Spotlight Series: 2002!

Harbourside’s women’s team is a mix of players of different ages and from tons of different teams, but if you look closely at the roster, you may notice a lot of 2002 birth years. Six of the ladies have been a tight knit squad for almost a decade and have quite the history together!

Ava Alexander, Erin Jensen, Mary Nicholls and Jazmine Wilkinson are all from the Nanaimo-Ladysmith area and Sophie Miranda and Taiya Scorey are from South Island. The North Island crew has been playing together since they were 11 years old and joined the two from the South on a high performance team in Victoria in high school.

A few members of the 2002 crew gave us the inside scoop on their soccer journey over the past few years, and discussed what it means to still be able to play elite soccer together.

From top left to bottom right: Sophie Miranda, Taiya Scorey, Ava Alexander, Erin Jensen, Jazmine Wilkinson, Mary Nicholls.

When did you start playing together?

Sophie: I first met a majority of the girls when we joined Vancouver Island Wave, a team in the BC Soccer Premier League. This was our first taste of high-performance soccer, and it marked a significant milestone in our soccer journeys. We played for Wave for the next 5 years where we continued to learn and grow as players and as a team. I am so grateful for these years as it gave me some of my best memories with my teammates that soon became some of my closest friends. Ever since our days of youth soccer, we have all kept in touch, watching and cheering for each other on and off the field.

Joining Harbourside this year and getting to reunite with these girls has been such a special, full-circle moment. The foundation laid during those five years gives us all instant chemistry on the field and brings back so many fond memories of our younger days.

Mary: I started playing with some of these girls when I was about 11 years old when we made the Zone 6 Summer Games team and…played for Highlanders Academy. We were all around 14 when we became teammates again and played for the Vancouver Island Wave [which is] based in Victoria.

Memories and successes: What are some of your favourite experiences from those years?

Sophie: One of my fondest memories with the girls was travelling to San Diego to compete in the Surf Cup. This trip was an incredible experience—playing high-level soccer during the day and exploring San Diego with the girls in the evenings. From forgetting my jersey in Canada to Black Friday shopping, this trip was some of the best memories I had from playing youth soccer.

Another great memory with the girls was winning the Provincial Championships in 2018. We had a dominant year in the regular season and it was so special winning that title after years of hard work.

Mary: When we first started down in Victoria, we were the worst team in the league but we really came together throughout the years and ended up winning the league a few different times. I find it really amazing that we have gotten a second chance to play together again at such a high level and who knows, maybe we could be at the top of the league one year.

Jazmine: We won the provincial championship in 2018. [We] went from last place two seasons prior to winning it all which was a huge accomplishment and showed a lot of progress.

Fast Facts: Get to know the gals!

Where are you originally from and who was your youth soccer club?

Sophie: I am from Cobble Hill B.C. and grew up playing soccer in the Cowichan Valley before joining Vancouver Island Wave in the BC Soccer Premier League.

Mary: I am from Ladysmith and I first started playing at Mid Isle Soccer Club.

Jazmine: Originally from Nanaimo, BC and I played for Harbour City FC at the time, to VIPL* Storm and then VI Wave.

*Vancouver Island Premier League

Ava: I played U12-13 at Harbour City FC with Erin and Jaz, and U14-15 VIPL Storm with them as well. After that, I played for Wave with all of them and a few of us played on the BC Provincial Team from U15-17.

Taiya: I am from Victoria! I played for VI Wave since U13.

Erin: I am from Nanaimo, BC. I have played for VIPL Storm, BCSPL VI Wave, and NUFC* Women's Premier team before playing at UVic for 4 years.

*Nanaimo United FC

Where do you play now and what do you study?

Sophie: I just finished my fourth and final season as a member of the Queen’s varsity soccer team in Kingston, Ontario. During the summer, I previously played for Highlanders in League 1 before joining Harbourside this summer. I studied Health Sciences and will be attending medical school in Septmeber.

Mary: UBC Thunderbirds and study Sociology and Education.

Jazmine: Texas A&M University, Journalism.

Ava: UBC Thunderbirds, Neuroscience.

Taiya: UVic, Health Information Science.

Erin: At UVic, I studied Sociology and Public Administration. I will be doing the 10 month Office Administration program at VIU in September.