WSOC: UBC enter as favourites

Aug. 24, 2023 – A new Canada West women's soccer season hits the pitch this Friday, and coaches from around the conference have declared the UBC Thunderbirds as favourites to defend their crown.

The T-Birds, who lost only one conference game in all of 2022, claimed the CW trophy last season by defeating rival Trinity Western University Spartans in the final. With a strong returning roster and an explosive offensive attack, UBC garnered 14 first place votes to top this year's pre-season coaches' poll.

"We have a mature team with most of our starters and game changers returning, along with some electric first year players joining the team," says head coach Jesse Symons. "We are a team motivated to continuing to progress our standard on the field and hopefully be consistent with our performances in each match that we play."

The Spartans took second spot in the poll, coming off an impressive year in which they went 9-2-3 in the regular season. Head coach Graham Roxburgh will be looking for his young players to take another step forward.

"We are going to need to have contributions from many players offensively, but I think that has the potential because we have exciting young players," says Roxburgh.

Two prairie division rivals rounded out the top four in the poll, with the MacEwan Griffins placing third and the Calgary Dinos fourth. Both sides also received a first-place vote.

The action gets underway with a handful of games on Friday, including UBC starting their title defence at home against Fraser Valley. Opening weekend continues with a full slate of matches running through Sunday.

The regular season runs through Oct. 15, with playoffs slated to begin Oct. 21.

For the complete Canada West women's soccer schedule, click here. 

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2023 CW WSOC PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL 

Team - Points (First-place votes)

1. UBC Thunderbirds - 224 (14)
2. Trinity Western Spartans - 205
3. MacEwan Griffins - 196 (1)
4. Calgary Dinos - 184 (1)
5. Alberta Pandas - 148
6. Saskatchewan Huskies - 145
7. Victoria Vikes - 141
8. Mount Royal Cougars - 125
9. Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 110
10. Manitoba Bisons - 102
11. UBCO Heat – 101
12. Fraser Valley Cascades - 82
13. UNBC Timberwolves – 64
14. Regina Cougars - 45
15. Lethbridge Pronghorns - 29
16. Winnipeg Wesmen – 19

2023 CW WSOC TEAM PREVIEWS

1. UBC Thunderbirds 

From the coach: "We have a mature team with most of our starters and game changers returning, along with some electric first year players joining the team. We are a team motivated to continuing to progress our standard on the field and hopefully be consistent with our performances in each match that we play. With our depth we are able to really push eachother through the season well." - Jesse Symons

Key Performer: Katalin Tolnai

An incredibly dynamic player, Tolnai not only eclipsed a point per game pace during the 2022 regular season, she managed back-to-back playoff hat trick performances, helping the T-Birds punch their ticket to the conference final. Despite her incredible season, Tolnai almost flew under the radar in 2022 but was absolutely critical to UBC's record setting season.

2. Trinity Western University Spartans 

From the coach: "Our team success keys are the following: Our young players taking the next step in terms of roles and growing in confidence as they get to play more; our attacking players staying healthy and finally, more sharing the load in terms of our offensive statistics (goals and assists). We are going to need to have contributions from many players offensively, but I think that has the potential be cause we have exciting young players." - Graham Roxburgh

Key Performer: Tilly James

Tilly James enters her third year as a Spartan coming off back-to-back Canada West all-star campaigns. The versatile centre-back, who was a First Team All-Star last year, was instrumental in leading the Spartans defensively and offensively, as she helped TWU's back line limit the opposition to 11 regular season goals while also tallying five goals, including three game-winners, herself.

3. MacEwan Griffins

Key Performer: Grace Mwasalla

One of the most dynamic players in the country the past two years, Mwasalla was named to the U SPORTS and Canada West first all-star teams after leading the conference with 15 goals in 14 games last season. Mwasalla, who was also named to the U SPORTS Championship all-star team in 2021 as a rookie, won MacEwan's Female Athlete of the Year honour in 2023 and is primed for another big season with the Griffins this fall. The third-year Calgarian leads a deep, dynamic Griffins attack that returns the majority of a group that scored a conference co-leading 46 goals in 2022.

4. University of Calgary Dinos

From the coach: "Only two players graduated from last year's Canada West bronze medalists. A returning core as well as a very talented incoming class makes Dinos depth an asset. One of last years 'player of the year' candidates, Rachel Barlow returns in an attempt to get the Dinos back to nationals." - Diogo Raposo

Key Performer: Rachel Barlow

Rachel Barlow had an incredible ability to push the Dinos offence last season. After graduating the majority of the starting 11 going into last season, Barlow emerged as the team's offensive force. With her nine goals and nation-leading 14 assists on the year, the All-Canadian had her hand in over half of her team's goals on the year and is a clear leader for her squad on and off the field.

5. University of Alberta Pandas

Key Performer: Adrienne Poulin

With the graduation of veteran starters Brooke Lang, Cara Lang, and McKayla Brault, even more of the Pandas offensive load will fall on the shoulders of Adrienne Poulin in 2023. The Pandas ranked third in goals in 2022, but 10 of their 35 goals came off the boots of the Lang's and Brault. Poulin will need to replicate her stellar 2022 season, which saw her finish third in CW with 10 goals.

