There’s something to be said for an athlete who scores a team-leading 11 goals to carry her team to the OUA quarter finals with a four-goal performance, and receives OUA recognition. There’s even more to be said for an athletes who accomplishes all that even before completing her first year of university studies.
Meet LaShaunna Harper, OUA East rookie of the year and the Varsity Blues women’s soccer team’s outstanding first-year striker. This season, Harper established herself as a player who can unwind defenses and continuously find the back of the net.
While she is a new addition to the Blues, soccer success is nothing new for Harper; the sport is as integral to her family as her efforts this year have been integral to the Blues’ success.
“I’ve been playing probably since before I could walk,” joked Harper. “My dad played so I was around his games. I started playing when I was three and I played with boys until I was at least 10, and then I went into rep and joined provincial teams.”
During that time, Harper was a three-time Ontario champion, and captured a bronze medal at the under-14 national championships.
When the decision about where to go to university and whether to prioritize academics or athletics had to be made, the University of Toronto seemed the perfect choice.
“I chose U of T because I chose my education before soccer,” Harper explained. “I definitely looked into the soccer team, but I ultimately made the decision for my academics. I could have gone to a lot of schools, but I wouldn’t have been getting as good an education.”
Harper’s decision to enroll at U of T saw Harper was a boost for the Blues, who needed to ensure that losing the strong talent of players like Ellish McConville and Nav Deol to graduation would not hinder the team’s 2012 efforts.
“LaShaunna didn’t come into training camp fit,” revealed head coach Cyprian McFarlane. “I was actually quite disappointed as she was highly recruited and was expected to fill a huge void for us at centre forward. I got on her when she didn’t give everything, but she has a thick skin and took the “tough love” and did the work.
“As the season progressed she started to want it and saw the benefits of hard work. Her playing time increased and so did her offensive production.”
Harper developed a rigorous work ethic through the course of the season. “Her favorite word is ‘work,’ claims McFarlane. “She said this time and time again and for a first year player she had no problem getting the respect of her teammates because she brought her A game to the pitch.”
Harper’s hard work and dedication to the team helped lift this young group of talented athletes to an impressive third-seed finish in the OUA East and a berth in the playoffs.
The first-year striker attributes her team’s success to their head coach. “Our coach is really hard on us, but it’s for the best,” Harper said. “He makes us run fitness at 7 am on Tuesdays and at the time it’s not fun at all, but our fitness paid off in a lot of games because we were so much more fit than our opponents.”
In the first round of the playoffs, the Blues came up against the RMC Paladins. The two teams had already met twice in the regular season, with the Blues coming away victorious on both occasions. But in the playoffs, one victory is all that is needed and past statistics are irrelevant.
“I was really nervous the whole day,” recalls Harper. “I knew that we could beat RMC, it wasn’t really a question, but I was nervous because I kept thinking, ‘what if they come in an upset us?’ I was full of nerves all day and then I went into the game and it was a good game.”
A “good game” is a humble understatement — Harper came away with four goals to add to her 11-goal, team-leading season.
“They had a game plan and it backfired on them,” explained Harper. “We’d played them before and the girls who had marked me before weren’t doing so, instead they were playing more in an offensive role and less of a defensive role.”
After that strong showing against the Paladins, the Blues travelled to Kingston with high, and nearly tangible, hopes of upsetting the second seeded Gaels. The game rested firmly on the shoulders of the Blues, who held a one-goal lead until the 88 minute of the match.
“I just remember looking at the clock with five minutes left and thinking we’re going to win. And then they scored two minutes later,” recalled a forlorn Harper. “It was just heartbreaking cause you put so much work in, we worked so hard in practice and in our game and for that to just happen like that, it was crazy. That two minutes is just haunting all of us.”
The pain of losing in the quarterfinals and having what seemed to be a sure victory just slip through their fingers is a pain from which the team will not soon recover, and one that will be at the forefront of their preparation for next season. “Next year our coach is probably going to make us run laps and yell two minutes,” Harper joked.
The memory of the defeat is still fresh in the team’s minds, but the pain was somewhat dulled when Harper received news that she had been recognized as the OUA East rookie of the year.
Recounting that day, Harper explains, “I was in class and I looked at my phone and I had over 10 messages from my coach and teammates. So I went online and saw the news. I didn’t pay any attention for the rest of that three-hour lecture.
“Honestly though, I expected it; if I didn’t get it I probably would have been really angry. I’m not lucky that I got it, I worked very hard to get it.”
McFarlane shares Harper’s joy at the recognition. “I was elated that she won the OUA East Rookie of the Year. She is a shining example of a kid who wants it and will accept the challenges she is presented.”
As far as first seasons go, rookie of the year honours, an impressive 11 goals, and a playoff appearance is phenomenal. With a year of experience under her belt, Harper is the player to watch on this developing Blues team. So what does the future hold? “I’m just trying to get through U of T and all these essay right now,” Harper admits.
Harper’s future in soccer is one sure to be filled with success. “The sky is the limit for her,” McFarlane predicts. “I’m sure she will be an OUA All-Star for years to come and a CIS All-Star too.”
