Jade Kovacevic Explained

Jade Kovacevic
Birth Date:10 April 1994
Birth Place:Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Position:Forward
Clubnumber:9
Youthclubs1:Flamborough Flames SC
Youthclubs2:Georgetown SC
Youthclubs3:Oakville SC
Collegeyears1:2012
College1:LSU Tigers
Collegecaps1:17
Collegegoals1:3
Collegeyears2:2015–2016
College2:Fanshawe Falcons
Collegecaps2:20
Collegegoals2:49
Collegeyears3:2018–2019
College3:Fanshawe Falcons
Collegecaps3:19
Collegegoals3:54
Years1:2012–2014
Clubs1:Toronto Lady Lynx
Years2:2016–2018
Clubs2:FC London
Caps2:46
Goals2:84
Years3:2019
Clubs3:Roma CF
Caps3:11
Goals3:8
Years4:2019–2021
Clubs4:FC London
Caps4:22
Goals4:37
Years5:2023
Clubs5:Vaughan Azzurri
Caps5:1
Goals5:3
Years6:2024–
Clubs6:North Toronto Nitros
Caps6:16
Goals6:16
Nationalyears1:2010
Nationalteam1:Canada U17
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2012
Nationalteam2:Canada U20
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:August 4, 2024
Ntupdate:August 20, 2012

Jade Kovacevic (born April 10, 1994) is a Canadian soccer player who plays for the North Toronto Nitros in League1 Ontario. She is the all-time leading goal-scorer in both League1 Ontario and the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association.

Early life

Kovacevic was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and raised in Flamborough until she was 10, when her family moved to Georgetown.[1] She began playing youth soccer with the Flamborough Flames, later joining Georgetown SC and then Oakville SC.[2] [3] She also played at the district, regional, and Ontario provincial programs, from the age of 14.

College career

Louisiana State

In February 2012, Kovacevic committed to attend Louisiana State University in the fall of 2012, where she played for the women's soccer team.[4] Her debut was delayed, as she began the 2022 season with the Canada U20 team.[5] She made her debut on September 2 against the Houston Cougars, also scoring her first goal in the match.[6] [7] In October, she was named the SEC Freshman of the Week.[8] She was named to the All-SEC Second Team and the All-SEC Freshman Team,[9] as well as the Louisiana All-State Second Team,[10] and was named one of the Top 100 Freshmen by TopDrawerSoccer.com.[11] After one semester, she decided to leave LSU.[12]

Fanshawe College

She began attending Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, where she played for the women's soccer team in 2015 (after being a student the previous year).[13] [14] In her first season, she helped the team win the OCAA West title, in a season where she broke the Fanshawe and OCAA records for goals in a single season, and also tied the Fanshawe record for career goals for the school with 26 goals.[15] [16] [17] She was named Fanshawe’s Female Athlete of the Year and was named the OCAA Women’s Soccer Player of the Year.

On September 14, 2016, she became Fanshawe's all-time scoring leader after scoring six goals in a 10-0 victory over the Redeemer Royals, which also set the record for most goals in a single game by a Fanshawe player (a record she would later break again).[18] After leading the league in scoring for the second consecutive year, she was again named the OCAA Women's Soccer Player of the Year, as well as being named an OCAA All-Star and a CCAA All-Canadian.[19]

She did not play in the 2017 season, returning to the team in 2018.[20] [21] In the first game of the season on September 8, 2018, she broke the single-game OCAA scoring record, scoring nine goals in a 16-0 victory over the Lambton Lions.[22] [23] [24] For the 2018-19 season, in addition to being named Fanshawe's Athlete of the Year,[25] she was named an OCAA All-Star, a CCAA All-Canadian for the third time, and the OCAA Women's Soccer Player of the Year, after finishing as the league scoring champion with 30 goals,[26] [27] breaking the OCAA single-season regular season goals record,[28] [29] as well as being named the CCAA Women’s Soccer Player of the Year.[30] [31] [32] She was also named the OCAA Female Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Fanshawe woman to win the honour.[33] [34] [35] With Fanshawe, she helped them win their first OCAA championship title in nine years, earning Tournament MVP honours,[36] as well as helping them win bronze at the CCAA nationals.[37]

