Blazers News

2026/27 Women's Soccer Season Preview

Monday, July 6, 2026 @ 10:12 AM  |  Women's Soccer

With head coach Jason Moist returning to take over managing duties following the outdoor season last year, CMU's women's soccer program has experienced a big boost to its roster for the 2026/27, as Moist has had a full off-season window to sign and start building this coming season's edition of the squad. Starting the recruiting window with a massive seven-player signing ceremony, coach Moist has continued to add to the incoming class with hopes of a full roster, and a more competitive base of student-athletes than the program has ever seen.

Blazers Athletics continues its 2026/27 team previews with the Blazers Women's Soccer team, noting new additions, key returnees, and losses to the lineup heading into the season:

Outgoing Players

Blazers Athletics honoured graduating student-athletes Kasey Petruskavich, Kalyssa Wasylik, and Alyssa Rendina at the team's final game of the soccer season. An important core group of players, Rendina missed some time due to injury throughout her college career but was a steady presence on the Blazers' back line when healthy. Petruskavich was a technically-gifted right back who factored in heavily on set pieces throughout her career and in pushing the ball upfield to Wasylik who had the skills to beat defenders in one-on-one situations, and a finishing touch that had her selected to both soccer and futsal MCAC All-Conference teams throughout her time with the Blazers.

Not expected to return this season are forwards Glacier Wyryha, and Imani Ndemo, as well as keeper Maddy Kilburn, leading head coach Moist to fill those positions with incoming recruits.

Incoming Recruits

Filling those holes in the lineup are a number of new recruits and additions to the squad including signees Nur Othman Mustafa, Cleo Reynolds, Samarah Cameron, Kailyn Asham, Kennedy Fredrickson, Mack Robillard, and Keilee Neufeld,who were all added during the signing ceremony in early February, along with additional reinforcements Brooklynn Colosimo, Abbey Moist, Jillian Bellino, and yet-to-be-signed Cristina Soto, along with red shirt Valerie Pauls.

Nur Othman Mustafa | 5'4" Right Midfielder | Daniel McIntyre Collegiate | St Charles Force
Coming in with the largest recruiting class in program history, Nur will add quality to the Blazers' midfield, and could see some time as a replacement for Wasylik along the right side of CMU's formation.
Coach's Quote: "A fearless competitor and great teammate. Gets knocked down, gets right back up—every time."

Cleo Reynolds | 5'6" Striker | Fort Frances High | Borderlands Soccer
Look for the rangy Fort Francis product to add a layer of attack the team has been lacking in recent years, and the ability to stretch the opposition's defence. The small-town Ontario product is used to playing against boys in her club experience, and hopefully she can bring some more speed and toughness up front for the Blazers.
Coach's Quote: "Electric pace and a constant offensive threat. Capable of changing a game in an instant."

Samarah Cameron | 5'2" Fullback | Miles Macdonell | BoniVital SC
One of four Miles Mac additions to the program, look for Samarah Cameron to have instant chemistry with some of her incoming teammates. A quality option for coach Jason Moist to consider in the Blazers' back line for the upcoming season.
Coach's Quote: "Smart, composed, and tough in the tackle. An intelligent defender with an excellent soccer IQ."

Kailyn Asham | 5'0" Winger | Portage Collegiate Institute
Asham joins fellow PCI graduate Grace Moar on the team this year and will certainly deepen the talent pool of energetic and competitive players looking to make an impact in their first year with the Blazers.
Coach's Quote: "Plays with intensity and bravery. Brings edge, energy, and competitive fire to every match."

Kennedy Fredrickson | 5'7" | Miles Macdonell | Winnipeg Phoenix FC
A lengthy defender, look for Fredrickson to factor in as a possible addition to the back line alongside returnees Noel Wiebe, Laurel Smith, and Vayda Smith. She will likely be in biggest competition with fellow Miles Mac recruit Samarah Cameron to fill the spot vacated by Petruskavich.
Coach's Quote: "Highly coachable and defensively strong. Her commitment and reliability set the standard."

Mack Robillard | 5'2" Goalkeeper | Nelson McIntyre Collegiate | Soccer's Best Academy
An undersized but technically sound keeper, Robillard will likely begin the season as returning starter Kayda Melnyk's backup; however, keep an eye on Robillard to be used as a tandem on two-game weekends and to press for more starts late in the season.
Coach's Quote: "One of the strongest keepers in her age group. Technically sound and composed beyond her years."

Keilee Neufeld | 5'5" Midfielder | Miles Macdonell | South End United
Neufeld can add more strength in the middle of the pitch for the Blazers, and is a player that can use her athleticism to turn the tide of a game and link up the back line with the attack. A proven winner at the club level, expect Neufeld to raise the level of the entire team and compete for starting minutes.
Coach's Quote: "Plays with grit and courage. A brave, left-footed presence who isn't afraid of the moment."

Brooklynn Colosimo | 5'3" Forward | Linden Christian School | St Charles Force
Adding talent up front, coach Jason Moist looks to a local St Charles product to increase the team's attacking power and finishing quality in the final third, a definite need if the program wants to continue to move up the MCAC rankings.
Coach's Quote: "We're thrilled to add Brooklynn to our program; a high-level P1 youth player with excellent technical ability and attacking instincts. She's a dynamic forward who can change games in the final third. We're excited to see the impact she'll make in our lineup."

