The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) gave out its soccer awards at the OCAA Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships Banquet. Mohawk striker Ashley Hagen, of Ancaster, led the OCAA and was second in the country with 12 goals.

The 5-10 Hagen, a product of Hamilton District Christian High School, fired five goals in a 12-1 romp over Lambton and she showed it was no fluke in the 7-0 thrashing of the Niagara Knights, scoring four times, including one on a penalty kick.

Hagen said she’d never scored so many goals; especially two games in a row and admitted it was fun. “I still feel like one of the younger ones on the team, as this is only my second year and I am still only 18.”

Adding to Hagen’s goal count were a late consolation marker as the Humber Hawks flew past the Mountaineers 4-1, a goal versus the Redeemer Royals in a 2-1 Mohawk decision and the lone Mountaineer goal in a 3-1 playoff match defeat by the Sheridan Bruins.

Hagen says one of her most memorable goals from the 2011 season came against Niagara. She dribbled the ball through three defenders and nailed it in the top right corner of the net.

Hagen was also the OCAA and West Region Scoring Champion and OCAA League All-Star. The previous year she was Mohawk’s top scorer and League All-Star. At the Mohawk Athletic Banquet in April 2011, she received the All Round Female Athlete of the Year Award, was Rookie of the Year on the women’s soccer team and took home a Silver Varsity Athlete Participation Award.

Hagen says that goalkeeper Nicole Roberts and midfielder Michelle Littler were just some of the players that did not get enough recognition. “Michelle came out this year working harder than anyone. She was present at every practice and always worked hard.”

“Nicole has always had a great work ethic. She did a great job at stepping into her position and creating some crazy saves.”

Co-Head coach Michael Castellani, who was very pleased with Hagen’s performance, says she has an “intrinsic need to play to the best of her ability.”

While Hagen’s main role is to “strike and score goals” she is a quiet leader, preferring to lead by example and by demonstrating something that the coaches ask her to do on the field.

“She is a natural leader who does what she can do to respond to challenges, says Castellani. “For example, many times throughout the season we asked Ashley to play different positions because the need was there to respond to something the other team was doing. She does this without complaint and brings her best effort to accomplish the task we set before her.”

“Ash is always on her game for us, (she’s a force to be reckoned with) even when we’re behind on the scoreboard,” says Roberts. “I’ve played with her two years now and it’s been her dedication up front that has won us games both seasons. She’s a positive force on the team, offers support and criticism when everyone needs it most. We definitely wouldn’t be as strong a team without her up front.”

Hagen is now in her second and final year of the Recreation and Leisure Program, focusing on therapeutic. Hagen wants to come back to Mohawk for another year and possibly look towards University in the future. She attends her classes on a regular basis, missing them only when she needs to travel to any away games. Hagen says academics come first to her. With soccer and also being on the women’s varsity volleyball team, one can imagine that it can get pretty busy being on both teams between school and placement work.

Hagen’s parents who were “very encouraging” placed her in soccer when she was six years old. Beginning in house league, select team and then on a rep team, she also played through all four years of high school. Hagen has been playing soccer for 13 years now.

“Varsity sports are a lot different than the usual house league or even some of the rep soccer that people partake in,” says Hagen. “I suggest that students come ready to run and be in shape. Some positions do run more than others, but I think that you should be ready to play any position as you do get placed in different areas on the field. Getting touches on the ball is also key, so taking a few hours out of your week to take some shots on net or working on your dribbling skills could really help you in the long run.”

With soccer virtually running into the volleyball season, she says it’s hard to make the transition at first. Tactically, both sports are completely different.

“Volleyball is a new thing for me and I don’t have much experience. With high school the only experience I have, I get a lot more nervous when I’m playing volleyball. I do enjoy playing soccer much more, because I have played it for so long now. But I love playing both.”

“A few touches on the ball a day helps more than you think,” says Hagen.