The future looks bright for the Golden Hawks as they step on the field this fall for another soccer season, hoping to build on a positive 2025-26 campaign.
Coach Barry MacLean’s Golden Hawks finished their previous run with a 5-3-4 regular season record, securing the fifth seed in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West Conference standings. The team is looking to continue building, as they welcomed 11 new players, including some former Division II players.
On the other end, some of Laurier’s key contributors have moved on, including Sasha Marikano and Stephanie Geady.
Marikano had several awards during her time at Laurier, including 2024/2025 OUA West First Team All-Star, 2024/2025 Team Most Valuable Player, and multiple Laurier Athlete of the Week Awards.
Her success helped her sign a professional contract with Viktoria Plzeň, a Czech Women’s First League team.
Stephanie Geady was Laurier’s top goal scorer last year—some tough shoes to fill for the incoming students.
For first-year players like Oakville native Cristina Arabit, the departures create opportunities and challenges.
“As first-years, we have some big shoes to fill because the graduating players set a high standard for this program,” Arabit said. “At the same time, I think that motivates us to work hard, learn from the returning players, and create our own impact on the team.”
Replicating the success of Stephanie Geady and Sasha Marikano is difficult, but Arabit believes this inflow of newcomers can make an immediate impact.
“We have defenders, midfielders, and attackers, and we’re all coming from different soccer backgrounds and experiences,” Cristina said. “Everyone brings their own talent and perspective.”
Arabit is also looking to make a positive impact on the team. “I’m hoping to contribute wherever I’m needed both on and off the pitch. I want to bring a positive attitude, good mindset, and a strong work ethic every day.”
This 2026-27 roster is not just a replacement for previous teams; they have championship goals. “Our biggest goal is to continue building on the standard that has already been set for this program and compete for a championship.”
The Golden Hawks opened their season at home against the University of Windsor Lancers on Aug. 30, the same team Laurier eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season.
With the season now underway, Laurier will look to build on the 4-2 win when they face the Algoma Thunderbirds in a back-to-back set on Sept. 5 and 6. With 11 new players joining the roster, the upcoming games will provide an early test for a Golden Hawks team looking to build toward its championship aspirations.
Contributed photo, Cord Archives: December 2025
