VICTORIA, B.C. - The University of Victoria Vikes women's soccer team has a strong presence on the 2012 Peninsula Co-op women's soccer team roster, formally the Highlanders FC team. The team kicks off with their home opener this weekend, May 13, against the Vancouver Whitecaps at 2 p.m. at Royal Athletic Park.
 
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Seven current Vikes players and four alumni will take to the field this summer and under familiar leadership. Vikes women's assistant coach Dave Dew is the head coach for the newly named W-League team, still owned and operated by the Highlanders FC club.
 
“Playing in the W-League, the highest level of women's amateur soccer in North America, will greatly benefit the Vikes players involved,” said Dew. Entering into only their second season in the W-League, the team will be looking to greatly improve their record from last year.
 
Current UVic Vikes named to the Peninsula Co-op women's roster include forwards Lindsay Hoetzel (Victoria, BC), Jacqueline Harrison (Whitehorse, YK), Shannon Elder (Victoria, BC) and Nathalie Scharf (Salmon Arm, BC), midfielder Mallory Hackett (Victoria, BC), defender Carsen Machin (Richmond, BC) and goalkeepers Stephanie Parker (Chemainus, BC) and Tanya Jones (Sidney, BC).
 
Fourth-year net minder Parker was key to the Vikes' 2011 success, starting all 14 Canada West games and earning a .835 save percentage and three shutouts.
 
Former Vikes and 2005 national champions Janelle Smith, Amelie Mercier, Mariel Solsberg and Liz Hansen will also be suiting up with the Peninsula Co-op team.  Following the W-League season, Smith, who graduated in 2009, will return to the Vikes line-up as she aims to complete a master's degree.

Also joining the squad is future Vike and Glenlyon Norfolk graduate Sarah Douglas.
 
“The speed and pace of the W-league games along with the intensity of the short season add to (the Vikes') on-going soccer education in the University off-season,” commented Dew on the summer training. “This is great preparation for the upcoming fall season in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport league.”
 
As the 2012 CIS national championship hosts, the Vikes women will earn an automatic berth to the tournament, hosted at Centennial Stadium, Nov. 8-11.

Penninsula Co-op Women's Soccer Team Roster
#Stephanie Parker# G
Kelsey Tikka D
Janelle Smith M
#Lindsay Hoetzel# F
Sarah Rhodes M
Abby Rhaymer F
Catherine Cullen M
Megan Webster M
#Liz Hansen# F
Sarah Douglas M
#Jacqueline Harrison# F
Amelie Mercier M
Mariel Solsberg M
#Shannon Elder# F
Katie Krautner M
#Carsen Machin# D
#Nathalie Scharf# F
Heather Christie D
Molly Stone M
Taylor Gibson M
#Mallory Hackett# M
Bronte Fitzsimmons F
Becky Swan M
#Tanya Jones# G
 
Coaching staff
#Dave Dew# - Head Coach
John Leier - Assistant Coach
#Carlos Almeida# - Goalkeeper Coach    
Katie Pyne - Athletic Therapist / Manager
Mark Bell - Volunteer Staff Coach