Simon Fraser senior captain Kayla Goncalves loves the spirit of her team and the way its younger players have accepted the challenge of the new GNAC season. (Photo by Paul Yates property of Vancouver Sports Pictures 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Women's Soccer

Thursday’s GNAC 2021 opener: It’s a youthful re-start atop Burnaby Mountain for SFU women’s soccer, yet coach Hamel says “…We’re one decision, one moment away”

BURNABY MOUNTAIN — Ask Annie Hamel what it’s been like pushing the re-start button on the B.C. women’s collegiate soccer program perhaps most limited since the pandemic’s arrival some 18 months ago, and the Simon Fraser head coach relates a moment early in the team’s preseason.“We wrote on the white board for the coaches ‘PATIENCE’,” […]

Simon Fraser senior Jenna-lee Baxter symbolized the turnaround of Clan women's soccer this week by being named the GNAC's Player of the Year. (Photo property of Simon Fraser Clan athletics)
Feature University Women's Soccer

Coach Annie Hamel on re-birth of Simon Fraser Clan women’s soccer: “…they bought in when I had nothing to offer but a vision”

BURNABY — There were only a handful of other places within the NCAA world from which Annie Hamel could have travelled further just to arrive at her posting as the new head coach of Simon Fraser Clan women’s soccer back in the spring of 2014.

SFU's Dana Robillard (19, left) cuts a quick path to celebrate with fellow freshman Teagan MacKay, whose first-ever GNAC goal capped the Clan's 4-1 win Saturday over Western Oregon at Terry Fox Field. Bookending MacKay (from left) are Jenna-lee Baxter and Gabrielle Brissette. (Photo by Paul Yates property of SFU athletics)
Feature University Women's Soccer

SFU women’s soccer: Baxter-Pringle partnership shows its vintage as Clan opens GNAC campaign in convincing fashion

BURNABY — Jenna-lee Baxter set the tone early, then helped to control it the rest of the way, as the Simon Fraser Clan opened the Great Northwest Athletic Conference season with a dominant performance in a 4-1 win over the Western Oregon Wolves on Saturday at Terry Fox Field.