One of Canada's premiere soccer players and outstanding role models, led UBC to four Canada West championships and one CIS title while being selected an All-Star each of her four years. UBC's 1993 Female Athlete of the Year (shared) went on to play 17 years with Canada's national team while at the same time forging a record-setting career with the pro Vancouver Whitecaps.
In 1990 "... one of the finest soccer players male or female to play here at UBC" in the words of UBC soccer coach Dick Mosher, played a key role in leading UBC to an undefeated Canada West championship season. Andrea Neil, along with the potent UBC Thunderbirds, had earned the right to advance to the CIS national championships. They won their semi-final game at the nationals but in the final, lost a close one – in a shootout. It was the only loss of the year for UBC with the 19 year old Neil being selected to the 1990 Canada West first All-Star team and to the All-Canadian second team.
The next season (1991) the Vancouver-born Neil did not play for the Thunderbirds but it was this year – April '91 – she debuted with Canada's National team, the beginning of a long and successful career on the international scene. This same year Andrea was selected to Canada's National Junior badminton team.
After a conference 4th place finish in '91 UBC bounced back for a successful season in '92 under coach Bob Elton. One of the reasons was the return of defensive star and team captain Neil, a major factor in UBC allowing only four goals in ten Canada West games. The 8-1-1 'Birds defeated Alberta for the conference title then finished third at the CIS nationals. Andrea was selected a Canada West All-Star for the second consecutive year as UBC's Mosher remembers "... part of Andrea's value was her versatility. She was equally good defending or attacking... she was technically outstanding."
In the spring of 1993 Andrea was named along with swimmer Anne Barnes, UBC's female athlete of the year and the winner of the Marilyn Pomfret award.
Another year, another success story for both the Thunderbirds and for Neil. The third year Human Kinetics student scored the winning goal against Calgary which gave UBC the '93 Canada West title. It was at this point UBC began one of its more cherished moments in its soccer history. At the CIS nationals, UBC reached the final by defeating McGill 1-0 with Andrea Neil scoring the only goal despite playing with stress fractures in both legs. "She's unbelievable" said teammate Collette Flint. "You can see the pain in her face, yet she still smiles." Her coach Bob Elton stated, "I think most people would've stopped playing weeks ago, but she's a great leader and just wants to play." Flint continued, "It totally inspires you to play with Andrea."
Despite the injuries Neil was named MVP of the McGill game and selected to the CIS championship tournament All-Star team. To top it off, UBC defeated Dalhousie to win the championship final – UBC the first team to win the CIS women's soccer title more than once.
In 1994 Andrea returned to the #1 ranked Thunderbirds as an established leader and star under coach Mosher. Again UBC outscored its opposition at a six to one ratio through the Conference season. Looking back, her coach feels that "she was not only an outstanding player but one of the finest leaders that I have experienced in the entire athletic program." High praise coming from Mosher who has coached men's and women's soccer at UBC for more than 20 years.
UBC again went on to the CIS championship final – losing a very close one to Dalhousie on penalty kicks. Neil however was acknowledged as one of the best in the country being selected a '94 first team All-Canadian.
Neil's UBC career which included Canada West player of the week awards, annual All-Star status and the Pomfret Award was complimented by her distinguished service with the National team and with the pro Vancouver Whitecaps. She played seventeen years for the National team and in four World Cups, unprecedented in Canadian soccer. She retired as National team captain in 2007 with a record 132 international caps completing a stellar career of unmatched dedication and determination.
With the Whitecaps, the 1996 UBC Human Kinetics graduate was not only team captain but the team's assistant coach, the latter a position she also held with UBC's varsity soccer team under head coach Mosher during the late 90s. She is the Whitecaps leader in career minutes and games played and was a W-League All-Star in '01 and '05. In 2013 she was named Head Coach of the UBC Thunderbirds women’s soccer team.
In 2011 Andrea was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, one of the few from UBC Varsity Athletics to experience this honour.
With the way she played and the leadership she brought to both the Whitecaps and the National team, one can't help but notice how much she is admired and how much of a role model she is for young Canadian women.
Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian
