July 3, 2015 League 1 Ontario--Vaughan's Cicchillo and Durham's Lamontagne Chasing Leage 1 Golden Boot (from League 1 Ontario press release)

  
Vaughan's Cicchillo And Durham's Lamontagne Chasing League1 Golden Boot
. Fri Jul 3 
Written By: Kelly, Tim  

When their teams need a big goal, the Vaughan Azzurri men know they can count on Joey Cicchillo, and Durham United FC women 
can rely on Alexandria Lamontagne.

Cicchillo, who has hit the net eight times in eleven games so far this season and Lamontagne, with a remarkable twelve goals 
in only eight games, are leading the way among League 1 Ontario strikers in 2015.

Carmen Isaaco, who coaches Cicchillo both in League1 for the Azzurri, and with the York University men’s team, believes 
the 21-year-old goalscorer should catch the eye of Canadian Olympic men’s coach Antonio Floro, son of Canadian men’s 
national team coach Benito Floro.

While Cicchillo didn't make the cut for this month's Pan Am Games team, which selected under-22 players in anticipation 
of the Olympic men's under-23 tournament in Brazil next year, Cicchillo is flattered by his coach's remarks.

"I was kind of flabbergasted when Carm mentioned the Olympic team to me. It's nice to hear that from your coach, I'm up 
for the challenge," he said.

The forward has been a handful for League1 defenders this season, and he gives the credit for his success to his teammates.

"We have a lot of team chemistry. A lot of the guys on the team I play with (Vaughan Azzurri), I play on the school 
team with (York University), so I think that makes it a lot easier to be in the right place at the right time," he said.

Cicchillo said his confidence has improved so whether it's crossing the ball, taking on defenders one v one, or taking 
a shot at goal, he always feels like he has a chance to score once he has the ball in the final third of the pitch.

And he's used to team success while playing at York, especially after the school won the Canadian university title last 
year after winning the Ontario provincial title the year before.

The Azzurri are still undefeated after nine games with five wins and four draws, but trail league leaders Oakville 
Blue Devils, who have eight wins and a draw after nine matches.

"We can't drop any more points, and next time we play them we have to get all three points out of the game," said Cicchillo.

For Tony La Ferrara, coach of Durham United FC women who happen to be unbeaten and untied with six victories 
and 23 goals for with just one against, Alex Lamontagne is "goal-d" in front of goal.

The striker has hit the target 12 times so far and has a natural ability to find the back of the net, says her coach.

"She just loves to score goals. Some like to be goalkeepers, some like to be defenders, she just loves 
to score goals… she's very accurate, she knows how to place the ball. She has a talent. She understands what’s 
going to happen next, where the ball is going to go, she is in the right place at the right time," said La Ferrara.

Lamontagne, who goes to Syracuse University, where she'll be returning for her second year next month, seems poised 
to really make her mark.

"The other teams are focused on her now. They have two players on her and they are watching her," said the coach.

Lamontagne is modest about her accomplishments, giving a lot of the credit to her teammates and saying the difference 
is that she is, "more mature and composed on the field," than last year.

The 18 year old, who turns 19 this month, is scoring two goals per game with 12 as Durham is racking up the wins 
against its opponents.

"My team is playing me great balls and helping get the ball to me in great positions," she said.

The Whitby native, who grew up playing in the Pickering system, is excited to be playing in League 1 calling it 
"a really good challenge."

Her talent has landed her a spot in Canada's under-20 women's pool of players where she said she finds inspiration.

"I'm training with a great group of girls who push and motivate me to be better every day. It's honestly amazing 
being considered in that pool because I look up to the senior team and if I inspire girls one day like the senior 
team inspires me I will be very happy," said Lamontagne.

She also said the chance to watch the Women's FIFA World Cup here in Canada, and see the Canadian women reach 
the quarter-finals where they lost Saturday 2-1 to England before more than 50,000 in Vancouver, was 
an "awesome feeling."

"It's nice seeing how many fans and supporters the Canadian team has. So many people appreciate women's soccer 
and I'm excited to see how much more it will grow and how the senior team will continue to improve and 
get better. Hopefully one day I could be on that team as well," she said.

back to 2015 League 1 Ontario Men's index

.

.