Kovacevic the key to FC’s fortunes

Jade Kovacevic, the star striker of FC London’s women’s team, is in line for a fifth scoring title — but she’s focused on a fourth league championship.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

As Jade goes, so goes the FC London women’s team. 

She doesn’t like to frame it that way, but it’s hard to deny the numbers: Of the 21 goals FC London has scored in 10 games this season, their veteran star, Jade Kovacevic, has scored 16 of them.

Those numbers are striking – for the star striker – and have her well on the way to winning another Golden Boot award as the league’s top scorer.

“My role is to score, definitely, and I think if I don’t score than my job isn’t done,” said Kovacevic. “But I think the goal scoring is more a testament of just how well our team dynamic is, and how well my teammates understand me.

“It’s the final pass, or the final action, that sets you up to be successful in front of the goal,” she said. “And when you look at it that way, it’s quite amazing that I play around players that are constantly putting me in those positions to score.”

They’ve certainly done that in 2021, setting up their star for numerous scoring chances, 16 of which she’s converted through 10 games heading into the team’s penultimate game of the regular season.

And it’s worked. The first-place FC London women’s team went undefeated in their first nine games, losing only in their most recent contest (Oct. 16), a 1-0 affair against Vaughan Azzurri at Tricar Field. Their 7-1-2 record has guaranteed them a spot in the playoffs, where they’ll try to defend their League1 Ontario title from 2019 – the most recent season completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think the biggest focus for us is to continue our principles, the goals that we set out at the beginning of the year,” Kovacevic said about the team’s pursuit of a title. “You know, stick to our style of play, treat it as if it’s no different from (other seasons), and come out with a championship.”

If all goes to plan, and FC London is able to knock off their opponents in the semi-finals and final, it would mark the team’s – and Kovacevic’s – fourth championship title in five tries. They won in their debut season, 2016, then repeated in 2017, and won again in 2019.

None of them were easy, and this year’s run, despite their undefeated streak to start the year, hasn’t come without its challenges either. Players unavailable due to school in the U.S. Players moving on to retirement. Injuries. They’ve all served as obstacles to a title repeat. But the women have overcome so far. What’s been the key to their success?

“I’d say it’s the buy-in from the younger players, who have played crucial roles this year,” said Kovacevic, an original member of the club. “With some pretty big players being out, it’s fallen to the responsibility of the younger players. We have a very deep bench. We lose an Angelika Mihalopoulos (to injury), who’s the little magician in the middle, and we have somebody who can fill in and not leave a major hole.”

Players like Briana Garcia, Kovacevic says, a former Western Mustang recruit. Or players like Maddie Michienzi, Emily Sheculski and Aysia King, each a Fanshawe Falcon in addition to their FC London roles.

“A lot of these younger players, they’ve been part of our Academy program since they were 11 or 12 years old, and now they’re 17, 18, and they’re starting on the women’s team,” Kovacevic said. “The fact that I got to coach them when they were younger, and now I get to play with them … it’s pretty cool. It’s pretty rewarding.”

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

Kovacevic is certainly one of the veterans of the bunch. At 27 years of age now, that means a shift in life responsibilities, and FC London’s leading scorer has found it a bit more difficult this year juggling soccer with her career in Toronto.

“If I’m being completely honest, I’m not having a great year,” said Kovacevic, though her teammates – and her 16 goals – may beg to differ. “I wouldn’t say I’m playing well. The commuting has taken a toll, and I’ve had to take a bit of a step back in order to perform at work.”

That step back has meant missing a training session (sometimes two) per week, Kovacevic says. She splits her time between London and Toronto, spending four days in one spot and three in the other, depending on her schedule. She’s in her Toronto office two days a week, where she works in sales (in the media and entertainment division) for TEKsystems, a Canadian IT company.

If she seems a bit hard on herself, it could be the incredibly high bar she’s set. She’s led the league in scoring every year she’s played for FC London. Her goal totals by year: 26 in 16 games (2016); 40 in 20 games (2017); 19 in 11 games (2018); and 21 in 12 games (2019). A Golden Boot award each and every season.

“It’s definitely not the be-all and end-all. I’d definitely choose winning the season over winning the Golden Boot,” said Kovacevic, who says she simply tries to score every game and “if the (award) falls in my lap, incredible.”

So, it’s not something you think about?

“I mean, I always want the Golden Boot …”

***

Like all athletes, Jade Kovacevic was left stewing during the pandemic, training on her own, unable to compete in the sport she loves.

That’s what made the return so special.

Once FC London got the thumbs up to resume practicing and in-person training this past spring, and a season was planned by League1 Ontario, Kovacevic was ecstatic. The feeling upon return? “Unmatched,” she says.

“The reason I say that is because you really realize what you take for granted sometimes when it gets taken away so suddenly,” she said. “For me, soccer has always been an outlet. Not just for physical activity, and getting to be with friends, but also mental health and stress levels … It’s where I zone the world out. So, that feeling, to be able to go back, be with your friends, play the sport that you love, compete … it really was unmatched.”

It’s flown by, she says, and she’s right. FC London’s condensed season began July 31, much later than a normal season would. Two fewer teams this year meant a 12-game regular season schedule. The women are 7-1-2 through 10, with two remaining: A Wednesday, Oct. 20 home match against the North Toronto Nitros (4-7-0), and then a Tuesday, Oct. 26 contest on the road against Tecumseh FC (1-8-1).

Then, it’s playoff time.

Kovacevic and the first-place FC London women have already qualified, and semi-final weekend is set for Oct. 29-31. Their opponent remains in question, to be decided in the last couple of games. The final will be played Nov. 7 at the Ontario Soccer Centre.

No matter who they face, Kovacevic says, they’ll be ready. They’ve been preparing for a championship run since the beginning of the year. That started by mentally approaching the season as if it would be their toughest yet. Training included competing against the Academy Boys and high-intensity intrasquad games.

“I think that really set the precedent of us taking it seriously and getting our players on the same page,” Kovacevic said. “And the preparation our coaches have given us, from training to statistics of pass percentages, showing us diagrams of heat maps … where we pass the most, where to expect the most pressure from our opponents … I think the fact we have a coaching staff, Mike (Marcoccia), Randy (Ribeiro), Luigi (Sorbara), that cares so much is the reason we continue to be successful.”

They also continue to succeed because of their star striker. The one whose goals continue to put them in the win column. Kovacevic insists the team has a collection of capable scorers. And it’s true, there is a lot of talent on this London squad.

“I play alongside Nicole Nielsen. I play alongside Kayla McQueen and Chelsea Zavitz,” she said. “Kayla’s setting goal-scoring records at Fanshawe right now, and Chelsea was Player of the Year when she played for Fanshawe. I want people to be more selfish in front of goal. Take that risk that I take.”

It’s a work in progress to get more players on the scoring board. It’s something Kovacevic says can definitely happen, and in the meantime each of those players – and others – are playing vital roles on the offensive side of the ball for FC London.

They may not be scoring like their star striker, but Kovacevic says she’s “thoroughly surrounded” by players who understand how best to set her up for success. And she relies heavily on each of them, in different ways, to help her play her role.

That role is scoring. And if the team is to come away with a championship in 2021, it’ll likely be on the scoring boots of Jade Kovacevic.

After all, as Jade goes, so too will go FC London.