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Ridge grad Petrou named York's top female athleteBy Jon KuiperijWhile at York, Petrou was a five-time all-CanadianBEAVER SPORTS EDITORand led the Lions to three appearances at the CISchampionships. She scored a career-high eight goalsEffie Petrou was no stranger to receiving major this past season and was named the Lions most valu-accolades for her field hockey play.able player as York finished fifth in the OUA regular-The Iroquois Ridge grad was named both the season standings and sixth at the OUA championships.Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Effie is a coachs dream player, York coach DebInteruniversity Sport rookie of the year in 2006, and Fullerton said She has made tremendous strides inhas earned invites to several national teamher five years at York University and thistraining camps.I just didn't thinkyear was no exception.But Petrou was stunned to log onto herPetrou, known more as a distributorI was in thecomputer one day, visit the York Universitythan a scorer in her previous four years,running, really. It website and see that she was in the run-said the expanded role Fullerton gave herdidn't even cross ning for the schools female athlete-of-the-this past season enabled her to flourishmy mind."year award.offensively.I just didnt think I was in the running,In field hockey, you have to be within York Universityreally, Petrou recalled. It didnt eventhe semi-circle to score, and I guess I madefield hockey player cross my mind.that my brick wall. I couldnt really goEffie PetrouThose same feelings ran throughthrough it and couldnt go into the (defence)Petrous mind a month ago as she acceptedto score a goal. Thats what kind of held methe top female athlete award at Yorks annual athletic back, said Petrou. But my coach just said, Take it inbanquet.and shoot, If youre not going to do it, who is?Fifty thousand students go to York University, and With her university playing days now over, PetrousI think theres around 2,000 varsity athletes. It was focus shifts away from field hockey and into her careershocking, said the 22-year-old centre-midfielder.as a personal trainer at a local gym. The kinesiologyI was obviously ecstatic at the same time, Petrou and health sciences major feels she is no longer on theadded To have gone through five years and get recog-bubble of making the national team, having been dis-nized for it, I take a lot of pride in that. It was emo-appointed by not making the squad at previous try-tional.outs.It was a nice ending to a stellar university career for Right now, personal training is where Im at. I justPHOTO COURTESY YORK UNIVERSITYPetrou, who first began playing field hockey at the age want to concentrate on my career now, Petrou said.LION QUEEN:York University field hockey star Effie Petrou was recentlyof 12 when her family lived in England for three years Well see within the next few years where the nation-named the school's female athlete of the year.and then continued playing at Iroquois Ridge.al team is at and where Im at.31 Thursday, May 5, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com