VANCOUVER – With a new coach and the proud hosts of the 2015 CIS Women's Soccer Championship, the UBC Thunderbirds women's soccer team has the opportunity of a lifetime with a chance to win a national championship on home soil. But to say the team is embarking on a new era would be a misnomer as the Thunderbirds return nearly its entire roster and thus look poised to make a run for the CIS title, with a berth already secured as hosts.
 
The Thunderbirds begin their season on Saturday, September 5 in Victoria against the Vikes, the first of three straight road contests to begin the season. The team won't play in front of its home crowd until September 18, when the team hosts the Alberta Pandas in its home opener at David Sidoo Field at Thunderbird Stadium.
 
Just months removed from the FIFA Women's World Cup Final at B.C. Place in Vancouver, the chance to leave a lasting legacy grows strong with the opportunity of winning a historic sixth CIS Championship on home soil at Thunderbird Stadium. Currently, the Thunderbirds and Trinity Western Spartans are tied for the most CIS championship titles with five apiece.
 
"I am extremely excited for the UBC women's soccer program and all that 2015 has to offer," said first-year head coach Marisa Kovacs. "We are coming off an amazing summer with the FIFA Women's World Cup and I hope people are still wanting more women's soccer because the 2015 CIS National Tournament held here at UBC in November will be an event to remember."
 
CIS host teams have had great success in recent years, having won three of the previous eight CIS Championship titles. Just last year the Laval Rouge et Or managed that feat by defeating Trinity Western by a 5-0 margin earning the right to hoist the coveted Gladys Bean Memorial Trophy.
 
"We have an extraordinary opportunity this season with our nationals berth and we look forward to taking full advantage of this experience," added Kovacs. "Nothing is better than hosting the national tournament and having your school and community's support."
 
Entering her first season as head coach of UBC women's soccer, Kovacs brings a wealth of experience to the program coaching nine seasons with West Georgia and two seasons with Simon Fraser. At UWG, Kovacs coached the Wolves to four semifinal appearances at the Gulf South Conference Tournament (NCAA Div. II). As head scout and assistant coach for the SFU men's soccer program, Kovacs was part of an SFU squad that twice qualified for the NCAA Division II championship tournament in her two seasons with the team.
 
The Thunderbirds had a very strong preseason going 2-0-1 including wins against Northwest (Wash.) and Western Washington while managing a draw against Oregon's Warner Pacific.
 
"I couldn't be happier with the progress this team has made during preseason," remarked Kovacs. "We have a drive and determination that can take us places if we can continue to grow and learn, especially with the right mix of returning players and first year players.  I couldn't ask for a better group of student-athletes and we hope 2015 is one to remember."
 
The praise from coach Kovacs is well deserved, as the Thunderbirds are much the same in comparison to the 2014 team, but with the added experience of a trip to the Canada West Quarter-Finals. Despite bowing out in the first round, UBC enters the season ranked third in the Canada West Preseason Poll and No. 7 in the CIS Top 10 rankings.
 
The 2015 edition of the UBC women's team remains largely in tact from last season, as the team sees the departure of just two players in goalkeeper Emily Wilson and defender Alisha Murtland. Wilson started nine of the team's 12 games last season and finished tied for third in goals allowed (seven), and fifth in goals against average (0.78).
 
With the departure of Wilson, it will be between Marlee Maracle (Oakville, Ont.) and Olivia de Goede (Victoria, B.C.), both in their third year of eligibility, as well as freshman Hannah Boshari (Toronto) to handle the goalkeeping duties. Maracle saw the most playing time of the three last season appearing in three games while de Goede sat out the entire season, but did get a shutout victory against Northwest in her sole preseason appearance. Starting the other two preseason matches was Maracle, earning a 2-1 extra time victory, as well as limiting Warner Pacific to a 1-1 draw.
 
Finally, freshman Boshari joins the UBC program from the Israeli Under-19 national team that competed at the 2015 UEFA European Women's U19 Soccer Championships in July.
 
At striker, the team returns its top two scoring players in Jasmin Dhanda (Surrey, B.C.) and Amrit Berar (Richmond, B.C.), finishing the 2014 season with six and four goals, respectively. In addition, the team returns fourth-year Nicole Sydor (Delta, B.C.), all while adding four freshman to the equation. That influx of talent includes Jasmine Mander (Delta, B.C.), Sydney Langen (Regina, Sask.), Amelia Crawford (Richmond, B.C.) and Sydney Jennings (Vancouver).
 
The majority of the team's veteran leadership comes from its backline with one fifth-year, two fourth-years and two third-years. Just two freshmen enter into the mix, with Marisa Mastropieri (Vancouver) and Meghan Douglas (North Vancouver, B.C.) joining the team for their first year of CIS eligibility.
 
With the likes of upperclassmen Krista Whittaker (Nanaimo, B.C.), Shayla Chorney (Vancouver), Meagan Pasternak (North Vancouver, B.C.), Janna Speed (Vancouver), and Aman Shergill (Surrey, B.C.), the team looks to match its stifling defensive performance from last season where the team conceded just 10 goals in 12 games.  Sophomores Nadia Langenberg (Delta, B.C.) and Emma Kallner (Richmond, B.C.) also figure to vie for playing time as Kallner played in 10 of the team's regular season games in 2014 while Langenberg made three appearances.
 
At midfield, the core group remains largely intact and welcomes back the return of Taylor Shannik (Delta, B.C.), Reetu Johal (Surrey, B.C.), Madison Guy (Langley, B.C.), Kym van Duynhoven (Burnaby, B.C.), Stephanie Pospiech (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Tamara Roughead (Coquitlam, B.C.).
 
Despite only playing three preseason games, Shannik had a superb start to the season surpassing her entire 2014 regular season total potting three goals including a two-goal performance against Warner Pacific (Ore.). The Delta, B.C., native was also named a Canada West Second Team All-Star in 2014.
 
As a freshman, Johal appeared in 11 games last season and although she has yet to score a CIS goal, she led the team in assists with three on the season. Meanwhile, van Duynhoven is a reliable stay-at-home defender who appeared in all 12 Canada West regular season games in 2014.
 
Elizabeth Swoboda (Livingston, Mont.) is a returning midfielder who played in five regular season matches for UBC last season, while forward Alix Varchol (Summerland, B.C.) will enter her second season with the UBC program.
 
The last time the Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's soccer championship was played in the Lower Mainland was in 2008 when Trinity Western not only hosted, but also won its second Gladys Bean Memorial Trophy as tournament champions that season. Trinity Western would go on to win three of the next five editions of the tournament, tying them with the UBC Thunderbirds for most wins (five) in CIS women's soccer history. The Thunderbirds most recent CIS championship came in 2006 when UBC defeated the Queen's Golden Gaels by a 3-1 margin at Centennial Stadium in Victoria.
 
The Canada West Regional Playoffs begin on Saturday, October 31 followed by the Canada West Select Six the following weekend. Hosted by UBC at Thunderbird Stadium, the 2015 CIS Women's Soccer Championship will run from November 12-15.