LANGLEY, B.C. – Trinity Western women's soccer returns from the 2023 season with one goal in mind: winning that elusive sixth national championship. With most of the roster returning with the experience of falling in the 2023 U SPORTS Championship match and a recently found tenth Canada West title – the Spartans have all the tools to come out on top once again.
 
TWU has won four of the past six conference championships with their victory on penalties sealing the deal. With most of the core returning in addition to some new faces, the Spartans are on track to take a run at that elusive sixth national title.
 
The Spartans finished second in the Pacific Division in 2023, sporting a record of 9-2-3 and a goal differential of +29.
 
The departures of longtime starting keeper Hannah Miller (Langley, B.C.) and former captain Sierra Halldorson (Winnipeg) will require a step up from the retained roster, but TWU's core is surely up to the task. Fifth-year forward Charity Field (Burnaby, B.C.) and the Canada West all-stars duo of Tilly James (Vancouver) and Sophie Crowther (New Westminster, B.C.) will bear a significant portion of the team's load in the 2024 season. All in all, this Spartans roster's main improvement is in its depth – especially given the recent improvements of varied members of the roster.
 
Head coach Graham Roxburgh has built the Spartans program, bringing them to astounding heights since taking over the job in 1999. Roxburgh and lead assistant Rob Giesbrecht have won two conference titles since Giesbrecht joined the Spartans in 2020.
 
All of TWU's matches will be live on Canada West TV – passes are available for purchase now.
 
QUOTABLE
Graham Roxburgh – Head Coach
"I'm really excited because we returned so much of the core, and we've added some really good depth. There is a hunger about this group that has a desire to – at the very least – see if we can get back to the big dance."
 

GOALKEEPERS
Graduating Hannah Miller only means the Spartans get to see Yasmine Pahal (Surrey, B.C.) fully take over in between the posts in 2024. With TWU's 2023 back line all returning, and only conceding eight goals through 14 conference matches, Pahal will have the necessary support to continue what has been a successful tradition of Spartans goalkeeping this year.
 
DEFENDERS
TWU's rock-solid centre back duo of Danielle Cooper (Surrey, B.C.) and Tilly James returns once again in 2024. Cooper is a strong, no-nonsense partner to James, who can be utilized further up the pitch if Roxburgh deems it to be necessary. James has totalled 10 goals and six assists in 63 starts as a Spartan. The Spartans will be getting most of their fullback minutes from Sarah Bazille (Coquitlam, B.C.), who has returned seamlessly from a significant injury suffered in 2021, and Olivia Kranjcec (Okotoks, Alta.), who has been a staple in TWU's lineup since her rookie season in 2021. Both Bazille and Kranjcec bring the Spartans a different look on each side, adding to the overall versatility of this roster.
 
MIDFIELDERS
Most of Trinity Western's depth can be found in the middle of the park. This core is led by Erin Stewart (Winnipeg) and Maddie Melnychuk (Langley, B.C.) – both being stable pieces of the starting lineup in 2023. Stewart earned four goals and two assists in 22 appearances while Melnychuk added a goal and two assists through her own run of 20 games last season. In addition to Stewart and Melnychuk are newcomer Payton Izsak (Prince Albert, Sask.), Kylie Hendricks (Maple Ridge, B.C.), Sydney Giesbrecht (Chilliwack, B.C.), Emily Watchman (Edmonton), and Veronica Walter (Calgary). Expect all of these names to play a role for the Spartans in this exciting, new season.
 
FORWARDS
Charity Field and Sophie Crowther combined for a total of 14 goals and 15 assists in the 2023 season, so returning both of them is a massive advantage looking into the conference slate for 2024. Crowther has been a massive revelation for TWU's attacking play since her Canada West Rookie of the Year season in 2022, scoring 10 goals while piling on 21 assists through 42 games played. Mansha Sidhu (Surrey, B.C.) is also expected to slide into a bigger role with the Spartans after a strong rookie season. Sidhu's rookie year saw her make 21 appearances – adding a goal and four assists with only four of those appearances being a start. In addition, Luciana Andrews (Coquitlam, B.C.) and Lucy Haigh (Victoria) will also bring their skillsets to the table to make an impact on the 2024 roster.