Sports

Sports SPORTS EDITOR NATASHA GIANNANTONIO sports@thecord.ca

BASKETBALL

Coach Falco’s basketball seasons at Laurier

NATASHA GIANNANTONIO

SPORTS EDITOR

Entering his 15th season coaching the women’s basketball team, Coach Paul Falco has had nothing short of an impressive career, both on the sidelines and on the court.

“I was still more of an assist guy, and then a points guy. I was usually looking to make plays for my teammates … We had some really good shooters … I could just try and nd them.” Falco said, reminiscing about his time playing at Laurentian.

His points skyrocketed from his second to third season, going from 21 points in 12 games to 71 points in the same time frame, ending his career on a rampage, tallying 130 points.

Still, Falco emphasized his playmaking ability and sight on the court, keeping his scoring humble.

“I don’t even think they tracked the assists back then.” Unfortunately they did not, but Falco’s name would no doubt be among the top.

Coach Falco joined the Hawks organization in 2000 as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team, where he would help lead the team to the CIS Final 10.

A familiar face helped guide him along the way: Coach Peter Campbell.

Campbell had previously coached at Laurentian during Falco’s days as a student-athlete.

Campbell spent 15 years as the head of the program before joining the Laurier men’s squad in 2000, where both coaches were new to the Golden Hawk environment.

“ ere’s probably 101 things that I’ve learned from him … in terms of how to put a team together and what characteristics are important when you’re recruiting players. He put a lot of emphasis on bringing people who are really good team people and team players. I tried to mirror that in terms of recruiting good character people who are going to contribute to our community.” e 101 lessons panned out well for Falco as the tides turned when the women’s program was in need of a head coach. ere had always been the contemplation of coaching full time, and the vacancy was in the right place, at the right time.

Falco re ected on having friends who ended up coaching in the OUA or in youth sport, saying, “I sort of wondered if I wanted to try it myself.” e opportunity was ultimatelybene cial, already being settled in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and o ering a career change.

Falco had the desire, the work ethic, the knowledge, and he never looked back.

Making the change from one program to another was not as large as many put it to be.

“To me, basketball is basketball and players are players and the X’s and O’s are still the same.”

Being a new leader, or “moving one seat over” as Falco put it, represented a challenge.

“Everything’s on you … e head coach makes those nal decisions and sometimes you make good ones and sometimes you make poor ones.”

As a head coach, the responsibilities and all the behind the scenes actions were placed on his shoulders, ranging from games and practices to recruiting and fundraising.

Taking the character and recruitment lessons to heart, in 2010-2011 notable players entered the program under Falco; Doreen Bonsu, Laura Doyle, and Kimberly Yeldon along with many others. e team would go on place top ve in the OUA and part of the CIS Final 8, and Falco would be awarded the OUA West Coach of the Year. at season and the 2013-2014 season when the team went to nationals remains memorable for the Hawks boss.

More recently, Falco tackled a large milestone by winning his 150th career game, which he never realized was a milestone. “I think to me that means two things. One, I’ve been around for a while. And two … I’ve coached some amazing people.”

Four years of university ew by, and in it, bonds were formed that could last a lifetime.

Falco believes the biggest thing is to be there for the players in whatever challenges they face andhelp them realize that challenges can be overcome.

Seeing the players grow into their abilities and con dence has made an impact on Falco. “I’ve learned as much from them than they probably learned from me … ey keep me young and keep me sharp.” e current Laurier women’s team is full of youth: six players in their rst eligibility year and eight in their second.

Falco’s message to the team hints on the con dence he has in them:

“A couple weeks ago, we were at that stage where we were doing lots of good things, but I don’t know if we as a group really believed that we could accomplish big things … at would be one thing that if I could help them understand is to believe in their own abilities and to believe in the group collectively … I think the sky’s the limit for us.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ HAILEY TRIPODI

WORLD CUP

Canada shows promise a er World Cup outing

HUDSON SORENSEN SPORTS CONTRIBUTER

After su ering a 1-0 loss to Belgium on Nov. 23, and a 4-1 loss to Croatia on Nov. 27, Canada stood fourth in their group with zero points, and became the second team to be mathematically eliminated from the tournament, just after host country Qatar.

In the team’s second World Cup appearance ever, the rst since 1986, Canadian soccer fans were left disappointed, however, there remained cause for optimism.

Belgium’s lone and ultimately decisive goal came late in the rst half, a 44th-minute strike by Michy Batshuayi. However, the majority of the game was characterized by Canada’s intense pressure. Attacking chances were 62 to 37 in favour of Canada, registering 22 shots compared to Belgium’s 9, and crosses 17 to 5.

In the match against Croatia, just 68 seconds in, notable star Alphonso Davies headed in a cross from Tajon Buchanan, the rst goal Canada has ever scored at the Men’s World Cup. Canadian fans were ecstatic.

Croatia answered back with goals in minutes 36 and 44, seizing the lead just before halftime. Two more late goals put the Canadians out of the game, despite maintaining 52 percent of possession, and managing 16 crosses and eight shots. e nal team in the group, Morocco, upset Belgium by a margin of 2-0 earlier in the day, ending Canada’s chance at the 2022 World Cup.

Canada’s inexperience was noted to play a factor in the losses; it especially showed in the team’s disorganized play against Croatia.

Defensive consistency was an issue, and an experienced Croatian squad was able to exploit gaps in Canada’s formation. ey also prevented the Canadian’s o ence from breaking through for in-close chances like they did against Belgium.

Canada’s play did exceed many expectations, and when considering the di culty and experience of their opponents, their e ort should be looked upon favourably.

Belgium entered the World Cup ranked as the second-best men’s team internationally, and was looking to build o its third-place nish at the 2018 tournament. Croatia was ranked 12th and placed second only to France in 2018.

Belgium’s team had experienced players to support each other, like Kevin de Bruyne, a mid elder for Manchester City who recently came third in 2022 Ballon d’Or voting. e rest of the Belgian squad was rounded out by experienced goalkeeper ibaut Courtois, who has appeared in 97 international matches up to the tournament, as well as Jan Vertonghen and Romelo Lukaku, with 142 and 102 appearances respectively.

Croatia’s threats were led by Luka Modric, a mid elder for Real Madrid and the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner. Although they were not lled with standout players, the Croatian team had the bene t of cohesion and experience. e future of Canada’s men’s soccer remains bright. e 2022 squad was younger than most in the tournament. Davies was only 22, striker Jonathan David was 22, and mid elders Buchanan and Eustaquio were 23 and 25.

Comparatively, Croatia’s captain Luka Modric was 37, and the Belgian squad’s De Bruyne and captain Eden Hazard were both 31 years of age.

Canada’s qualifying path also demonstrated the future potential of the group. As of July 2020, Canada was ranked 73rd internationally, and worked its way up to a high of 33rd by Feb. 2022. is came through their strong play in CONCACAF quali cation, where they nished with a record of twelve wins, four draws, and two losses in eighteen games, and a goal di erential of plus-42. Characteristic wins against the United States and Mexico led to Canada securing a spot in the World Cup on March 27, the rst of any North or Central American team to do so.

Although Canada’s berth was short-lived, head coach John Herdman can draw some lessons from what went wrong. e squad, led by dynamic, exciting players, will be a force on the pitch for years to come.

Paired with aging superpowers like Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands, soccer dynamics will be changing drastically. e future of Canadian men’s soccer is bright, and with Canada hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside North American counterparts Mexico and the U.S.A., Canadian fans can expect a well-developed, cohesive team, hungry to make it through the group stage.

NUR ELMASRI/ CORD PHOTOGRAPHY