After missing the 2022 soccer season due to a knee injury, midfielder Stefanie Young is back and better than ever.
Since returning to play with her hometown team, the fifth-year Human Kinetics student has been scoring goals at a record pace. With the regular season now concluded, Young, the Heat's leading scorer finishes the year tied for the Canada West lead in goals, becoming the first UBC Okanagan student-athlete to ever accomplish the feat.
"It honestly feels a bit surreal… A huge goal I had for myself this season was to break my own personal scoring record which I had set in my last season with the Heat. When I did that so early on in the season it has allowed me to take some of the pressure off myself to just focus on the process, and most importantly to have fun with this team during my last year here."
Despite her record-breaking season, Young credits much of her success to her team. "Most of what I do on the field has been a testament to how good this group is, I am just the one at the top that has the job of scoring the goals. It has to go through everyone else before it gets to me, so with that I owe a huge thanks to my teammates."
She added, "A lot of the team's success has resulted from every player bringing something different and unique to our style of play. This year especially we are fortunate to have such a
competitive roster and lots of depth to the team. This creates such a healthy and competitive environment that allows each player to work hard to get better each time they step on the field. The focus this year has been to take all our individual strengths and work together to enjoy the beautiful game of soccer, because when we are all having fun out there, that's when we really
start to see results…It has just helped affirm that what we are doing as a team is worth all the hard work and effort we put in."
Although she had to "wait almost a year and a half to be back out on the field with [the Heat]," it's clear that Young's team-oriented approach was a major factor in her successful shift back into playing for UBCO.
"I found the transition back onto the field to be relatively smooth, as I was able to play in League1 Ontario all summer with our former assistant coach Carli Tingstad…alongside some of
my current teammates, Annika Gross and Chloe Dalgarno, as well as one of my former teammates Molly Race. It was a very great opportunity that I am so grateful to have had because
it lead to a lot of my success this season."
Young also mentioned that her time in Ontario was crucial for her path to recovery from last year's knee injury: "Over there I was able to focus on soccer and getting back to being game
fit… it really prepared me for the demands of the Canada West season."
As a fifth-year student, Young is focused on maintaining a balance between living in the moment and looking to the future. Just a few weeks ago she was recognized on Graduating Seniors Night along with the other graduating members of her team. "Of course I'm going to take it day by day and… enjoy my last year here, but at the same time I am trying to plan for life after university."
"My main plan is to try and pursue my dream of becoming a professional soccer player, hopefully overseas in Europe. For the longest time I have always wanted soccer to be a part of
my life because it has helped me with so much in my life, but if I can somehow turn that passion and love into a career I would be overjoyed."
Young's excitement for and dedication to her sport is obvious as she looks toward her first playoff run. With UBCO having finished third in the Canada West Pacific division standings, the Heat are preparing for their first-ever appearance in the conference quarter-finals. "I think if the team keeps performing and improving in the way we have been this whole season, we can be capable of… performing well in them [the playoffs]."
Despite the pressure of an upcoming playoff run, Young is confident that her team is ready to rise to the challenge. "One of my main goals for this team and myself is to make sure that everyone shows up each day and performs at their best, and if we all do that, I believe that we can accomplish almost anything we set our minds to. And I believe this is the group to continue
making history for the program."