An Okotoks soccer star is set to join one of Canada’s top university programs.
Holy Trinity Academy Grade 12 student Holly Stiel has committed to U SPORTS powerhouse Trinity Western University Spartans women’s soccer program for the fall 2021.
“I’ve been playing soccer for a long time and one of my ultimate goals playing for so many years was to commit to university,” said Stiel, who plans to study kinesiology. “Over quarantine I started talking to the coach, he had seen me a couple times and he offered me a scholarship in December to be part of their program.
“They’ve always been high on my list, I went there and played a couple times with other teams and went and visited the school and not only is it an amazing school, but their program for soccer is just amazing so when I got offered it wasn’t even any hesitation.”
The Spartans have been a power in Canada West under the direction of head coach Graham Roxburgh since 1999.
During that timeframe, Trinity Western has compiled five U SPORTS national championships as well as eight Canada West gold medals.
"Holly's ability coupled with her versatility make her an awesome addition to the program,” said Roxburgh, in a Trinity Western release. “We know she can play well in several positions and comes from a very good club system where she has been well coached and part of winning traditions in her youth career.
“Holly will bring a strong level of competitiveness, soccer composure and a desire to win which will help add to the players who are part of the next generation of Spartans.
“I am very grateful that Holly is taking on the challenge to continue to develop both on and off the field, and grow her career and help towards the future success of our program.”
Stiel said her Grade 10 year is when she began to bear down and focus on how and where she would take her next step towards university soccer.
That process was complicated by the pandemic which significantly limited opportunities for exposure with restrictions on sports during the age of COVID-19.
“That was a big concern, him getting tapes, because (coach) wanted to see me play a few more times, but with COVID and everything going on everything was up in the air,” Stiel said. “I thought I was being put at a disadvantage because some of the other girls had already committed and he already seen them play more.
“I was scared because he wasn’t able to see me that things weren’t going to happen, but I talked with him over Zoom and he talked to some of my other coaches which really helped.”
Stiel’s journey began at the Timbits level with Okotoks minor soccer at the age of six and within a year her skills were noticed by Calgary Foothills where she has developed ever since.
“I would not be where I am today without the help of my coaches that developed me into the player I am today, not only as a player, but as a person. Soccer has helped me so much and shaped me into who I am,” she said. “There’s one coach in particular, Troye Flannery, he got me when I was 14 and he helped me tremendously. I would not be where I am today without the help of me.”
During her high school years, Stiel helped the Knights to terrific success on the pitch with HTA bringing home the league and South Central Zone banner in both her Grade 10 and 11 years with the team boasting an undefeated record during that time. The Grade 12 girls soccer season did not get off the ground due to the pandemic.
“I loved it so much, school soccer is a very different atmosphere from club soccer,” Stiel said. “And just getting to play with a different group of girls was awesome because I’ve been on the same club team since I was seven with the same group of girls.
“I had an absolute blast, it was so much fun.”
At both the club and high school level Stiel has played all over the field in different positions, but she expects to see time primarily as a midfielder at the B.C. school.
“I’m excited to leave just to get the change of scenery,” she said. “I’ve lived in Okotoks my whole life and I’m definitely going to be sad, I’ve grown up here and met so many amazing people and it’s obviously been great.
“But I’m just excited for new things to come.”
