Coming home to Rotary Stadium was all UFV needed to secure their first win of the 2024-25 season. The Cascades women’s soccer team (WSOC) proudly defeated the Mount Royal Cougars by a score of 2-0 on Friday, Sept. 13, their third game of the season. The Cougars led the game in shot attempts but weren’t able to hit the net consistently, while the Cascades managed to make the Cougars pay with timely striking and far fewer shot attempts.
The Cascades were itching to get their feet on the ball for the first time in front of the Abbotsford crowd, and their energy was visible from the stands. Horns sounded and echoed across the field in the first half as rookie forward Emerson Toop got on the board in the 18th minute assisted by midfielder Jaya Bains. The crowd loved their team’s feistiness, supporting the Cascades’ physical play against the Cougars throughout the game.
Speaking on her first goal, Toop said, “It feels amazing. I have been working towards this since I was probably five years old, and the reaction from the team made it feel so surreal. The best part was the moments after. As soon as the kick-off happened, we were all ready to go. The first goal of the season and we were all buzzing after that.”
Anticipation ran thick as the game approached the end of the first half. The rain had settled in and the tension was fraught. A corner kick from the Cougar’s Catriona McFadden in the 36th minute nearly confirmed the tying marker with a deflected header, but defender Camryn Lyon dove in front of the shot in desperation, taking the Cascades into the second half with a single goal lead.
An autumn chill filled the evening air, sending a shiver down the spine of Rotary Stadium’s onlookers when a ball bounced off the goalpost behind goalkeeper Addy Chen, who quickly followed up to make the reaction save. The game was Chen’s first career Canada West shut-out, finishing the night with four saves. Striker Kiana Langston had a clean finish in the second half, swooping in to send home the Cascades’ second goal. Langston’s tally was assisted on by Toop, her second point of the evening.
Toop said post-game, “I think this win shows what we are capable of this season. We worked our butts off tonight, and I think going forward we are going to keep working and putting those goals in the net.”
The sun came out in Abbotsford for the Cascades’ next game, and although their weekend was off to a victorious start, their success would be interrupted by the Victoria Vikes. On Sunday, Sept. 15, UFV would fall 4-0 to Victoria and drop to 1-3 on the season.
As of Oct. 5 the WSOC’s record sits at 2-5-2, putting them sixth in the Pacific Division. The Cascades’ second victory came against the UNBC Timberwolves in a tight 1-0 game where Bains notched the game winner. Be sure to attend the Cascades’ next home game on Oct. 11 at Rotary Stadium against the rival Trinity Western Spartans!
Veronica is a Staff Writer at The Cascade. She loves to travel and explore new places, no matter how big or small. She is in her second year at UFV, pursuing the study of Creative
Writing.