SASKATOON, Sask. - On Saturday, September 7, 2024 the University of Saskatchewan Huskie women's soccer team will officially make their return to the pitch for the 2024 Canada West regular season, hosting the MacEwan Griffins in a season opener featuring last year's top two teams in the Prairie Division.
2023 Season Recap
Regular Season: 10-3-1 / 2nd in Prairie Division
Postseason: 2-1 / Canada West Bronze
CW Team Ranks: Offensive - 4th (28 GF) / Defensive - 4th (12 GA)
Regular Season Leaders:
Points -
Marie Kilcher (10)
Goals -
Alyssa D'Agnone,
Jade Houmphanh,
Marie Kilcher (6)
Assists -
Marie Kilcher (4)
Saves -
Kalin Roberts (42)
Shutouts -
Kalin Roberts,
Nadia Kalyar (4)
Ahead of the Huskies is a 14-game regular season schedule in which they will compete among 16 programs across Western Canada divided into two divisions (Prairie and Pacific). At the conclusion of the regular season the top four teams from each division will earn the right to extend their 2024 season and compete in the Canada West postseason. This year's conference playoffs feature a new format starting with a divisional crossover in the quarterfinal round before a Final 4 on the weekend of October 31-November 2, 2024. The Huskies not only have their eyes set on 1st-place in the division, but also a Final 4 tournament on home turf, with this year's championship weekend being hosted by the highest remaining seed in the Prairie Division. The two remaining teams standing in the CW playoffs will not only play for a conference title, but they also earn admission into the 2024 U SPORTS Women's Soccer Championships. This year's national tournament is set to take place from November 9-12, 2024 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with the Dalhousie Tigers serving as hosts.
The Huskies are coming off of an exceptional season in 2023, which saw the Dogs tie a program best for wins in a regular season, finishing the campaign with a 10-3-1 record and just a single point behind the MacEwan Griffins for 1st-place in the division.
The Dogs also saw one of their best playoff performances in the history of the program, capturing Canada West bronze thanks to a 4-2 win in penalty kicks over the Victoria Vikes.
The Huskies enter the 2024 season with plenty of optimism after they return 25 student-athletes from last year's team. In addition to returning the majority of their roster, the Huskies also return several of their top scorers from the 2023 campaign. This year's team is ready and motivated to compete for Canada West championship and a nationals appearance. The Huskies have yet to a appear in a national championship tournament since the 2016 season, which was also the last time the tournament was held in Nova Scotia.
"We are extremely excited for the 2024 season," said Huskie head coach
Jerson Barandica-Hamilton, who enters his 11th season on the USask bench. "We had a fantastic season last year with a young team who has continued to develop and grow, and having only graduated two players, our core is intact and more driven than ever this year. We're ready and motivated to take the next step—playing for a banner and qualifying for nationals. It's been a few years since we've been there, but this team is fueled by their passion for the game and an effort to continue to improve, grow and put Saskatchewan on the map!"
See below for a full breakdown of the 2024 Huskie women's soccer team.
2024 WOMEN'S SOCCER ROSTER
2024 WOMEN'S SOCCER RECRUITING CLASS
2024 WOMEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE
FORWARDS
A competitive group featuring fantastic depth and skill, picking starters will be no easy task for head coach
Jerson Barandica-Hamilton. A problem any coach would love to have, the Huskies are in a fantastic position for the long season ahead, and to combat any back-to-back game weekends they encounter throughout the fall. The forward group is led by a pair of veteran strikers in
Marie Kilcher and
Alyssa D'Agnone who are no stranger to the score sheet. The pair of fourth-year forwards finished at the top of the Huskie scoring in 2023 with ten and nine points, respectively. A consistent striker on the USask front line, Kilcher has totaled 14 points through 34 career games, finding the back of the net on eight occasions.
Her 2023 season was highlighted by a pair of standout performances against the Winnipeg Wesmen, going for a hattrick early in the season before a four-point night in the final game of the regular season. For her attacking partner, D'Agnone, the 2024 season offers her the chance to hit a new level. A product of Lethbridge, Alberta and a 2023 Second Team All-Star, D'Agnone has improved in each season she's taken the field, culminating in a six-goal, three-assist campaign last year.
