VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds have earned a big haul as the Canada West unveiled their 2024 Canada West Women's Soccer Award Winners Thursday with
Jacqueline Tyrer named Defensive Player of the Year,
Olivia Gomez earning Rookie of the Year, and Head Coach
Jesse Symons named the conference's Coach of the Year.
Tyrer's Defensive Player of the Year award puts an exclamation mark on a superb season for the fifth-year from Richmond, B.C. The defender not only started every single game for the T-Birds this season, she played every single minute, helping the 'Birds hold the opposition to just four goals against on the year, setting a new conference record for goals against average. Tyrer is a three-time Canada West All-Star and was named to the U SPORTS Tournament All-Star team in both 2019 and 2023 as she helped UBC to their seventh and eighth national titles.
"Ever since Jacqueline joined us in 2019, she has been a key figure with the team," said Symons. "Playing literally every minute this season, she was a key piece in us producing the lowest goals against average in Canada West history which further showcases her importance to our squad. She has been a driving light for our team and has helped create a culture of success that has really been unmatched. I am very proud of this worthy selection for her."
Earning Canada West Rookie of the Year as a defender is no small feat, but that's exactly what
Olivia Gomez has accomplished. Appearing in 13 of 14 UBC games this regular season and starting in 11 of them, Gomez not only proved her mettle as a defensive stalwart, but also contributed at the other end of the pitch with a pair of assists.
Earning her way into a prominent role on such a deep and veteran roster is a further testament to both Gomez' skill set and overall presence on the pitch.
The Richmond, B.C. native is the second straight Thunderbird to win the conference's Rookie of the Year title, but just the third all-time, following in the footsteps of teammate
Sarah Rollins.
"Olivia came in with such confidence to push our team to a new level as an attacking fullback," said Symons. "Her ability on the ball made it very clear from her first match she was going to have to be managed by opposition teams with her passing and crossing precision. An area she really showcased herself was on the defensive end, managing many of the top attacking players from across the conference, while helping the team to a Canada West record-tying 11 clean sheets."
Under Symons' guidance, the UBC Thunderbirds became the first Women's Soccer team in Canada West history to finish the regular season a perfect 14-0.
Currently in his ninth season with the T-Birds, this is Symons' second consecutive conference Coach of the Year award. Symons has led UBC to a dominant run in recent years with the Thunderbirds losing just two combined games over the last three Canada West regular seasons.
The Thunderbirds also set a new conference record in 2024 for goals against average, conceding just four goals in Canada West play.
Symons and the Thunderbirds capped off 2023 with the program's eighth U SPORTS National Championship title, the second under his tutelage having also won gold in 2019.
Symons has amassed a 82-13-15 regular season record and enters this week's Canada West Final Four with an 18-5 conference playoff record.
In addition to his two U SPORTS banners, Symons has led UBC to a pair of Canada West Championships in 2016 and 2022 and boasts an 11-4 record at the national championship tournament.
The T-Birds battle their cross-town rival Trinity Western Spartans in semifinal action on Friday at Calgary's McMahon Stadium with a berth in Saturday's conference final on the line. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. PT.