6. University of Saskatchewan Huskies

From the coach: "Although we are a young team with many incoming recruits and only one fifth year player, our core group of third and fourth year players are maturing. The key factor for our program is to be tactically flexible and adaptable to all opponents that we will face. We are a program that continues to mature and are in a stage that we are looking to consistently compete with the top programs in our conference, which we believe we are closing the gap with every year. We are excited to see how we compare and what this year will bring for us. The one thing we know for sure is that this group is excited for the challenges ahead!" - Jerson Barandica-Hamilton

Key Performer: Alyssa D'Agnone

"Alyssa has had a very successful summer season with her L1 Alberta team. They were crowned champions and she was second in the entire league in scoring. She was one of our key performers last year and has come in to camp committed to excellence. Her leadership will be an important part of our success this year" - Jerson Barandica-Hamilton

7. University of Victoria Vikes

Key Performer: Emma Skalik 

"One of the most experienced players on the roster" according to head coach Tracy David, Emma Skalik returns for her fifth and final season as a Vike in 2023. The midfielder led the Vikes in points (6) and assists (4) in 2022, and will look to lead UVic to heightened success in 2023. Skalik is expected to be named a captain in 2023.

8. Mount Royal University Cougars

Key Performer: Catriona McFadden

McFadden is coming off a impressive season with MRU in 2022 - developing into a leader for the program. Returning from a summer playing in League 1 Ontario (L1O).

9. Thompson Rivers University WolfPack

Key Performer: Ainsley Grether

A Kamloops local, Ainsley Grether is the engine at the heart of midfield for TRU. A relentless defender, the fourth-year science major showed off some offensive upside last season, tallying three goals in the regular season while also adding the tying goal in the 86th minute of the WolfPack's eventual playoff victory over the Victoria Vikes. After a magnificent run that saw them pick up the first two CW postseason victories in program history en route to the Final Four last season, Grether and the 'Pack will be back and looking to continue to build in the 2023-24 season.

10. University of Manitoba Bisons

Key Performer: Jessica Tsai

Midfielder Jessica Tsai enters her third season as captain in 2022-23, and is approaching numerous program records as the straw that stirs the drink for Manitoba's squad on both ends of the pitch. She needs just 12 assists to tie the program record (31, held by Desiree Scott since 2009), while her 72 shots on goal are just 15 shy of first (87, held by Allison Kastner since 2012). Tsai has recorded at least six points in all of her U SPORTS seasons, and takes corner and free kicks for the Herd. At 5'8" she is able to win challenges in the air at an impressive rate and is a stable presence in the lineup, having started all 42 games of her university career. 

11. UBC Okanagan Heat 

From the coach: "Keys to success this season include progressing as a program, staying clear of injuries, and the enviroment created by the players." - Craig Smith

Key Performer: Stefanie Young

Heat midfielder Stefanie Young makes her return to Canada West action this season after missing the entire 2022 campaign due to injury. The talented attacking midfielder set program records for the Heat in her first year at UBCO in 2021, tallying five goals and six points in just 11 games. Her presence on the pitch will give the Heat an immediate boost to their attack after a strong performance this summer in League 1 Ontario with Blue Devils FC.

12. University of the Fraser Valley Cascades

Key Performer: Hannah Gamble

Gamble is primed to have a big year for a Cascades program that struggled in 2022. The fifth-year midfielder brings a wealth of experience to what is expected to be a young team this season. The program's top scorer in 2021, (with 3 goals) Gamble will look to use her speed and technical ability to establish herself as a focal point in attack.

13. UNBC Timberwolves

From the coach: "We are looking forward to an exciting year of growth. Last year we had a number of seniors who shared what they have learned with our younger players; however, you never know what you know until you are in the heat of the games. This year will challenge the players abilities and their resolve to their growth. This is a season that I have been looking forward to seeing." - Neil Sedgwick

Key Performer: Avery Nystedt 

Now in her third season, Avery Nystedt's grit and leadership will be leaned on heavily by the Timberwolves. Following a strong L1BC campaign with the Victoria Highlanders, Nystedt has established herself as one of the toughest competitors in the conference, and will play a major role on a young TWolves roster.

14. University of Regina Cougars

From the coach: "Our roster is young, energetic and willing to work hard and grow tactically and technically as players. The players were dedicated and committed to the off season training plan our strength and conditioning coach created for them and they showed up into training camp hungry and at a new high standard for this program. We have an exciting 2023 recruitment class that will make big impacts in this program and are thriving in our environment. We have returning players who are showing great leadership on and off the field. A key to our success this year will be our creativity coming out of the create phase into to the finish phase to create more quality final acts." - Astrid Baecker

Key Performer: Jessica Merk 

One of the team's captains, Jessica Merk is the Cougars' most experienced player in terms of minutes played. She played every minute of the team's 16 Canada West and postseason matches last year, finishing the season with two goals and two assists while anchoring the team from the centre midfield position. Merk, a Canada West second-team all-star back in 2021, is also a leader for the program in the classroom as she's earned Academic All-Canadian status in all four of her years at the U of R.

15. University of Lethbridge Pronghorns

From the coach: "We have created a strong culture where girls support each other, and overall they love to be here and are enjoying playing soccer and having fun." - Thiago Bastos

Key Performer: Hailey Slobodian 

Slobodian is a strong offensive competitor for the team with an ability to breakdown defences and finish. As a valued goal soccer, Slobodian leads the Pronghorns and continues to make waves across the conference.

16. University of Winnipeg Wesmen 

Key Performer: Jazmyn Castro

Named the most improved female athlete of the year for Wesmen Athletics after last season, Castro had a breakout year as an impactful threat in the attacking third. She led the team in goals, assists and points, and takes the lead on many set pieces, including corners, from which she scored her first career goal last season at Saskatchewan.