METUCHEN, NJ - As the temperatures get more and more colder with the passage of fall, there has been a flurry of activity north of the border in the collegiate ranks in Canada. Calgary Foothills Women's FC mentor and two-time United Women's Soccer (UWS) Coach of the Year Troye Flannery also leads the University of Calgary Dinos and five of his players received Canada West All-Star honors this past week for their efforts during the Fall 2019 season.

All five of his Dinos players - goalkeeper Lauren Houghton (Second Team), defenders Amy Mikuska (First Team) and Talia White (Second Team), midfielder Montana Leonard (First Team) and forward Alison Pedersen (All-Rookie Team) - have played for the UWS side while MacEwan University's Canada West All-Star goalkeeper Emily Burns (First Team) and midfielder Suekiana Choucair (First Team) have also worn Foothills WFC colors. University of Saskatchewan midfielder Maya Gabruch (First Team) was a UWS Team of the Week selection this past summer for Queen City United.

This all leads up to the University of Calgary's appearance in the Canada West Final Four this Friday in Edmonton when they take on the MacEwan Griffins. A goal from Damiane Sawatzky off a set piece in the 80th minute propelled the Dinos past the University of Manitoba by a 1-0 score in the quarterfinals this past Sunday. Overall, there are seven stars from the 2019 UWS West champions on the University of Calgary team: defender Maiya Lee and midfielder Sienna Prince-McPherson join Houghton, Leonard, Mikuska, Sawatzky and White as Foothills WFC alumnae.

University of Bridgeport midfielder Maegen Doyle and her Purple Knights team mates battled to a hard-fought, 2-2 double overtime draw against Mercy College in East Coast Conference last Saturday night. The reigning United Soccer Coaches (USC) Division II National Player of the Year's team has not tore up their opposition as much as last season's national championship side but they remain atop the ECC standings at 5-0-1 in conference play. The 2019 All-UWS East Conference selection for the Connecticut Fusion has still kept up her torrid scoring pace, though, ranking among the leaders at the DII level.

Doyle leads the University of Bridgeport in scoring with an impressive 16 goals and eight assists (40 points) this fall. The Harwich, England-native started in seven matches in her debut season with Connecticut this past summer as she tied the franchise's single-season record for goals with nine and added three assists. Fellow Purple Knight Marieke Kramer joined Doyle on the field for the Fusion this season and started five matches. Connecticut went on to go unbeaten in the regular season (8-0-2) and finished in second place in the UWS East, missing out on the top spot by goal difference.