Phase two of the iModel process for the GSSC (Greater Sudbury Soccer Club) U15 Impact lies ahead after the boys secured a necessary split in a two game set two weeks ago in Toronto, finishing in the top four of the pre-qualifying stage.

A challenging 2-1 loss to Vaughan with questionable officiating gave way to more than solid 5-0 triumph over KO Football Academy as Ilyas Sambo and Nathan Estriplet both drilled home their first markers of the season, joining teammates Josh Arewa, Sebastian Moncada and Ezio Cusinato on the scoresheet as Sebastian Gonzalez earned the clean sheet.

Looking to deal with the issue of piles of inter-team off-season player movement a few years ago (which very much muddied the waters as teams who had earned promotions bore little resemblance to the year-end lineup that earned said promotion the previous summer), the Ontario Soccer Association instituted a more phased-in approach in the form of iModel play coming out of Covid.

“This year is the first time where the iModel actually makes sense,” noted Impact head coach Nigel Croome. “It’s been pretty experimental until now. I think the aim of the iModel is to match you with teams of your caliber – which now seems to be working well.”

“Nobody learns anything when you get blown out or you blow out another team.”

With pretty much the entire roster of GSSC teams enjoying a quite long weekend, a number return to action this coming Saturday and Sunday, with the U13 boys making their home debut with a pair of 3:00 p.m. encounters at James Jerome while the U14 girls head off to Richmond Hill and Markham for game action.

Speaking of which, the pre-competitive U8, U10 and U11 Impact girls teams all travelled to the new dome facility in North Bay to enjoy a chance to play someone other than their teammates at the beginning of May, with the U11 crew looking more than ready to start expanding their wings against opponents from across the province in the years to come.

Head coach Nick Staneckyj and assistant coaches Christine Pagé and Tom Close are more than a little excited to see what the future holds in store for their talented young team.

The 2025 Impact U11 girls roster features: Autumn Barhydt, Margot Hoy-Riehl, Justine Battochio, Marguerite Gieselman, Milania Grossi, Valentina Asdrubolini, Kenzie Quesnelle, Bryer Coates, Olena Staneckyj, Janelle Rainville, Ciara Hanley, Zanira Abdinasir, Reese Restoule, Marlow MacVeigh, Lillian Haraschuk, Arianne Salem and Rory Bulman.