Kiana Langston is a forward for the women’s soccer team at UFV. Last season she scored four goals and one assist in 15 games, and was the Cascades’ 2024 Female Rookie of the Year. Special thanks to Kiana for speaking with us on her birthday!
What’s your post-game drive-thru order?
Tim Hortons grilled cheese; I do that a lot with tomato on it. That’s a staple.
Do you have any fun memories from your recent team trip to Portland?
We do this thing called rookie idol, where all of the rookies have to sing a song. We did ours in public and put a hat out for donations this year. Keanna Bentley and Kenzie Fitzgerald [were the winners].
Who is the most underrated player on your team?
I think Kaitlyn Colmer, because she didn’t get a lot of chances to play last year, but I think she definitely should have been in [the] starting 11.
Tell us two people who inspire you; one you know and one that you don’t.
Probably my mom, she’s definitely had a big influence on my athletic life. And then one person that I don’t know… that’s a hard one…probably Pelé — he was a really good player. I watched his movie when I was really young, and it’s always stuck with me. So if I had the chance to meet him, I definitely would.
Who has the deepest bag of tricks in practice?
Probably Jazzy [Jaspreet Deol]. We call her twinkle toes; she’s got amazing feet when it comes to dribbling.
What does being a Cascade mean to you?
We talk with our strength coach a lot about that topic. I feel like I’m always representing. Even throughout the summer when I was playing for a completely different team, I was representing UFV. It’s a big part of my life. I don’t really have a life when I’m not portraying a Cascade.
Best DJ on the team?
I have a very different taste of music than the rest of my team, so if it’s not me, I’ll give it to Kaitlyn. She’s often on aux.
Do the Cascades have any rookie traditions?
We have rookie fines, which is a big part of our team. If you forget anything at the field, or you forget your shin pads at home or something, it’s a two dollar fine. If you do any of those things on game day, it’s four dollars. All the money gets added up and goes back toward the team at the end of the year!
What was your tally?
In the 30s. I’m not very good when it comes to remembering things. When you’re a rookie [you have to do] all these things; like six of you have to lift up the entire net and move it halfway across the field. [I had] to be there early to pump [up] the balls and open the storage unit and stuff. It’s good [for us].???? Then the rest of the seniors don’t have to carry anything.
Who works the hardest in practice?
Probably Eesha [Muldaliar]. She’s always given it her all, and Addie [Addison Chen] as well, our goalie. They always put in 110 per cent.
What does your tattoo mean?
It says endeavour to persevere. My great, great, great, great, uncle was Chief Dan George, and my family is native, and so that’s a big part of our family. He was in a movie [The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)], and that was one of his lines.
What does the team like to do together on the road?
A lot of singing definitely; everyone really takes on the artists [that they choose]. Lately we’ve been going in vans when we travel [and] having conversations with our coaches that we would never have anywhere else — those are always interesting.
Who do you think is the best singer?
Jaidyn [Jackson], she’s a rookie. She did rookie idol this year, and she was actually really good.
What school does it feel the best to beat?
UVic. Often it’s a really close and super aggressive game, so I think that winning against them feels a little bit better than everyone else.
