Elise Hornick recently committed to the University of Maine to play NCAA Division I soccer. But the real story isn’t where she’s going. It’s how she’s gotten there.
If there’s one quality that keeps showing up in Elise’s journey, it’s her quiet, relentless commitment. Not the loud kind. The kind you live by showing up, staying connected, and choosing growth.
Getting a Start in Community Soccer
“I started when I was four,” Elise said. “It was local Community Centre soccer at first, and then I played Grassroots at Foothills.”
Soccer wasn’t the only thing Elise tried. “The kids both played many different sports and activities,” Mom Erin explains. “Elise did ballet, ski racing, and school sports. As she got older and didn’t have time for everything, Elise chose soccer.”
Why? “A big part was the friendships,” she said. “Plus, I loved the game. I thought about it seriously. Soccer came out on top because it had so many aspects. My friends were playing, I felt like I was best at it, I enjoyed it the most… and I wanted to improve.”
That’s where Elise’s quiet commitment began to take shape, not as pressure, but as ownership.
Foothills: A Focus on Fun and Development
Elise is quick to point out that even at 9 /10, she wasn’t on a clear “Tier 1” track. When she was younger, her time was spread across ballet, soccer, ski racing, mountain biking, and school sports, making it challenging to excel in any one of them. In soccer, she developed and moved up tiers due to the environment around her and the coaches who helped her see what was possible.
“Coach Neil Quinn influenced me a lot,” Elise said. “He showed me you have to work hard, but it’s also about having fun. His positivity made me love the sport even more, and it sparked a desire for achievement. Olivia Quinn was the assistant coach that season, and her positivity and guidance were also of great support.”
She credits Coach Stephanie Colvin as another important influence, someone who pushed her to raise the standard for herself, and Coach Hannah Ritchie as a key part of her ongoing connection to Grassroots, which later brought Elise back as a coach herself.
At Foothills, she found a powerful mix: enjoyment + accountability. And once she felt that combination, she started leaning into the work.
How Elise Turned Injury into Action
At 13, Elise set a major goal: make the APDL team. And then, right before the opportunity arrived, everything stopped when she broke her tibia.
Surgery followed, and three months of recovery. Mom Erin, a sports physiotherapist, helped guide the rehab. But the biggest indicator of who Elise is as a person and an athlete came from what she did next.
“Even during recovery, I was at every training and practice,” Elise said. “I wasn’t able to participate, but I was watching and staying plugged in; seeing what I needed to do when I came back.”
That’s Elise in a nutshell: when she can’t participate, she doesn’t disappear. She stays engaged. She learns. She prepares.
When she finally returned, she said it felt as if she had never left.
“That recovery made me want to be even better,” Elise said. “That’s when soccer became serious for me. I had no excuse not to make the team. And that summer, I did.”
APDL: Pressure, Progress, and a Taste of the Next Level
Elise’s first year in APDL, coached by Lee Tucker, became a turning point. The environment was loaded with competitive athletes, and Elise thrived in it.
“I learned and developed a ton,” she said. “The team was full of really high-level individuals who pulled together into a team. We were winning everything.”
Then came the 2024 outdoor national qualifiers. “We had to win every single game to get there. Coach Lee was very influential in making sure we did what we had to do.”
Nationals in 2024 became one of the best experiences of her career, not because it was easy, but because it exposed her to a new level of soccer. “We played teams from Ontario and Quebec. They were so different from the teams we play in Alberta.”
The team finished fifth, which was tough for a group that believed they could win. But Elise’s performance was a personal milestone: she had a very strong Nationals and played almost every minute of every game.
Elise mentions that many coaches have been so helpful to her throughout her soccer journey. Foothills coaches Colin Mackay, Luis Tinoco, Nick Zuniga, Greg De Carnys, and Taylor Tombides have all provided her with guidance. Elise has also appreciated learning from all the coaches she has had the pleasure of working with, through the wonderful opportunities she has had in the Calgary and Alberta soccer community.
Elise also credits the many players and teammates around her across all the teams she has been part of, who have pushed and supported her to improve and do her best for the team.
The Modern Fullback
Like most players, Elise played a number of different positions over the course of her career, but fullback is where she makes her biggest contribution.
“I’m an attacking fullback,” Elise explains. “The position is much more offense-driven now, and that’s a strength for me. I like to gain space forward, and it’s what coaches are looking for more.”
Big Environments: Summer Games, League1, and Team Alberta
In 2023, Elise played in the Alberta Summer Games on the Calgary roster, meeting new people, competing alongside familiar rivals, and eventually earning bronze.
Then, in 2025, she stepped into League1 Alberta with the Calgary Wild Youth Academy team. It was a younger team and challenging. Elise kept her positive mindset and learned about vision and awareness, and how to deal with ups and downs. “We weren’t getting top results, but we focused on the positives and what to take into future games.”
Then, in 2025, she was selected to be part of Team Alberta and attend the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s.
“It was a year-and-a-half selection process,” Elise said. “From 200 girls to 100… it was intense. The final roster was picked in January 2025. I was so excited and happy.”
At the Games, what stood out wasn’t only the soccer; it was the broader athlete experience and the standards across different sports. “Watching how they train and compete opened my eyes and taught me a lot,” Elise said. “It was great to see athletes from other sports in action.”
Next Up: The University of Maine
Elise’s recruiting process started in early 2025, with attention from university programs and emails sent to Maine and other programs. Maine stood out early. “I liked their Division 1 program and had heard great things about the coaches, staff, values, and the environment.”
The setting caught her attention, too: a beautiful state, right by the ocean. But the deciding factor was people.
“Coach Scott Atherley… he’s a great coach and person,” Elise said. “He cares about his program and his people. Being appreciated as a player and as a person is important to me.”
Supporting the Next Generation of Payers
Even while preparing for NCAA soccer, Elise gives back by coaching Grassroots at Foothills and credits Hannah Ritchie with the opportunity to stay involved.
Her advice to young players is exactly what you’d hope to hear from someone who has lived the whole process, especially the parts that don’t show up in highlight reels.
“Enjoy the process,” she said. “Have fun.”
And for players with post-secondary goals? “Pick a school that aligns with your values,” she explains. “Even if it’s far away, it will feel more like home.”
Off the field, Elise stays grounded: volunteering at the Calgary Humane Society, skiing when she can, sewing, and making time for crafts.
Erin’s Advice: Let Them Drive the Process
Mom Erin is proud of the commitment Elise has shown through the entire journey. “It’s amazing to see her compete at a high level and work through struggles; watch her chase her dreams and grow as a person,” Erin said.
Her message to other parents is simple and powerful: “Let your kids play lots of sports. Let them choose what they want. Then provide support to help them realize their dreams,” she said.
And most importantly:
“Let them be in the driver’s seat. We’ve said consistently: ‘We love you no matter what, but this has to come from you. You have to do the work.’ It’s always hard, but let your children learn resilience and accountability.”
Looking Forward
Elise’s next step is clear: arrive at Maine ready to earn trust, compete, and keep improving. Longer-term? “Pro,” she said. “In the NSL or even overseas in Europe.”
It’s a big goal, and it suits her because Elise’s story is about steady, quiet commitment that stacks day after day: Show up. Stay connected. Improve.
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