WSOC: UBC's Maddy Norman named Canada West Player of the Year

Nov. 4, 2026 - UBC Thunderbirds forward Maddy Norman has been named the 2026 Canada West women's soccer Player of the Year after putting together one of the most dominant offensive seasons in conference history.

The third-year from Surrey, B.C., took her game to new heights this season, tying the Canada West single-season record with 22 points and leading the conference with 14 goals in 14 regular-season games. She won the conference scoring race in emphatic fashion, finishing nine points clear of the nearest competitor. Norman also tied UBC's program record with six game-winning goals, showcasing remarkable consistency while finding the scoresheet in 12 of 14 contests.

Norman's remarkable campaign helped propel the Thunderbirds to another undefeated season, with UBC finishing the regular season 13-0-1 while scoring a conference-high 45 goals and allowing just two. The Thunderbirds will look to continue their historic season this Thursday at the Canada West Final Four, hosted at Thunderbird Stadium.

Norman headlines an impressive group of major award winners announced by the conference on Wednesday morning.

The UBC Thunderbirds claimed three of the five major awards, with fifth-year defender Sophia Ferreira earning Defensive Player of the Year honours, while head coach Jesse Symons was named Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive season.

Brooke Miller of the Mount Royal Cougars was named Rookie of the Year after an impressive debut campaign that saw the Calgary product record seven goals and three assists.

Sophie Crowther of the Trinity Western Spartans was named the Student-Athlete Community Service Award recipient for her exceptional commitment to community service, leadership and volunteerism throughout her five-year career. A team captain and dynamic playmaker on the pitch, Crowther has made an equally impressive impact off it, leading numerous local and international initiatives supporting underserved children, newcomer families and cancer awareness.

The Canada West women's soccer season culminates in the Final Four taking place this Thursday and Friday in Vancouver. For schedule information, please visit WinTheWest.ca.

MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Maddy Norman (UBC Thunderbirds)

Forward | Third Year | Surrey, B.C.

Putting together one of the most dominant offensive performances in conference history, UBC Thunderbirds forward Maddy Norman has been named the 2026 Canada West Women’s Soccer Player of the Year.

Tying the single-season conference record with 22 points, the third-year from Surrey topped the Canada West with 14 goals and tied UBC’s program record with an incredible six game winners. Norman’s point total was nine clear of the second highest in the conference while she also led the way in total shot attempts with 72 and shots on target with 33.

Perhaps most impressive was Norman’s consistency – she managed to find the scoresheet in 12 of 14 regular season contests, with multiple points on six occasions.

Starting all 14 regular season games and playing all but seven minutes on the pitch, Norman continued her impact into the Canada West postseason last Saturday, scoring the only goal in UBC’s 1-0 quarterfinal win over MacEwan. Still undefeated this season, the ‘Birds will be soaring into this weekend’s Final Four hosted at Thunderbird Stadium starting Thursday afternoon.

"When you look back to the last half of her second year and now this her third year, it’s been pretty hard to beat in terms of a start to a career here at UBC. She also had some injuries early on that she’s had to push through from a resilience perspective and I think for me, seeing her tie the Canada West record for points in a season is something she’s going to be very proud of and obviously her teammates too, who were a big part of that. You look at how strong the Pacific was this year defensively and you just see Maddy on 22 and the next closest at 12, it just showcases how much she did this season to really outperform every attacking player in the conference. I think she’s very, very well deserved of the recognition. She was just on another level this year and I’m really excited to see her postseason performance.” - UBC Head Coach Jesse Symons

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sophia Ferreira (UBC Thunderbirds)

Defender | Fifth Year | Coquitlam, B.C.

Leading the conference’s stingiest defence with UBC allowing just two goals against on the year, Ferreira was also impactful on the attack, leading all Canada West defenders with five goals.

The Coquitlam, B.C. product has kept up her prowess at both ends of the pitch to begin UBC’s postseason, setting up the game-winning goal in the ‘Birds’ quarter-final victory against MacEwan.

Ferreira is the fourth straight Thunderbird to earn the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year honour, joining former teammates Sarah Rollins, Jacqueline Tyrer and Ella Sunde.

“For Sophia to come back after tearing her ACL and having the season she’s had, it was exactly what we wanted to showcase for her. Being a part of a defensive unit that only allowed two goals in 14 games is incredible, but she also scored six goals of her own, as a defender – it just showcases what she’s capable of both from an attacking perspective and a defending perspective. Her leadership as a captain of the team with Taiya [Dennehy] has been unbelievable and I think she showcased herself a lot this year that a lot of teams will be looking to hopefully sign her after our season’s done.” - UBC Head Coach Jesse Symons

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Brooke Miller (Mount Royal Cougars)

Midfield | First Year | Calgary, Alta.

Brooke Miller enjoyed an outstanding debut season with the Cougars, quickly establishing herself as one of the team's most productive offensive players. In 13 appearances, Miller recorded seven goals and three assists for 10 points, with both her goal and point totals ranking second on the team.

