KAMLOOPS – Four members of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women's soccer team have earned conference recognition for their outstanding 2026 campaigns.
CANADA WEST RELEASE
Sara Kuusimaki and Floor Ursem earned nods as Pacific Division All-Stars while both Allison Hill and Hannah Saxon were named to the Canada West All-Rookie team. This is the first time in program history that four members of the women's soccer team have been recognized with a Canada West All-Star spot.
Kuusimaki, a product of Vantaa, Finland, did it all for the WolfPack this season. The second-year winger excelled at both ends of the field, finishing the season with two goals and an assist. Kuusimaki carried that momentum from a great season into the playoffs last weekend when she scored a goal in the TRU's 3-1 Canada West quarter-final victory over Saskatchewan.
"I can't say enough about the way Kuusimaki plays and her as person as well," said WolfPack head coach Mark Pennington. "She's such a hardworking, honest, dedicated kid, she puts in as much work as anybody. The role that she's in just requires so much work and she gets it done. This year she's added a bunch of goals to her game and just got us a really important goal in the quarterfinals, so credit to her there. A game winner against Trinity Western was super important as well. I don't have enough positive things to say about Kuusimaki and we're just looking forward to see how she kicks on and keeps moving forwards."
Also earning an all-star nod was goalkeeper Floor Ursem. A rock at the back all season long for the 'Pack, Ursem secured a program-record seven shutouts this year and also holds the program career record with 11 shutouts in just two seasons.
"Floor plays at a different level and the confidence she brings to everybody is huge, we're so happy for her and the record she's broken," said Pennington. "The longer she keeps playing, the more those records are going to get harder and harder for anybody to beat in the future. We couldn't be more proud of Floor. What she brings to us with her shot-stopping, control of the back four, but also her distribution is the best in the league. I've not seen enough of the rest of the country, but I'd be surprised if there was anybody that could compete with her nationwide."
Hitting the ground running in her first year with the 'Pack, Kamloops local Allison Hill was named to the Canada West All-Rookie team after an excellent breakout campaign.
Starting 13 games this season for the 'Pack, Hill led the team in the regular season with three goals and six points.
"Allison has been unbelievable this year. For a first year to come in and have the numbers from a defensive point of view as well as an attacking point of view, it's incredible. "We've used her as a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder, so she's also had to figure out a few different roles. Her impact for us and the work rate she gets through has been outstanding.
A speedy, versatile winger that excels on both ends of the pitch, New Zealand product Hannah Saxon will join Hill on the All-Rookie team after a season that saw her tally a pair of game-winning goals.
"Hannah had a really, really bright start to the season. Unfortunately, she had a little bit of an injury that set her back towards the end of the season. But she's back now and firing on all cylinders. Couldn't be more proud of the stuff that she's done and she's provided some really important moments and game winners. We're just excited to see where she can go to."
These four honourees helped TRU to a program-best record of 8-2-4 in the regular season. The WolfPack defeated the Saskatchewan Huskies in a Canada West quarter-final last weekend and are now set to face the UVic Vikes in a semifinal contest scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m. in Vancouver.
"It's amazing for the program," said Pennington on having a program-record four players honoured by the conference. "It's also good to show potential players and recruits that this is a place where you can come and get rookie opportunities. It really shows how far the program's come that we're having conversations about being disappointed. You know, I think Lily Pickell was a real all-rookie team candidate and probably feels a bit unlucky. I think Alexis Virgo was another one that probably could have made an All-Star team, as well as potentially Kat Stewart for what she did as well. So, we're disappointed for a couple of them because we think that they deserved it, but just couldn't be more proud of the group that have got in there."