She played her fourth and final season with Fanshawe in 2019.[38] On September 21, she became the OCAA all-time leading scorer, after scoring her 84th in a 5-0 victory over the Mohawk Mountaineers, in which she scored four goals.[39] [40] [41] On October 7, she became the first player to score 100 career OCAA goals.[42] She led the team to their second consecutive OCAA title, once again earning Tournament MVP honours.[43] She was named the OCAA player of the year for the fourth time in her four seasons (2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019),[44] [45] also being named the CCAA Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.[46] She finished her OCAA career with 103 regular season goals (not including playoff championship matches).[47]

Club career

In 2012, she began playing with the Toronto Lady Lynx in the USL W-League. In June 2012, she was named to the W-League Team of the Week.[48]

In 2016, she began playing for FC London in FC London. In her first match on May 14, she scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over Vaughan Azzurri.[49] She was named to the league mid-season all-star team to play against the all-stars from the PLSQ.[50] On August 27, she scored five goals in a 6-0 victory over the Sanjaxx Lions.[51] In her first season, she captained the team to the league championship won the Golden Boot with 26 goals,[52] was named league MVP, and was named to the mid-season and year-end First Team All-Star.[53] [54] In 2017, she scored 40 goals in 20 league matches, as London won the league championship again, also winning the league cup title;[55] while earning league MVP, First Team All-Star, and Golden Boot honours for the second consecutive season.[56] [57] [58] In 2018, she scored 18 league goals in 10 league matches, leading the league in scoring again, despite missing a month-and-a-half due to injury.[59] For the third consecutive year, she was named league MVP, a First Team All-Star, in addition to winning the Golden Boot.[60] [61] [62]

In 2019, she signed her first professional contract with Roma CF, in the Serie B,[63] [64] [65] an affiliate club of A.S. Roma.[66] She scored eight goals in 11 matches.[67]

After her stint in Italy, she returned to FC London.[68] In 2019, she scored 21 goals in 12 league matches and scored another 8 in five playoff games. She scored the winning goal in the 2019 final to win the league championship in a 1-0 victory over Oakville Blue Devils FC.[69] [70] She was once again named league MVP, as well as winning the Golden Boot and being named a First Team All-Star.[71] [72] [73] After the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kovacevic returned to the team in 2021, despite holding a full-time job in Toronto, two hours away.[74] [75] In September, she scored back-to-back hat tricks.[76] In 2021, she scored 16 goals in 10 league matches, while also playing in one playoff match. She won her fifth consecutive Golden Boot and First Team All-Star selection.[77] She departed the club after the 2021 season.[78]

In 2023, she returned to League1 Ontario, joining Vaughan Azzurri. In her debut, on May 7, she scored a hat trick against Hamilton United.[79]

In 2024, she joined the North Toronto Nitros.[80]

International career

Born in Canada to a Serbian father and a Canadian mother, she applied for her Italian citizenship and passport in 2016.[81]

She first joined the Canada program in 2010 at age 16, being invited to a Canada U17 camp. She played in three friendlies with the Canada U17 in June 2010,[82] scoring against Japan on June 10.[83] She also played three games at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

In July 2012, she was invited to a camp with the Canada U20 squad.[84] The following month she was named to the squad for the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.[85] [86]

In 2013, she was called to her first senior team camp.[87]

Coaching career

In 2017, she served as an assistant coach with Fanshawe College, before returning to play for the team in 2018.[88] While playing with FC London, she also was a coach with the side's U21 team, winning the provincial title in 2018.[89] She also spent time coaching the club's U16 team in 2018 and with the London Mini-Stars house league program.[90]

In October 2023, she joined the North Toronto Nitros, where she would serve as the head coach of their women's League2 Ontario and Reserveprograms.[2]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsDomestic CupLeague CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC London2016[91] League1 Ontario1626——231829
2017[92] 2040——452445
2018[93] 101811—101219
Total46841100785493
2018–19Serie B118—00—118
FC London2019[94] League1 Ontario122158——1729
2021[95] 101610——1116
Total22376800002845
Vaughan Azzurri2023[96] League1 Ontario1300——13
North Toronto Nitros2024[97] League1 Ontario1616——452021
Career total9614879001113114170

