GUELPH, Ont. - On Labour Day Monday (September 4, 2023) the Guelph Gryphons women's soccer team will return to the OUA soccer pitch as they head down Highway 401 to London, Ontario to kickoff their 2023 season on the road against the Western Mustangs. For the first time in four seasons, the OUA women's soccer regular season will have the same number games as the season prior. After playing 16 games in 2018, 14 in 2019, and 10 in 2021, the magic number is 12 for the second year in a row. The 19 soccer programs across the OUA will see themselves split into a pair of divisions in 2023, with the Gryphons once again competing in the 9-team OUA West Division.
Following the completion of the regular season, six teams will advance to the OUA postseason, which will culminate on November 4, 2023 with the OUA championship match. Following the conference championship, the U SPORTS Women's Soccer Championships are set to take place from November 9 to 12 in Kingston, Ontario, with Queen's University serving as this year's hosts.
Head coach of the Gryphons women's soccer team,
Shayne Campbell, enters his 7th season in charge of the program and will be looking to maintain his perfect record of making the playoffs every season. Campbell led the Gryphons to their lone OUA title in program history back in 2017 and has twice been named OUA West Coach of the Year (2018 & 2021). Following the regular season opener in London, the Gryphons will return to Guelph to once again face off with the Western Mustangs in their 2023 home opener on Sunday, September 10 at 1pm.
Forwards
The Gryphon attack in 2023 will be led by human kinetics major and Guelph native,
Olivia Brown.
Brown, a 2022 OUA First Team All-Star, is entering her third season with the team and led the team in scoring last season with nine goals, tying her for 5th-place among the leading goal scorers in the OUA. Alongside Brown up front is another talented third-year forward in
Christina Gomes. A psychology major from Bradford, Ontario, Gomes was a consistent threat in the Gryphon attack a season ago, scoring three times on 11 shots, earning herself an OUA Second Team All-Star nod in 2022.
In 2023 the Gryphons also welcome back a 2021 conference All-Star in
Olivia Rizakos (Toronto, ON). The 5-foot-6 political science student was forced to miss the 2022 season due to injury, but is now back at full health and ready to contribute to the Gryphon attack. Back in 2021 as a freshman, Rizakos burst onto the scene and finished the season and the team's leading scorer, finding the back of the net four times while also picking up three assists. Fifth-year senior
Violet Hipkin returns for her final season after transferring to U of G from Trent University prior to the 2021 season. The animal bioscience major from Peterborough will provide a strong veteran presence for a deep and talented group of attacking players up front for the Gryphons.
Midfielders
Returning for her final season to lead the midfield in 2023 is Gryphon co-captain, Sydney VanderHoef.
The Kitchener native will look to return to her 2022 form where she finished the season with a pair of goals, both of which were match-winners, and an assist en route to earning OUA Second Team All-Star status. Complimenting VanderHoef in the Gryphons midfield is
Anna Bernardi, who will share captain duties alongside VanderHoef in 2023. Bernardi, a local product from Puslinch, Ontario enters her fourth-year academically and third year of eligibility while majoring in real estate. Second-year midfielder Mckenna Burt (Aurora, ON) also returns for her sophomore season, with the human kinetics major adding experience and depth to the Gryphon midfield.
Defenders
At centre back, the Gryphons return one of the top defenders in the conference in
Jasmine Burke, who is back for her third season of on-field action with the Gryphons.
Burke has been a mainstay of the Gryphon back line over the previous two seasons, and was a big reason why the Gryphons conceded just 19 goals in 22 total regular season games (tied for fewest in the OUA West in 2021 and 7th-fewest in the OUA in 2022). Lining up next to Burke is full back
Tessa Ladhani, who started all 12 games last season. The criminal justice major was a staple of the Gryphon defence in 2022, and also found the back of the net on a pair of occasions thanks to her ability to get involved offensively in addition to her sound defensive play. Also returning to the Gryphon back line are a pair of veteran student-athletes in Katie Kimens and
Alanna Starcevic who should add stability and depth. Kimens (Maple, ON) appeared in 10 games last season (3 starts) while Starcevic (Burlington, ON) appeared in 11 which included eight starts. Finally, third-year Paris, Ontario native,
Brooke Morton, is back at full health and ready to take the field for her third season fresh on the heels of a standout summer at the club level with BVB International Academy - Waterloo (League 1).
Goalkeepers
In net, the Gryphons return Airdrie, Alberta native
Keira Doetzel after an impressive rookie season in 2022.
The human kinetics major took over the No. 1 gloves to start the 2022 season and went a pair of games before finallly allowing a goal against. Doetzel would go on to start 10 games for the Gryphons, allowing just 8 goals against while picking up 5 wins. She also finished the season ranked in the Top 10 in both save percentage and goals against in the conference. Backing up Doetzel will be
Christina Alexander, who also returns for her second season with the team. Alexander, a native of Puslinch, Ontario, will be ready ton contribute after a strong summer with the Guelph Union (League 1) where she started 4 games.
Rookies
The Gryphons boast a pair of talented incoming rookies from the North Toronto Nitros (League 1) who will look to help bolster the Gryphon lineup in 2023 in Olivia Stavropolous and
Elise Bell. Stavropolous, a Waterloo native, will add depth to the Gryphon midfield after a strong season where she appeared in five games for the Nitros. Bell, meanwhile, is an exciting incoming freshman who can contribute on both ends of the pitch. Bell appeared in nine games for the Nitros, scoring five goals to help the Nitros to a 12-4-2 record and 3rd-place finish in the League 1 standings. Adding depth to the Gryphon goalkeepers unit in 2023
Sabrina Spano, who also comes out of League 1 where she played for the Woodbridge Strikers.
The Gryphons are set to kickoff the 2023 OUA regular season on Labour Day Monday (Sept. 4) with a road game in London against the Mustangs set for a 5pm start. The team will play in their home opener just 6 days later when they host the Mustangs at the Gryphon Soccer Complex on Sunday, September 10 with the game set to get underway at 1pm.
