GUELPH, Ont. - Guelph Gryphon soccer players
Jenna Holtz and
Jalen Noronha were anchors for their respective teams on the opening weekend of the OUA regular season. Holtz and Noronha have each been named Gryphon MUSCLE MLK Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, August 26, 2018.
Jenna Holtz
Holtz made quite an impression in the first two regular season matches of her Gryphon career. The Economics major and native of Tacoma, Washington transferred to campus this summer and was a key figure in Guelph's decisive 2-0 season-opening win over Windsor on Friday before taking over in Sunday's match against Western. That game ultimately ended in a 0-0 draw, giving Guelph four of six available points in the competitive OUA West standings. Holtz had slightly different roles in each match, showcasing the versatility and experience learned in her previous years of collegiate competition.
"Against Windsor, Jenna was instrumental in our linkup play," head coach
Shayne Campbell said of the first-year Gryphon, who is in her fourth year of eligibility. "Today (Sunday), she sat as a holding midfielder and dominated the midfield, allowing us to control many aspects of the game. Jenna showed her quality and class. She had a couple of outstanding performances."
Jalen Noronha
Noronha has a new role on the Gryphon soccer team. For the first time in his career at Guelph, the fifth-year Biological Science major from Kitchener, ON is playing on the left side of defence, a big change from his previous work in midfield. But what hasn't changed is Noronha's passion for the program and when head coach
Keith Mason asked him to try the new position because of his great pace, one-on-one defensive instincts, and incomparable ability in the air, the veteran was more than up for it. He showed that energy in two excellent performances for the Gryphons on the opening weekend, the first a 2-0 win over Windsor and the second a dramatic 1-1 draw with Western that saw Guelph snatch an equalizer in added time.
"Jalen dominated in the air on both sides of the ball the last couple days. He had a willingness to get forward and support the attack when we needed it and overall, he showed a desire to ensure that we have a solid back line and don't concede goals," said Mason. "He's been playing with that kind of attitude. It's been fantastic.
"Jalen wants to play and he'll do anything for the team, whatever he's asked to do," said Mason. "He's been phenomenal. I'm really proud of him for that."
