KINGSTON, Ont. - Three members of the University of Calgary Dinos women's soccer team were recognized for their work on the field during the season Wednesday night, as the national award winners were celebrated at the annual All-Canadian Gala.
Forward
Rachel Barlow and midfielder
Sofia DiGiacomo were both named Second Team All-Canadians, while defender
Julia Kittelson was named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team.
This marks the second consecutive All-Canadian award for Barlow, who was also a second-team selection a season ago. The fourth-year forward once again put together an impressive season, appearing in 13 total conference games and leading the Dinos in goals (seven), assists (four) and points (11). She finished the year tied for fifth in Canada West in goals, seventh in points and ninth in assists. Barlow had a big performance in the early going against Trinity Western, with her first career hat trick. She also closed out the regular season in style with a three-point (two goals, one assist) performance in her final home game. The Calgary native now has 20 goals and 20 assists for her career.
Wednesday's award is the second of the postseason for DiGiacomo, who was also named a First Team Canada West All-Star two weeks earlier. Moving to more of a midfield role this season, the 5-foot-10 midfielder helped the Dinos dominate possession all season. She once again proved to be one of the most dangerous players in the country on set pieces, finishing with three goals and two assists while playing the full 90 minutes in all but two games on the year. This is the second national selection for DiGiacomo, who was also named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team back in 2019.
Kittelson played a big role on the Dinos backline that allowed just nine goals on the year - third best in Canada West and one of just eight schools in the country to allow less than 10 goals on the year. Kittelson made 13 appearances in the regular season, including 11 starts for the young Dinos defence. Her 1,004 minutes played are by far the most of any rookie on this year's squad and stands fifth on the team. She also got the start and played all 120 minutes of the Dinos overtime playoff contest.
The three All-Canadian selections ties the most for a single season in program history for Calgary, equaling the 1997 squad that saw Stephanie O'Neill, Sara Leger and Erin Vantornhout all named Second Team All-Canadians. This year also marks the fifth straight season with at least one national honour for the Dinos - also a new high water mark for the program.
FIRST TEAM ALL-CANADIAN
Cassandra Provost - Ottawa
Katalin Tolnai - UBC
Alliyah Rowe - Cape Breton
Daphnee Blouin - Laval
Christina Gomes - Guelph
Sarah Rollins - UBC
Amanda Smith - StFX
Mara Bouchard - McGill
Avarie Thomas - Western
Dakota Beckett - UBC
Stephanie Hill - McGill
SECOND TEAM ALL-CANADIAN
Sydney Kennedy - Acadia
Erika Bastien - Montreal
Kendra Couto - Queen's
Rachel Barlow - Calgary
Grace Hannaford - Cape Breton
Elsa Lesard - Laval
Jade Abreo - McMaster
Sofia DiGiacomo - Calgary
Megan Chiasson - Dalhousie
Kirstin Tynan - Queen's
Abby Steen - StFX
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Cara Freeman - Saint Mary's
Florence Thibeault - Laval
Leda Naihin - Queen's
Sarah Rollins - UBC
Ellie Lancaster - Cape Breton
Sara Ricciardelli - Montreal
Ravina Braich - McMaster
Tamara Djurisic - Mount Royal
Cheyenne Bower - StFX
Jenny Harrison - Sherbrooke
Gabrielle Ferland - Ottawa
Julia Kittelson - Calgary
MVP - Katalin Tolnai - UBC
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Sarah Rollins - UBC
STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD - Hannah Miller - Trinity Western
COACH OF THE YEAR - Graham Kennedy - StFX
-UC-
