this season.

Humber has been dominant, only giving up one goal, against the Niagara Knights on a rain-soaked Vaughan Grove field two weeks ago.

Steady leadership, coupled with a close-knit group of players, has Humber tied at the top of the OCAA West Division standings with the Algonquin Thunder, the Seneca Sting and the Sheridan Bruins.

Pileggi, along with fellow head coach Mauro Ongaro, have been in charge of the women’s soccer program at Humber for the last 19 years.

Joining them on their staff are assistant coaches Filomena Aprile, now in her 10th season with the Hawks, Keyla Moreno, and Katerina Conde.

Since coaching the ‘Lady Hawks’, Pileggi and Ongaro’s squads have seven gold medals, three silvers and four bronzes.

The Hawks won bronze last season after three consecutive championships from 2010-11 to 2012-13.

Pileggi is happy with his club’s fast start, but realizes that work still needs to be done.

“Everybody’s always gunning to beat Humber, so it’s nice to get off to a strong start,” said Pileggi. “It’s a very tough conference, so it’s important that we continue to work on our consistency to get to where we want to be.”

“Everybody’s always gunning to beat Humber.”

—Coach Vince Pileggi

Third-year striker Alexandria Kastanis leads the Hawks with four goals this season, while winger Corinna Vanderschaaf’s speedy runs down the flank have posed a persistent problem for opposing defenders all season.

Both Pileggi and Ongaro have been pleased with Vanderschaaf’s development to this point.

“She’s much better today then she was in her first year,” Pileggi said. “As the games go on, she’s only going to get better and we are really pleased to have her.”

Next up for Humber is a huge home game against fellow undefeated Sheridan on September 24 at 4pm at McNaughton Field in Vaughan.

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By: Robert Cerjanec
Posted: Sep 24 2014 6:13 pm
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Filed under: Soccer Sports
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