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fanshawe College soccer star Jade Kovacevic's love of game rekindled on local fields. Ryan. Pyette. November 7, 2018. London Free Press.
  2. Web site: Jade’s Journey to North Toronto Soccer. October 20, 2023. Bobby. Lennox. North Toronto Nitros.
  3. Web site: Oakville Soccer Club recognizes its best. November 13, 2009. Burlington Post.
  4. Web site: Soccer Signs Five Standouts for 2012. February 1, 2012. Will. Stafford. LSU Tigers.
  5. Web site: Soccer Signee to Join Team Following U-20 World Cup. August 28, 2012. Will. Stafford. LSU Tigers.
  6. Web site: Freshmen Lead Soccer Past Houston, 2-0. September 2, 2012. Will. Stafford. LSU Tigers.
  7. Web site: Soccer: Freshmen providing early returns for LSU offense. September 11, 2012. The Daily Reveille.
  8. Web site: Kovacevic Claims SEC Freshman of the Week Honor. October 26, 2012. Will. Stafford. LSU Tigers.
  9. Web site: Kovacevic Named to All-SEC Soccer Team. October 29, 2012. Will. Stafford. LSU Tigers.
  10. Web site: Four Soccer Players Named to All-State Teams. December 16, 2012. LSU Tigers.
  11. Web site: FC London’s Jade Kovacevic keeps on scoring. August 4, 2017. Global News. Mike. Stubbs.
  12. Web site: Biography. Jade. Kovacevic.
  13. Web site: Falcons welcome former Canadian national team soccer player. Jessica. Thompson. September 14, 2015. The Interrobang.
  14. Web site: Jade Kovacevic Fanshawe profile. Fanshawe College.
  15. Web site: Halton Hills's Kovacevic Fanshawe's top female athlete. May 17, 2016. Independent Free Press.
  16. Web site: Women's soccer Jade Kovacevic breaks Falcon record for most goals in a season. The Interrobang. Amanda. Michalik. October 12, 2015.
  17. Web site: Kovacevic breaks OCAA record. October 26, 2015. The Interrobang. Amanda. Michalik.
  18. Web site: Jade Kovacevic: No record she can't break. The Interrobang. Kaine. Kindla. Jessica. Thompson. October 3, 2016.
  19. Web site: Kovacevic headlines OCAA women's soccer awards. October 26, 2016. Ontario Colleges Athletic Association.
  20. Web site: Kovacevic returns to score for Fanshawe after two-year break. September 7, 2018. London Free Press. Ryan. Pyette.
  21. Web site: Fanshawe’s All-Time Scoring Leader Caps Strong Recruiting Class. September 7, 2018. Fanshawe Falcons.
  22. Web site: Fanshawe College striker shatters OCAA record with nine goals in Falcons relaunch. September 10, 2018. London Free Press. Ryan. Pyette.
  23. Web site: Jade Kovacevic: Personal Bests to Beat the Rest. September 10, 2018. CIXX-FM.
  24. Web site: Kovacevic Breaks OCAA Record for Most Goals in a Game. September 8, 2018. Fanshawe Falcons.
  25. Web site: Kovacevic, Gundrum named Fanshawe's top athletes. April 12, 2019. London Free Press. Ryan. Pyette.
  26. Web site: Fanshawe College's Jade Kovacevic headlines OCAA awards. October 25, 2018. Ontario Colleges Athletic Association.
  27. Web site: Kovacevic Named OCAA Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. October 25, 2018. Fanshawe Falcons.
  28. Web site: Fanshawe College soccer star Jade Kovacevic breaks single-season scoring record. October 15, 2018. London Free Press. Ryan. Pyette.
  29. Web site: Kovacevic Breaks OCAA Record for Most Goals in a Season. October 13, 2018. Fanshawe Falcons.
  30. Web site: Kovacevic named CCAA Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. November 6, 2018. Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association.
  31. Web site: Fanshawe's Jade Kovacevic awarded CCAA Women's Soccer Player of the Year. November 16, 2018. The Interrobang. Amy. Scott.
  32. Web site: Fanshawe’s Jade Kovacevic Named CCAA Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. November 6, 2018. Fanshawe Falcons.
  33. Web site: Fanshawe College's Jade Kovacevic chosen Ontario's top collegiate female athlete. April 17, 2019. London Free Press. Ryan. Pyette.
  34. Web site: Jade Kovacevic named top Ontario Colleges female athlete. April 18, 2019. Angela. McInnes. The Interrobang.
