MRU: 2025 WSOC Season Preview

The Mount Royal women's soccer program gets underway on the road this weekend against the Saskatchewan Huskies at 1 pm on Saturday, August 30, followed by the Regina Cougars the day after at 11 am. The Cougars will then return to Calgary for their home opener against the Alberta Pandas on Saturday, September 6, at 1 pm.

Women's Soccer on Canada West TV: 

Every women's soccer game will be available live and on demand this season on Canada West TV. To purchase your pass, click here. 

2025 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll: 
Team - Points (first-place votes)

1. UBC Thunderbirds - 196 (14)
2. Calgary Dinos - 174 (1)
3. Trinity Western Spartans - 162
4. Victoria Vikes - 158
5. MacEwan Griffins - 154
6. Saskatchewan Huskies - 123
7. UBCO Heat - 111
8. Alberta Pandas - 99
9. Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 93
10. Mount Royal Cougars - 91
11. Fraser Valley Cascades - 59
12. Regina Cougars - 57
13. Manitoba Bisons - 46
14. UNBC Timberwolves - 31
15. Lethbridge Pronghorns - 21

2024 CW regular season record:/-/, position 4-6-4, 5th in Pacific division
2024 post-season record:/-/, 0-0
Head Coach: # season / Career CW reg. season record: Tino Fusco: (16th season, 47-81-31) 

Last CW championship / total CW championships: Year / # N/A 
Last CIS championship / total CIS championships: Year / # N/A

2024 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 18 goals, 11th overall
Defence: 22 goals against, 8th overall

2024 CW regular season leaders (returning): 

Goals: # – Name, Position
- 4 goals, Tamara Djurisic, Midfield
- 4 goals, Gabrielle Linford, Forward

Assists: # – Name, Position
-   2 assists, Madeleine Albert, Forward
-   2 assists, Siddaly Alcock, Defence

Points: # – Name, Position
-   6 points, Tamara Djurisic, Midfield

Wins: # – Name, Position
-  4 wins, Ella Filek, Goalie

Shutouts: # – Name, Position
-  3 shutouts, Ella Filek, Goalie
 
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team): 

• Diede van Laar / G / 1 / De Meern, Netherlands / UVVA & 1st division
• Emily Pecek / Mid / 1 / Calgary, AB / Rangers Elite U23
• Rowan Cameron / Def / 1 / Sherwood Park, AB / Canada Summer Games Team Alberta
• Ava Tingstad / Def / 1 / Sherwood Park, AB / Juventus Emsa Varsity League
• Darian Pluhator / Mid / 3 / Saskatoon, SK / Lakeland College Rusters, ACAC
• Piper Stojkovich / Mid / 1 / Calgary, AB / Calgary Villains League 1

Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program): 

• Torrance Langdon / G / Calgary, AB / 3
• Catriona McFadden / Fwd / Calgary, AB / 4
• Avery Dalton / Mid / Calgary, AB / 2
• Jamie Rovere / Def / Cochrane, AB / 4
• Bethany Middlemass / Mid / Durham, United Kingdom / 5
• Sofia Preece / Mid / Cochrane, AB / 3
• Marita Leimback / Mid / Heilbronn, Germany / 2
• Brooklyn Stiles / Def / Calgary, AB / 1

 
Key performer: 
Isabella Chirico / Def / 5 / Criminal Justice / Burnaby, BC / Mountain United FC BCSPL

Going into her fifth and final season with the Cougars, look for Captain Isabella Chirico to make her last rodeo one for the books.

Although her stats may not reflect on a score sheet, Chirico is one of the strongest and scariest defenders in all of U SPORTS and looks to continue that dominance on the defensive end.

Chirico looks to make her final season one for the books and lead a team full of youngsters to the promised land and bring back a Canada West Championship to Calgary.

Season Overview:
 
After two straight years of missing the playoffs, the Cougars women's soccer team look to carve their way back. As one of the youngest teams in Canada West, last year was not seen as a failure but a learning opportunity.

This off-season, the women got stronger and faster after learning to adapt to university soccer, which the majority of last year's starters had never experienced.

Last year's additions of Gabrielle Linford, Julia Makoloski, Madeleine Albert and Ella Filek were amazing for the program and only look to get better.

Looking at the 2025 roster, there are no holes, and the depth is unmatched.

Look for the Cougars to take home more wins than losses this season and return to the Canada West Playoffs and push for their first championship.