Camryn Lyon is a fourth-year defender from Langley B.C. who captains the UFV Cascades women’s soccer (WSOC) program. Although joining a team that has struggled to have success is tough to wrap one’s head around, Lyon knew that her team wasn’t going to get their victories by playing a style of game they weren’t proud of. With a 2-4-0 record to start the season, the Cascades had to right the ship quickly to avoid a sunken season.
Lyon explained to The Cascade that while leading a team, the desire to win has to rise up every day throughout the losses. In her early years with the Cascades, Lyon looked up to the squad’s former captain, Alanna Sydenham as a role model. With only three fourth-year players on the team after Sydenham’s departure, the role of captain fell naturally to the Cascades defender.
“I was super excited,” said Lyon. “[Alanna] meant a lot to me and helped me become who I am today.”
After a difficult 2024/25 season in which the team lost more than they won, the Cascades’ need for veteran leadership was evident. Lyon recognized the need for not only herself, but the entire team to play up to their potential.
“I know what my teammates can do — I know what we’re capable of.”
Winning games has been difficult to come by for the Cascades’ women’s program this season as well. Dropping four of their first six games of the season left limited room for error moving forward. After a difficult opening weekend surrendering four and five goals respectively against UBC and UVic, the team has held their opponents to two or fewer goals in their next seven matches.
“We were in a funk… We sat down, had a lot of team meetings and were talking about our past years and how everyone hated playing the Cascades, and that narrative wasn’t really being shown this year. We set goals, we set standards, and then we just started working from there.”
Picking up points in 0-0 draws against Victoria and UBC Okanagan, and a crucial 1-0 victory over Thompson Rivers University boosted the team’s play-off chances in a tight Pacific division. The team now finds themselves in fifth place with 11 points, closely trailing UVic (12 points) and TRU (15 points) at the time of writing.
Lyon has had the expertise of her coach to assist her through both a mentor and a captain. UFV head coach Ari Adams was a captain for two years during her time at SFU, and Lyon has leaned on her coach’s experience and critiques to take her team to a new level.
“She always gives me criticism, and I think that really has helped me grow, but she’s done it in a way where I know she believes in me, and I think that’s how I’ve gotten as far as I have.”
With the Cascades riding their recent momentum on a push for the play-offs, Lyon wants every opportunity available to make her mark on the pitch and drag her team into the fight behind her.
“I never want to be taken off the field … I always want to be there — working just as hard has everyone else — pushing everyone to the final whistle.”
Interview has been edited for length and clarity — with files from Jeffrey Kennett.