Abbey Moist | 5'5" Midfielder | Miles Macdonell | E&E FC
Abbey joins her sister Rae Moist in playing for their father Jason at CMU, and so should instantly possess the chemistry to help the transition game click for the Blazers for 2026. But don't expect Abbey to take anything for granted; she'll be pushed harder than anyone to earn a spot in the starting eleven come the season's start.
Coach's Quote: "Abbey is a talented young midfielder who works hard both on and off the field. Her talent and work ethic make her an exciting addition to the team, and we are eager to see how she will contribute to the team's success moving forward."

Jillian Bellino | 5'3" Attacker | Garden City Collegiate | 1 v 1 Futbol Dreams & Providence Pilots
A transfer from perennial powerhouse Providence Pilots, Bellino will add another option up top for head coach Jason Moist, and a player who is familiar with the MCAC and the college game in Manitoba. With some versatility to play as an attacking mid or a striker, Bellino could be an important part in bringing the entire team to the next level, and brings with her experience playing across the Americas.
Coach's Quote: "We're excited to welcome Jillian to the Blazers women's soccer program; a proven university-level player who brings valuable experience and a strong technical foundation. Her composure on the ball and understanding of the game will make a immediate impact."

Valerie Pauls | 5'8" Goalkeeper | Shaftesbury High | South End United
Signed as a red shirt in late spring, Pauls will add some roster insurance as an additional keeper option should either Kayda Melnyk or Mack Robillard sustain injury, but also versatility to play as an outfield player up front for training or in game whenever called upon.
Coach's Quote: "We are excited to welcome Valerie to our program. A versatile player capable of contributing in multiple positions, she has already demonstrated a tremendous commitment to growth and development, and we look forward to seeing her become an important part of our environment in the years ahead."

Cristina Soto | 5'3" Midfielder | St Thomas Aquinas High | E&E FC
Another high-energy dynamic player coming into the roster, the yet-to-be-signed Soto grew up in Winnipeg, but has since moved to Kenora where she graduated this past week. Soto represents the final piece of the puzzle for head coach Jason Moist, capping off an impressive recruiting class.
Coach's Quote: "Cristina is an exciting and dynamic player who thrives in the middle of the pitch. It doesn't take long watching her play to recognize the quality, creativity, and energy she brings to every match, whether in open play or from set-piece situations. A talented midfielder from Ontario with the ability to dictate the tempo of a match, Cristina possesses the technical ability and vision to influence games in a variety of ways."

Returning to the Roster

The Blazers have a core of veterans and solid crop of sophomores continuing on with the club this season, hoping to build towards a championship-calibre roster. Key returnees to the lineup this season include All-Conference selection Louisa Ibarra, entering the season as one of three fourth-years on the team. While the stats don't always tell the full story, Ibarra was arguably the most consistent producer on the team last year, and the most feared matchup for opponents in the middle of the pitch. Recently announced CCAA Academic All-Canadian Madeline Blackmore is also expected to return and joins Ibarra as both All-Conference selections from outdoor soccer make their return to the lineup. On the back end, defender Noel Wiebe is happy to be playing under former club coach Jason Moist once again, and is expected to be the key piece in the Blazers back line again.

An honorary note to the key returnees, Laurel Smith continues to see her game progress as she enters her fourth season with the Blazers. The speedy, but inexperienced Smith was placed up front for CMU early in her career, but transitioned to use that same speed to track down the opposition's attackers last season with great results. A full summer training with the Blazers should do wonders for the most coachable player on the team. Keeper Kayda Melnyk had some brilliant performances in goal last season, helping lift the team into the MCAC playoffs, but was ultimately hampered by injury. If Melnyk is back to full health and confidence, she has the ability to be one of the best backstoppers in the league. Midfielder Leila Varias is stepping into a leadership role now that she's in her fourth year, but don't expect her spot in the starting eleven to be guaranteed with such a large crop of rookies ready to compete for starting minutes. Sophomores Grace Moar and Vayda Smith were among the best additions to last year's team, and will be relied upon to continue to grow their game and take it to the next level if the team is to improve their spot in the MCAC standings.

Reinstated Blazers head coach Jason Moist will certainly need to lean on all of his coaching experience to field the best starting eleven on any given game day, and to sort the puzzle with so many talented and competitive rookies coming in to push veterans for minutes. With the largest and deepest roster in recent memory, if not program history, time will tell whether all the new talent brought in can replace the veteran leadership and skill moving on. Once again, the MCAC regular schedule will mean more than ever with the top seed earning the right to host the 2026 MCAC Soccer Championships, and the winner heading to Cambridge, Ontario for CCAA Nationals in early November.

The defending champions Brandon Bobcats will certainly start the season as the side to beat once again, as they have shown over the last number of years to be the clear-cut favourite to take the title. the Providence Pilots took strides of their own to challenge BU for MCAC supremacy last season, and it would be expected that Providence will once again put together a very competitive side. The question this season really lies in who can best close that gap towards the top of the standings between CMU, St Boniface, and Assiniboine. Relegated once again to miss MCAC playoffs last season, the Cougars have shown considerable improvement over past editions of the team, and were not an easy win by any means for the Blazers and we would expect nothing different this season. CMU jostled with Les Rouges for playoff positioning for much of last season, but if the incoming class of CMU recruits proves to be as strong as we hope, the Blazers certainly have the talent available to jump Les Rouges in the table and continue making progress on returning to a title-contending team.

The Blazers begin their pre-season early this year with a mid-August swing through Northern Alberta, as they face the King's University Eagles and NAIT Ooks in Edmonton before challenging the Lakeland Rustlers in Lloydminster on their way home. The full schedule is available now at Blazers.cmu.ca!