On a volleyball scholarship as a freshman with Mount Royal University, Monica Neilson is now a senior and leader with the Cougars soccer team.
Very few athletes can successfully make such a drastic change at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) level, but Neilson has become an impact player for head coach Tino Fusco.
“Originally, she came in a bit raw after playing volleyball for a year,” said Fusco. “She has good size and is a good, physical player and is our starting central fullback.”
Neilson, 22, earned a huge soccer ball trophy as the Cougars’ Top Defender in a 1-7-4 Canada West Conference season a year ago. The Cougars were 2-2 going into a home tilt with the University of Victoria Cougars Saturday.
“I switched to soccer second year. My first year of volleyball didn’t work out for me. I’m very happy with the way it all ended up. I love our team and it’s been a good fit.”
Wearing No. 6, Neilson quickly noticed the track-like tempo of university soccer.
“It’s a huge jump to CIS. The girls are twice as fast and twice as a big. As a defender, you have to be way more aggressive and first to the ball. You really have to be on your toes.”
The Kalamalka Lakers’ grad has worked hard to improve her slide tackling and head balls off corners, while also getting more confident with her feet.
Fusco expects Neilson to win most aerials and likes her gritty style and general understanding of the game all over the field.
“She is a leader in the group. She’s not one of our captains, but she’s stepped up. She tends not to be overly vocal because she concentrates so much on what she’s been told to do. She sets the tone by getting dirty.”
A fifth-year nursing student, Neilson and midfielder Christine Jenkins of Lantzville (near Nanaimo) are the only non-Albertans on the Mount Royal roster.
Last season, the Royals tied the favoured Calgary Dinos and also drew with the ultra-talented UBC Thunderbirds before shutting out the Winnipeg Wesmen 3-0 in their final game, a home date.
“It was perfect Canadian weather,” laughed Neilson. “Parents and staff had to shovel snow off the field.”
Summing up the losing season, she said: “Pretty much all of our games were 0-0 at the half and the other coaches were really contending for playoffs so we played them tough.”
Neilson played summer league for the Little Tex Outlaws before returning to Calgary. She faced Vernon friends Kirsten Dodds and Michelle Smith in a pre-season mini tourney versus the UBC Okanagan Heat.
The Royals use a sports psychologist for mental preparation, and Neilson has listened well.
“It’s mainly a case of just forgetting about plays as they come, and gaining more confidence.”
Neilson was coached by Dave Fehr with the Lakers and went through the Vernon Soccer Academy led by the late Andy Waughman.
Monica’s sister, Christine, and parents, John and Pat, are also multi-sport athletes. John coached an Alberta entry to a gold medal in volleyball at the World Masters Games in Italy last month.