  35. Web site: Fanshawe’s Kovacevic Named OCAA Female Athlete of the Year. April 17, 2019. Fanshawe Falcons.
  36. Web site: Fanshawe soccer teams claim OCAA Championships. November 2, 2018. Angela. McInnes. The Interrobang.
  37. Web site: Best Of 2018 - League1's Wolever, Kovacevic, Mitchell Front Of Pack At 2018 USports And CCAA Awards. January 10, 2019. League1 Ontario.
  38. Web site: Kovacevic leads Fanshawe to quarterfinal win over Niagara. October 23, 2019. London Free Press. Ryan. Pyette.
  39. Web site: Jade Kovacevic sets OCAA goal-scoring record. September 22, 2019. Global News. Mike. Stubbs.
  40. Web site: Fanshawe soccer star Jade Kovacevic breaks record. September 27, 2019. The Interrobang. Emily. Stewart.
  41. Web site: Kovacevic Breaks OCAA Record for Most Career Goals. September 21, 2019. Fanshawe Falcons.
  42. Web site: Kovacevic Becomes First OCAA Soccer Player to Reach 100 Career Goals. October 7, 2019. Fanshawe Falcons.
  43. Web site: Fanshawe Women’s Soccer Team Repeat as OCAA Champions. October 26, 2019. Fanshawe Falcons.
  44. Web site: Fanshawe College's Kovacevic, Pereira claim top OCAA soccer honours. October 24, 2019. London Free Press. Ryan. Pyette.
  45. Web site: Kovacevic Named OCAA Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. October 24, 2019. Fanshawe Falcons.
  46. Web site: Kovacevic Named CCAA Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. November 5, 2019. Fanshawe Falcons.
  47. Web site: Falcons' soccer star Kovacevic proud of individual and team accomplishments. October 18, 2019. The Interrobang. Emily. Stewart.
  48. Web site: Kovacevic Named to W-League Team of the Week. Will. Stafford. June 22, 2012. LSU Tigers.
  49. Web site: Kovacevic Topples Vaughan In London Women's Home Opener. May 15, 2016. League1 Ontario.
  50. Web site: Three players from FC London's women's team to play on League1 Ontario all-star team. July 14, 2016. London Free Press.
  51. Web site: Kovacevic Rings Five Past Sanjaxx In 6-0 Victory. April 29, 2016. League1 Ontario.
  52. Web site: FC London's Gigolaj And Kovacevic Claim League1 2016 Men's and Women's Golden Boot. November 21, 2016. League1 Ontario.
  53. Web site: FC London star MVP. November 25, 2016. The London Free Press.
  54. Web site: FC London's Kovacevic Selected 2016 League1 Ontario Women's Division MVP. November 25, 2016. League1 Ontario.
  55. Web site: Kovacevic, FC London on a major winning streak. June 21, 2018. London Free Press. Morris. Dalla Costa.
  56. Web site: Woodbridge's Carreiro And FC London's Kovacevic Selected As 2017 League1 Ontario Men's And Women's MVP. November 10, 2017. League1 Ontario.
  57. Web site: FC London's Kovacevic And Vaughan Azzurri's Whiteman Claim 2017 League1 Ontario Women's And Men's Golden Boot. November 4, 2017. League1 Ontario.
  58. Web site: League1 Ontario Announces 2017 Women's First, Second And Third Team All-Stars. November 7, 2017. League1 Ontario.
  59. Web site: Kovacevic's kick-start helps push FC London into playoffs on high note. August 24, 2018. Ryan. Pyette. London Free Press.
  60. Web site: Sacramento And Kovacevic Selected As 2018 League1 MVPs. November 23, 2018. League1 Ontario.
  61. Web site: Novak And Kovacevic Win 2018 League1 Golden Boot Awardsdate=November 20, 2018. League1 Ontario.
  62. Web site: Men's And Women's 2018 First, Second And Third Team All-Stars. November 13, 2018. League1 Ontario.
  63. Web site: Dal Canada Arriva l'attaccante Jade Kovacevic. it. February 1, 2019. Lorenzo. Testai. Calcio Donne. From Canada comes forward Jade Kovacevic.
  64. Web site: Roma Calcio Femminile: ecco Jade Kovacevic. it. Rome Women's Football: here is Jade Kovacevic. Donne Nel Pallone. Giulia. Di Camillo. February 1, 2019.
  65. Web site: Londoner Jade Kovacevic signs first professional contract with Italy’s Roma Calcio. January 30, 2019. Mike. Stubbs. Global News.
  66. Web site: League1's All-Time Top Goalscorer, Jade Kovacevic, Signs With Italian Club Roma CF. March 6, 2019. Cormac. Rea. League1 Ontario.