Third-year
Cheyenne Lehmann and second-year
Madison Mayert are also set to be in the mix of Huskie forwards. Lehmann, a 5-foot-4 striker, does a lot of work behind the scenes for which she is not always rewarded for on the scoresheet. Despite that, she has recorded back-to-back seasons with four goals, totaling ten points in 30 career games. For Mayert, a 5-foot-6 forward/wing from Manitoba, she enters the season at a much better starting point than her rookie year. An explosive student-athlete who earned two points in just five starts last season, Mayert enters this season with better expectations.
Kieran McKercher is another forward set for a strong season. The veteran fifth-year winger does not get on the scoresheet often but does plenty behind the scenes to support her teammates.
Finally, 2024 recruit
Tia Lecox joins the Huskies from the Winnipeg Wesmen, entering her fourth year of eligibility. A 5-foot-3 forward/winger, Lecox brings a high level of compete to the Huskie forward group along with experience, having played in 41 Canada West games prior to the 2024 season.
MIDFIELDERS
The most experienced unit within the Huskie team, the USask midfield features a variety of profiles in the group, bringing high IQ and versatility to the pitch.
The midfield is led by a trio of local Saskatoon products in fifth-years
Caitlin Stove and
Jade Houmphanh, and third-year
Nammi Nguyen. This trio have had plenty of opportunity to play and train together over their careers, and now take the field for the Huskies with plenty of trust and chemistry in their play. Through four seasons with the Huskies, Stove has appeared in 34 games, starting 18 and earned four points. For the 5-foot-6 arts & science student, the 2023 season saw her total three points while playing the fourth-most minutes on the team. Just below her was fellow senior,
Jade Houmphanh, who had a career year last season, finding the back of the net on six occasions while adding three assists. One of the most experienced athletes on this year's team, Houmphanh brings 43 games of experience and 33 starts to the table.
Nammi Nguyen, who saw the field for the third-most minutes in 2023, rounds out the veteran trio. A 5-foot-6 Walter Murray Collegiate graduate, Nguyen started all but one game for the Huskies last year, playing 977 minutes and getting on the scoresheet with a goal against Thompson Rivers.
A trio of 2024 recruits are set to add depth to the position group in
Caedence Smith,
Sophia Piast, and
Danielle Lehmann, rounding out an unpredictable midfield unit that is sure to give opposing teams difficulty with their tactical flexibility.
DEFENDERS
A matured group within the Huskie women's soccer team, the USask backline provides experience and depth to coaching staff, resulting in plenty of healthy competition. The Huskie defenders are led by veteran centre back
Taryn Izsak, a 5-foot-9 product of Prince Albert who has been a staple of the backline for the past four seasons.
The Kinesiology major brings 41 games and over 3000 minutes of experience to the pitch, including 34 starts. Alongside Izsak is second year
Daraida Sutherland, a 5-foot-9 Calgary product who plays like a five-year veteran. After playing in 11 games last season, starting nine, coaches are excited to see how Sutherland can elevate her game in her sophomore season. Another veteran student-athlete looking to end their Huskie career on a high is
Amou Madol, a 5-foot-11 fifth-year centre back from Regina. After a great finish in a 2023 season in which she played over 1000 minutes, Madol has been challenged by the coaching staff to continue that momentum into the 2024 season. Finally, Huskie captain
Anna Oliver rounds out the group of defenders. A fourth-year full back, Oliver has started all 44 games of her career, accumulating over 3600 minutes played as one of the most reliable and consistent players in green & white. This group possess a lot of depth for head coach
Jerson Barandica-Hamilton, and will provide plenty of learning opportunities for younger student-athletes who are close to challenging these veteran defenders.
GOALKEEPERS
This year's goalkeeper room features three student-athletes providing plenty of internal competition among each other.
Kalin Roberts (Calgary, AB),
Nadia Kalyar (Saskatoon, SK), and
Julie Snider (New Norway, AB) make up this season's group, leaving coaching staff with confidence in net. Last season, time between the pipes was split between Roberts and Kalyar, with the pair appearing in nine and seven games, respectively. For Roberts, a 5-foot-10 second year athlete, her nine starts as a rookie saw a record of 6-1-1 while recording three clean sheets and allowing just seven goals against. For Kalyar, a 5-foot-6 goalkeeper from Saskatoon, seven starts resulted in a record of 4-2-0 and only five goals against. Through training camp the pair have performed reliably and continue to gain the trust of both teammates and staff when needed.
The Huskie women's soccer team will make their 2024 debut on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park when they host the MacEwan Griffins. Kick off is set for 2pm with tickets available at
huskietickets.com. Fans unable to attend can catch the action all season long at
CanadaWest.TV.
