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SOCCER Teammates find different reasons for choosing schools Oakville Soccer Club Five Oakville Soccer Club players, (from left) Robyn Hopkins, Kalin O'Brien, Jake Carenza, Julia Semple and Asia Navalta, confirmed their university commitments for next season. HERB GARBUTT hgarbutt@burlingtonpost.com Julia Semple and Kalin O'Brien will both carry on family traditions this fall, however, they had com­ pletely opposite reasons for choosing their schools. Semple will be the fifth member of her family to at­ tend Western University, not only following the lead of her parents, but also her two older brothers. And while the family ties did play into her decision the biggest factor was the strength of the Mustangs' women's soccer program. Western went 14-1-1 last season and though they were edged by Guelph in penalty kicks in the Onta­ rio final, they advanced to the national university championship where they finished fourth. "The team did really well, and academically they had a really strong business program," said the Loyola student, one of five Oakville Soccer Club (OSC) players to confirm their university commit­ ments on Wednesday, Feb. 7. O'Brien's parents both graduated from Bishop's University, where her dad was a captain on the foot­ ball team. They didn't try to steer their daughter to­ ward the Sherbrooke, Que. school, though. "My parents actually told me not to pick (McGill) because of them, but when I went there I felt at home on the campus," she said. "I really liked the one-on-one connection." As for on the field, O'Bri­ en didn't look at what the Gaiters soccer program had done in the past but what it could become in the future. Bishop's has won just three games over the past four seasons, but that didn't discourage her in the least. "I want to grow as a per­ son and an athlete and they are rebuilding and I want to grow with them and be a part of what they want to do," said the St. Thomas Aquinas student. O'Brien will also be joined at Bishop's by Oak­ ville's Chloe Calitri, a mid­ fielder and former OSC member who is also a mem­ ber of the Gaiters recruit­ ing class. O'Brien and Semple have been OSC members since they began playing more than a decade ago. In that time O'Brien has played almost every posi­ tion, from keeper to striker, before settling in at left back. "I like it because I have a better view of the field and you can take control a little more," she said. "But hav­ ing played other positions, I understand them too. I understand why strikers can't get back every time." Semple said even at a young age, she wanted to improve as a player. "I've always been ob­ sessed with being better and learning as much as I could," she said. "I never wanted to stop playing and that became my motiva­ tion. I had to find a way to keep playing (after high school)." • See SEMPLE, page 58 (OUTHHOtKtV =TQVe.CQ• • flyers, coupons, shopping lists. Learn more at Save.ca/mobile YOUTH HOCKEY LEAGUE OPEN ICE. CREATIVITY. p u r t r m CJUIUUt P l H CALL 905.845.6989 L U j 0RBAUER30N3.COM S P O R T S ALL GAMES PLAYED AT CANLAN OAKVILLE 2300 CORNWALL ROAD I S h o p S m a rt Get coupons for products you use and love I m J M Print coupons instantly or receive by mail - free! Redeem coupons at any major retailer in Canada. ANDROID APP ON ^ G o o g le -p la y | O akville B eaver | Thursday, February 15, 2018 insidehalton.com mailto:hgarbutt@burlingtonpost.com Teammates find different reasons for choosing schools HERB GARBUTT =TQVe.CQ Learn more at Save.ca/mobile OPEN ICE. CREATIVITY. CJUIUUt Shop Smart