Most arguably, the reason why UNBC’s women’s soccer program has improved and achieved great things in the last few years is because of one person’s impact.
Madison Emmond ushered in a new path to glory for the Timberwolves thanks to her contributions to its development and strategy up against the best in Canada, as well as introducing a new influence for future players.
She led the green and gold to two inaugural Canada West postseason appearances in final two seasons, which has stretched to three before COVID-19 cancelled the 2020 campaign, and aided them to a first-ever playoff victory in 2018.
Those accomplishments and her overall commitment to her local university, as of today (March 24), will be enshrined with a spot on the T-Wolves’ Wall of Honour.
“What a legacy. She changed the community with her hard work and dedication,” explained Emmond’s former teammate Paige Payne.
“It is truly amazing that a Prince George product was able to represent her hometown with such honour. There is no player who wore the Timberwolf logo with such pride.”
Her love of soccer, combined with a will to win, earned Emmond the chance to play on the pitch in all five seasons between 2014 and 2019, including nine as a rookie.
She was immediately recruited after graduating Kelly Road Secondary, and being named the Prince George Youth Soccer Association’s Female Athlete of the Year, to a T-Wolves team that only registered one win in the two years prior.
According to Kylie Erb, who played the same years as her teammate, Emmond’s work ethic never wavered, even during a losing period.
“She is so incredibly committed. Mads is one of the hardest working players I have ever played with. Right away, she was a leader on and off the field. She worked so hard and always wanted the best for everyone. She put her heart and soul into being a Timberwolf.”
Emmond finished her career playing the most games ever by a member of the Timberwolves women’s soccer with 67; Julia Babicz surpassed that mark to 68 by the end of her stint in 2019.
The midfielder’s style and dedication is described by UNBC as a ‘blueprint’ for the new generation of Prince George athletes, now serving as an assistant coach herself.
“She was immediately open, committed, and insightful,” says UNBC Head Coach Neil Sedgwick, who joined the program in 2016 and was immediately taken by Emmond’s strive for a winning team.
“She was ready for messaging, which helped her performance as an individual and within the team. She demonstrated a true commitment to her personal development and that of the program. Her approach was incredibly important to where we were going as a team.”
Emmond’s inspiration played a key role in the T-Wolves setting new women’s soccer program records both in 2018 and 2019, suiting up in every single game in those final years.
She capped her time at Canada’s highest-level of university soccer with seven points, including five assists, the captaincy in her senior year, a Green & Gold Award (2018) and a co-MVP trophy with Payne (2019).
“Madison demonstrated the grit that took the program to the next level,” Sedgwick added, who also coached Emmond in the summer of 2019 with Vancouver Island FC of the Women's Premier Soccer League.
“She is homegrown, and every single day she demonstrated that she wanted her university to be put on the map in university soccer. On the field, she was perhaps the best passer I have ever worked with. That doesn’t come easily or quickly. She was relentless in her learning, and it paid off.”
The UNBC Athletics history books now include Emmond’s name in a few categories, including:
- Second = 67 all-time T-Wolves’ women’s soccer games played
- Third = 57 all-time T-Wolves’ women’s soccer games started
- Third = Five all-time T-Wolves women’s soccer assists
- Fifth = 32 all-time T-Wolves’ women’s soccer shots on goal
‘Mads’ is the third Prince George born-and-raised Timberwolf to be added to the Wall of Honour, joining Mercedes VanKoughnett and Scott Diabianchi.
She’s also the second women’s soccer alumna that received a call to the wall, alongside two-year teammate and program trailblazer Sidney Roy.
Three more spots are set to be unveiled in the weeks ahead for the 15-member inaugural class.
The full list of current inductees are as follows (in order of announcements):
- Inderbir Gill (men’s basketball)
- Tofa Fakunle (men’s soccer)
- Mercedes VanKoughnett (women’s basketball)
- Sidney Roy (women’s soccer)
- Jay Gladish (men’s basketball)
- Jaclyn Nazareno (women’s basketball)
- Scott Debianchi (men’s soccer)
- 2010 Men’s Basketball Team (UNBC Athletics)
- Vasiliki Louka (women's basketball)
- Zane Robison (UNBC Athletics)
- Franco Kouagnia (men's basketball)
- Madison Emmond
