VANCOUVER - East London has come calling for recently graduated Thunderbirds cornerstone goalkeeper Emily Moore who late last week signed a professional contract overseas with West Ham United of the FA Women's Super League, the top flight women's soccer league in England.
 
Moore's been on the club's radar for some time and the six-foot native of Esquimalt, B.C. obviously made an impression with coaches and management after earning a trial with the Hammers last summer prior to commencing her fifth and final season with the T-Birds last fall.
 

?? WSOC | A big congratulations to Emily for earning this well-deserved opportunity. An excellent player, @USPORTSca champion, teammate & person! ?? https://t.co/nc0gRTrA78

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) January 16, 2022

 
Moore embarks on her professional career having immediately joined distinguished T-Birds women's soccer alumna territory following her graduation with an Arts degree just last month. Throughout the last five years Moore has been a pillar for the storied UBC women's soccer program, leading by example and playing a key role in backstopping the 'Birds to the 2019 U SPORTS National Championship title where she was named to the Nationals All-Star team.


 
Moore hasn't wasted any time since arriving in London and signing her deal late last week. She immediately began training with her new teammates and was on the bench this past Sunday with her newly issued number 26 jersey for West Ham's 1-1 draw against Everton.
 
"I made the decision to go pro after realizing I want to continue and further my soccer career and see where it can take me," said Moore reflecting on her recent whirlwind journey while expressing her future goals. "After being in professional environment during the summer I knew I wanted to make a career out of soccer and I'm really excited about this opportunity and also to show the quality that USPORTS athletes have to offer. My team and coaching staff really pushed me and made me better to get me to this point.
 
In her final season Moore helped the T-Birds break the UBC record and tie the all-time lowest goals against in a Canada West season in conference history, conceding just four goals during the 2021 campaign. With that Moore earned Canada West first team All-Star and U SPORTS second team All-Canadian honours. The shot-stopper also finished her career with the blue and gold in the top 10 in Canada West history in shutouts with 22 total.


 
"Emily has continuously been improving in her 6 years at UBC," added UBC head coach Jesse Symons. "She has had such a great team around her from the varsity gym, to on field with Mike Girard (keeper coach), to all of her teammates. She has been extremely motivated to push to the next level and I am very happy that she has been able to sign her first pro contract in England in one of the top leagues in the world! Joining a team that is extremely competitive in the WSL is a great stepping stone for Emily and her career."
 
Through the first 10 games of the WSL season West Ham have a record of three wins, five draws and two losses, good for 14 points to sit eighth in the table amongst a 12-team league.
 
Moore is just the latest example of the type of first-class student-athletes the UBC women's soccer program attracts and further develops as both thriving players and people.
 
"Having the ability to go play and train in professional environments while getting a world class degree and continuing to play at UBC are experiences that are hard to find," explained Symons. "It is about creating and pushing players to reach their full potential and when given the opportunity to take it and run with it. Emily has shown confidence and courage by putting herself in front of world class players and has done enough to gain the trust of the coaching staff of West Ham to see her potential as a young, talented goalkeeper! I am thrilled for Emily to make this jump after her progress with our program and it will be very exciting to watch her journey unfold as a professional athlete!"


 
Following this weekend's draw against Tottenham, Moore and her mates are back on the training ground shifting their focus and preparing for a matchup against Everton who sit three points back. The match is set for Sunday, January 23 with a 6:00 p.m. local kick off.
 
"The players and staff at West Ham have been so welcoming which made the transition even easier," commented Moore "The overall play itself has been very competitive and is pushing me every day."