CALGARY, AB – Calgary Foothills WFC [‘Foothills’] wrapped up their United Women’s Soccer [‘UWS’] season tied for 1st place with Santa Clarita Blue Heat in the West Conference. Only a tiebreaker could separate the two teams, with Foothills getting edged out of the championship by goal differential.
Foothills walked away with many new achievements, taking home numerous wins on and off the field this season. They broke program records, achieved a 15-game regular season win streak, and won all home games in front of a dedicated soccer community, new fans from across the city, and young players aspiring to achieve similar feats.
Foothills Goalkeeper, Sarah Dilling, reflected on the season, “It was an honour to represent my city and my club for another season in the UWS. The season didn’t finish how we wanted but Foothills WFC will continue to raise the standard for women’s soccer in our country, and we are more motivated than ever to get back to the national championship.”
It was another exciting season for Calgary’s rising stars, such as Grace Stordy and Izzy Monck. Stordy is a UWS veteran, having been with the team since 2017. This season, she put on some impressive displays as an attacking fullback. Stordy is in her 3rd year with the University of Memphis Tigers, where she was named to the 2022 AAC Championship All-Tournament Team and 2022 AAC All-Conference First Team. Monck, an 18-year-old midfield player, scored three goals this season and was dominant throughout. Monck showcased her skills in 2022 on the Canadian U17 National Team in the U17 World Cup and Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers. She is also a key player for the University of Memphis Tigers, contributing to the 2022 AAC Championship.
Another stand out for the team was exciting attacker Mya Jones who continued to show her talent on the pitch. Jones, who had a 2-week trial at Chelsea WFC in England during the preseason, only participated in half the season due to injury and led the team with four goals and nine points. In her 2022 season, Jones was named the UWS MVP and West Conference Attacking Player of the Year. She has been named to UWS all-conference teams multiple times and has helped lead her team to several championships.
International talent brought their overseas experience to Canadian grounds through players like Momo Nakao and Lara Kazandjian. Nakao stood solid at midfield, generating consistent opportunities for her teammates this season. She has represented the National Team of Japan Football Association at various youth levels and competed in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. At the University of Memphis, Nakao received several accolades, including being named to the 2021 AAC All-Rookie Team, 2022 AAC All-Conference Second Team, AAC Offensive Player of the Week, and AAC Rookie of the Week. Last year, Kazandjian was named to the UWS First Team and the All Big East First Team at the collegiate level. She has national team experience on the Canadian U15, U17, U20 teams and the Armenian senior team.
As Foothills players return to their USports, NCAA, and home teams, the pathway to pro continues to move forward in Calgary and beyond. The end of this season marks another year closer to the launch of Canada’s First Professional Women’s Soccer League through Project 8. Project 8 will launch in 2025, with eight Canadian teams spanning the country. Calgary Foothills is a founding franchise alongside Vancouver Whitecaps, and recently A.F.C. Toronto City. Young women from across the country continue to develop their talent through leagues like UWS and League 1 Alberta in anticipation of a pro league.
Head Coach of Foothills WFC UWS team, Lee Tucker, states, “The UWS along with the emergence of League 1 Alberta continues to highlight that the talent is here and is ready for the next steps into the professional world. This summer, we have had a glimpse of what the future could look like with highly competitive games on the field and fantastic fan experiences off the field, all supported by our incredible sponsors. The soccer community in Alberta is buzzing with anticipation and excitement and we are proud to play a leading role in continuing to support and develop the soccer landscape in Calgary, Alberta, and across Canada.”
Tucker continues, “It has been fantastic to add to the soccer pathway with the introduction of League 1. We have seen several players from our program, such as Emma Nicholson, Isabella DiPalma, and Grace Hannaford, earn opportunities with the UWS team and players from outside of the club program (Kaylee Hunter Calgary Blizzard WSC) be given a chance to test their skills at the next level. With Project 8 on the horizon, it is certainly an exciting time for the Alberta soccer community.”
Foothills WFC would like to thank all our fans and sponsors for making the 2023 season memorable for everyone involved. Your support allows for the growth of women’s soccer in our country and generates opportunities for current and future players to strive for higher levels. See you in 2024!
About Foothills WFC
Calgary Foothills WFC has participated in the United Women’s Soccer (UWS) league since 2017. The team won the West Conference Championship in 2018, 2019, and 2022 and was voted UWS franchise of the year in 2019.
About United Women’s Soccer (UWS) League
UWS is a national pro-am league composed of professionally operated clubs within the United States and Canada. UWS provides high-level competition for college players, aspiring and former professionals, and international stars. The overarching goal of this league is to achieve equality of opportunity for women’s soccer. In a time when there are several professional and amateur leagues for men’s soccer across North America, a huge gap exists between the college and professional ranks on the women’s side. UWS fills that gap by providing a pathway to pro for the amateur player.
About Our Sponsors
Our Pro-Am teams and the development of our PATHWAY TO PRO initiative have the backing of a phenomenal lineup of sponsors: SECURE Energy Services, RBC, Blakes, DC Bank, Remington Laser Dermatology Centre, Delta Airlines, Marmot Construction, CBRE, Parkland (Chevron & M&M), Calgary Co-Op, South Centre VW, Triovest, KC Seals and Hugessen Consulting.
We want to thank our sponsors for making this happen and to SECURE Energy, who, as our three-year jersey sponsor, is helping make youth players’ dreams a reality.
Our Media Kit is available by contacting Claire Mikuska.
Media Contact:
Claire Mikuska
Marketing & Game Day Operations Manager, Foothills Pro-Am Programs
(403)-801-6551
claire@calmstrategyinc.com
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