  67. Web site: Kovacevic brings Italian pro experience back to FC London. Paul. Vanderhoeven. July 12, 2019. The London Free Press.
  68. Web site: Jade Kovacevic's scoring spree helps FC London to third straight win. June 2, 2019. London Free Press. Ryan. Pyette.
  69. Web site: Jade Kovacevic plays hero as FC London wins playoff championship. August 31, 2019. Mike. Stubbs. Global News.
  70. Web site: FC London Take 2019 League1 Ontario Championship After Dramatic Late Kovacevic Goal. August 31, 2019. Jonathan. Cheng. League1 Ontario.
  71. Web site: London's Kovacevic And Vaughan's Kowal Win 2019 League1 Ontario MVP Awards. October 2, 2019. League1 Ontario.
  72. Web site: Kowal, Kovacevic Win 2019 League1 Ontario Golden Boot Awards. August 27, 2019. League1 Ontario.
  73. Web site: Men's And Women's 2019 First, Second And Third Team All-Stars. September 30, 2019. League1 Ontario.
  74. Web site: Jade Kovacevic's hat trick powers unbeaten FC London over Oakville. Ryan. Pyette. August 23, 2021. The London Free Press.
  75. Web site: Kovacevic the key to FC’s fortunes. October 20, 2021. October 19, 2021. Todd. Devlin. Gameday London. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020145638/https://www.gamedaylondon.com/stories/kovacevic-the-key-for-fcs-fortunes.
  76. Web site: Ethan Gopaul, Jade Kovacevic lead FC London's offensive charge. Ryan. Pyette. September 16, 2021. London Free Press.
  77. Web site: 2021 L1O Women's Premier Division Awards: Twidle Earns MVP, FC London Dominate Again. December 21, 2021. League1 Ontario.
  78. Web site: FC Women eyeing another chance at fourth title. April 28, 2022. Gameday London. Todd. Devlin.
  79. Web site: Weekly Rewind: The reigning champions show their class, and L1O all-time top goalscorer Jade Kovacevic returns in style. May 9, 2023. League1 Ontario.
  80. NT_SoccerClub. 1777729005212274942. April 9, 2024. Moving up to our threats in the final third! North Toronto Soccer is excited to announce our Forwards for the 2024 League1 Women's Premier season.
  81. Web site: FC London: Though happy scoring goals for local soccer teams, Jade Kovacevic is exploring other possibilities, too, including overseas. Morris. Dalla Costa. September 19, 2016. London Free Press.
  82. Web site: Jade Kovacevic LSU profile. LSU Tigers.
  83. Web site: Canada's U17 women's team begins road to World Cup. https://web.archive.org/web/20100924155747/http://canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=4326. June 11, 2010. September 24, 2010. dead. Canadian Soccer Association.
  84. Web site: Soccer Signee Invited to Canadian Team Camp. June 30, 2012. Will. Stafford. LSU Tigers.
  85. Web site: Soccer's Kovacevic Named to Canadian U-20 Team. August 8, 2012. Will. Stafford. LSU Tigers.
  86. Web site: Kovacevic to play for Canada under-20 squad. August 9, 2012. Independent Free Press.
  87. Web site: Canada WNT launches first camp of EXCELeration program. February 6, 2013. Canadian Soccer Association.
  88. Web site: Fanshawe women's soccer team off to a great start with a win and the return of Jade Kovacevic. Melissa. Novacaska. September 14, 2018. The Interrobang.
  89. Web site: FC London: Growing Soccer For Young Women. Greg. Bowman. August 29, 2018. CHRW-FM Radio Western.
  90. Web site: Fanshawe’s Jade Kovacevic named CCAA player of the year. November 7, 2018. Global News. Mike. Stubbs.
  91. Web site: Jade Kovacevic 2016 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  92. Web site: Jade Kovacevic 2017 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  93. Web site: Jade Kovacevic 2018 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  94. Web site: Jade Kovacevic 2019 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  95. Web site: Jade Kovacevic 2021 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  96. Web site: Jade Kovacevic 2023 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  97. Web site: Jade Kovacevic 2024 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.

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