2025 Women's Soccer Season Preview

The Tigers women’s soccer team enters the 2025-26 season looking to make it past the quarter-finals at the AUS championship after being eliminated by the Memorial Sea-Hawks in back-to-back years.

Dalhousie wrapped up last season with a 5-4-3 record for a fifth-place finish in the regular season. Third year striker Elise Evans led the team with five goals and two assists through 12 games. Brianne MacDonald backstopped the Tigers to five win, recording three clean sheets along the way.

Evans earned a spot on the AUS first team all-star team and defender Hannah Firstbrook and midfielder Olvia Jack were named to the second team.

Despite the loss in the AUS championship, the Tigers season was not over. They hosted the 2024 BMO U SPORTS Women’s Soccer Championship at Wickwire. They opened their tournament against the top-ranked UBC Thunderbirds. Although outmatched on paper, the Tigers held on until the 63 minute when UBC found the back of the net for the first time. They would go on to add three more in the final 25 minutes of the game, pushing the Tigers to the consolation round.

Facing an upstart Nipissing team in the consolation semifinal, the Tigers and the Lakers could not find the back of the net in regulation or extra time, forcing penalties. MacDonald was able to stop the first Lakers penalty kick, but two misses from the Tigers gave Nipissing the win and ending the Tigers season.

Although several Tigers have graduated, including Firstbrook and Jack, the core of the team will be returning this season.

“Carrying the experience of the U SPORTS championship into next season with many returning players accumulating minutes in those games will be a great starting point for the program this fall,” says head coach Cindy Tye. “An athletic incoming class will add to the solid core of returning players.”

Adding to that experience, midfielder Megan Chiasson joined the Halifax Tides as a training player most days this summer as they practiced at Wickwire field.

Joining the Tigers this year is a strong recruitment class of goalkeepers Mia Kourouniotis and Julia Simons, midfielders Katie McMullen and Selena Lancaster, defenders Ziv David, Alyssa Zykova and Adyson Haupt, and striker Mikayla Portiss.

Dalhousie opens their season on August 29 when they host the Sea-Hawks at Wickwire field.