Metro championship rematch goes to Pioneers
By Andrew Nowel, Editor-In-Chief
The summer heat still surrounds the western New York region as Canisius women’s soccer on the Demske Beach becomes more important as conference play begins. In the inaugural game of the Metro Conference, the Sacred Heart Pioneers won the championship rematch behind the brick wall of reigning tournament most valuable player (MVP), Kyran Thievon.
Last November, the Griffs hosted the Pioneers in the championship game of the conference tournament, the first time in Canisius program history that they hosted the game. Back and forth the battle went, through rain and snow, former Griff Chloe Tseros and Thievon let nothing in. After 90 minutes of regulation and two 10–minute overtime periods, the game would come down to penalty kicks. With the Pioneers up 4–3, it came down to Canisius to keep it going, but Thievon stood tall and gave Sacred their first MAAC, now Metro, trophy.
Fast forward to this September, the weather was 40 degrees warmer and the two teams had just gotten better. The Pioneers, a team that Head Coach Matt Micros called “veteran and experienced,” came in with nearly the entire starting lineup returning from the championship team. On the other hand, the Griffs also returned a majority of players from their starting lineup from 2025. Even though the team lost Lizzy Harkness, Skylar Cornell and Mia Iacona, the Griffs gained freshmen Alex Turmel and Romane Lanni, who have already made huge impacts with the team. What better way than to kick off the Metro Conference with the top dogs from 2025?
From the start, the Pioneers took control with their only freshman starter, Alexandra Riehl, scoring both goals in the 2–0 victory, her first two goals of her collegiate career. Turmel played well in net for Canisius, making four saves on six shots on goal, but Thievon returned to the Demske and played yet another 90 shutout minutes. She stopped all six shots on goal, with help from senior Lyndsey Laperle on one of them. Thievon picked up where she left off 10 months later.
Even though the Griffs were unable to net a goal against Thievon, the Blue and Gold did much better getting chances and weaving through the Pioneers defense. Junior Azaria Fagan had three shots while junior Mya Jones settled into her wing position by getting her chances and taking two shots. In an area that Head Coach Ryan Louis mentioned prior to the game, Jones and fellow wing Ailis Osmond felt more comfortable and both helped create chances on offense.
Fighting adversity is something that Louis’ teams are used to in his sixth season, so starting 0–1 in Metro play is not something that he or the team is worried about. However, the schedule doesn’t get easier. The Griffs travel to Fairfield, Conn. to take on the Fairfield Stags on Saturday, a team that won the regular season title last year. The Stags, who will be leaving for the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) after this season, continuously dominate the conference, going 21–1–3 in conference play over the last couple of seasons, including the 1–0 start to this season after their 3–0 win over the Rider Broncs.
As the weather cools slowly in western New York, soccer heats up as the Metro begins its inaugural season. Taking the season game by game, the Griffs continue their path toward the prize in the snow of November: a Metro championship.
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