Earning 11 starts and logging 996 minutes, she quickly became a trusted presence in the lineup and a consistent scoring threat in the attacking third. Her seven goals came on 33 shots, showcasing an impressive ability to capitalize on her opportunities.

Her breakout rookie campaign earned her a selection to the Canada West All-Rookie Team, recognizing her as one of the conference's top first-year players.

“Brooke has had a remarkable first-year campaign for us. Stepping into U SPORTS soccer as a first-year player isn't easy, but her work ethic, attacking instinct, and ability to step up in high-stakes moments have been vital to our squad. She was a missing piece to our style of play and we are so glad she wanted to be a MRU Cougar. She’s a proper footballer and seeing her hard work translate into game-changing performances on the pitch has given our entire program a huge boost.” - MRU Head Coach Tino Fusco

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Sophie Crowther (Trinity Western Spartans)

Forward | Fifth Year | New Westminster, B.C.

As her incredible career with the Trinity Western Spartans wraps up this fall, Sophie Crowther leaves an undeniable legacy both on and off the pitch.

The Spartans' forward has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to community service throughout her five years with the women's soccer program at TWU, serving as a team captain and leading numerous initiatives that extend well beyond the field. Over the past two years, she has coordinated and directed the annual Chilliwack TeamUp Camp, organizing more than 45 volunteers and overseeing programming for more than 250 children from underserved communities. In June 2026, she also led the organization of two community soccer festivals in partnership with the FIFA Foundation, TeamUp Canada and TWU, bringing together more than 400 children for games, clinics and skill-building activities. Crowther mobilized student-athletes and volunteers from across the university to support both events.

Her community involvement also includes regular volunteer work with after-school sports programs in Burnaby and Langley, supporting local schools and organizations that provide food, clothing and resources to refugee and newcomer families. She has helped organize two international sports service projects, most recently coordinating a 12-day impact trip to Peru in spring 2026, where 12 team members served underserved communities. Her responsibilities included volunteer coordination, fundraising and gathering resources for distribution. Closer to home, Crowther has contributed as a youth coach with Spartan Soccer Academy and New West Soccer Club, while also coordinating team and departmental initiatives with the Salvation Army and other local organizations.

Crowther has also made cancer awareness and fundraising a priority, organizing the women's soccer program's annual cancer awareness evenings and campaigns over the past two years, including a "Soccer for Cancer" partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society in 2026. The initiative holds particular significance for Crowther, who was motivated to support the centre that provided treatment to teammate Anna Dunn.

Beyond her extensive community contributions, Crowther is a President's Scholarship recipient, maintaining an academic average above 3.75. Her leadership and dedication to serving others have made her a role model within the TWU program, where she has consistently embodied a servant-leadership approach throughout her five years as a Spartan.

On the pitch, she will leave a legacy as an all-time Spartans great, having been named a conference All-Star in all five seasons. She was one of the most productive playmakers in Canada West during the 2026 regular season, tying for the conference lead in assists with eight in 13 games, while finishing fourth in total points with 11.

“I am really pleased for Sophie, because as much as she is an elite university player and had a brilliant career on the field, she has really developed into an outstanding servant leader. She has an incredible heart to serve, to lead others who are serving and I watched her capacity and skillset be enhanced throughout her career when it comes to loving and caring for others. She is a servant athlete who understands the privilege and opportunity to give back, and seeks to put others first beyond herself. Sophie has made an impact locally and internationally and she would tell you that its these things that she has learned and grown into as a servant that has really shaped the way she sees the world and the values that drive her. What a wonderful gift she has been to our program on and off the field.” - TWU Spartans Head Coach Graham Roxburgh

COACH OF THE YEAR: Jesse Symons (UBC Thunderbirds)

​ ​ ​ ​ • 11th Season

Leading his squad to an unprecedented third consecutive undefeated season, UBC bench boss, Jesse Symons, has been named Canada West Coach of the Year for a fourth straight time.

Finishing the regular season 13-0-1, the T-Birds topped the conference with 45 goals while allowing just two against, finishing first in the overall standings for a fifth straight year.

Guiding the ‘Birds to U SPORTS National Championship titles in 2019, 2023 and 2024, Symons now boasts a conference record of 109-13-16, becoming the fastest coach in Canada West history to hit triple-digit victories.

Gunning for a third straight Canada West title this weekend, Symons and the T-Birds are set to host the 2026 U SPORTS National Championship tournament starting Nov. 12 at Thunderbird Stadium.

“Jesse's unparalleled success isn't by accident, it's a deserving result of his dedication and vision for his program. As amazing as his accomplishments have been on the pitch, his dedication to developing a positive community well beyond the UBC campus is admirable. His work with community organizations across the province has had a meaningful impact for many young players and their families all while helping guide his own players into true leaders. We're so proud of Jesse's continued success and can't wait to cheer on him and the T-Birds as they host the 2026 U SPORTS National Championship!” - Kavie Toor, UBC Managing Director of Athletics