VM grad joining Wesmen soccer

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This article was published 26/02/2021 (1670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sydney Arnold, a highly-touted defender from Vincent Massey Collegiate and St. Charles Force, has committed to the University of Winnipeg Wesmen women’s soccer program as the third member of head coach Amy Anderson’s class of 2021.

Arnold, who said she had interest from schools across western Canada, will pursue an arts degree with an eventual focus on psychology and developmental studies.

She joins Oak Park High School midfielder Jessica Gillespie and keeper Mary Wood of Gibsons, B.C., in the squad.

Anderson first reached out to Arnold in April 2020 and the two have been in steady contact since. Anderson believes Arnold has the capability of challenging for a spot in the top 11 straight away, and Arnold is ready to take that challenge head on.

“Just being a Wesmen, I’m definitely excited about starting a new chapter in my life,” Arnold said.

“We have been talking back and forth about me potentially starting or being a key player, and so I’m hoping when we do start practising, I can show the team that I’m meant to be there.”

Arnold knew for the past couple of years that she wanted to pursue her sport beyond high school and club soccer.

“I’m always looking forward to going and playing soccer, and I just wanted to continue the passion I have for the sport at the next level,” she said. “In Grade 10, I started reaching out to coaches all across Canada. I knew I wanted to stay in Canada, somewhere closer to Winnipeg, but in the end, it was staying closer to home for my final decision.”

In 2018, Arnold was named the Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association’s female player of the year and in 2019 helped Manitoba to a silver medal finish at the Western Canada Summer Games. She also played basketball at Massey and was a practice player for the Manitoba provincial team, both alongside Wesmen women’s basketball 2020 recruit Kat Rogan.

Arnold said she felt the pressures of the recruiting trail but found a sense of comfort in how Anderson pursued her.

“Sometimes it was a bit stressful,” Arnold said, “especially because there were some coaches that I had offers from and they wanted to know an answer by a certain deadline. So, in the end I said ‘No, I need more time to think about it.’ (Anderson’s) a super sweet coach. You can tell she cares for the team, she cares about their studies and them as a person and not just as a player. So that was really important to me.”

Arnold, who is 5-foot-11, will bring size and length to the back line, a luxury the Wesmen haven’t had in some time.

“She is a strong athlete that potentially can contribute right away at the U Sports level. Sydney has previously excelled at the club level and has represented our province, and I’m excited to work with her and have her join our team,” Anderson said.