Player Highlight: Emiley Thoms, Women's Soccer

Women's soccer is set for a new era at Lakeland College, but a local veteran is still around to make that happen.

Emiley Thoms is back with the Rustlers in 2025 and ready for more responsibility.

"I've had to step up into a leadership role, which is pretty different," she said.

A third year who grew up in the Border City, Thoms has helped anchor the back line of the women's program over the past two seasons. Head Coach Doyle Church said the Border City native is ready for the change.

"Emiley's been important for our program and this year she assumes the veteran role," he said. "The first-year student-athletes will look to her for guidance, and she has the full trust of the coaches to guide them to where we want to go as a program."

This includes her off-court interactions with new teammates. Thoms said that part of the process in preseason has gone quite smoothly, with the chemistry of the young team already forming.

"We're all pretty connected, rookies and veterans," she said. "It's like we've played together before, it's natural."

"There's still a bit we have to tweak, but I think we're going to have success."

Thoms has enjoyed getting to compete at home as a collegiate athlete. Several of her minor soccer seasons were spent competing out of town and she's had a bigger contingent of fans post high school than she did in her teen years.

"I played in Saskatoon as a youth, so it's been a great experience playing back at home with family here to see," Thoms said.

In addition to her presence as a veteran, Thoms is also taking on a new position, moving from center back to defensive mid. This is a much more offensively geared role and one that Thoms is eager to play.

"I go forward more often and get to be more creative with my play, shoot more," she said. "It's more freedom. It's where I'm mostcomfortable."

A few weeks out of their league debut, Thoms said the Rustlers have some work to do, but are making progress on the pitch. Their focus is on small wins and big victories, meaning success in many small instances to result in long term success, rather just look at the final box score.

"Things like winning the one-v-ones, forcing the other team back," she said. "As long as we're communicating well, we'll be good, patience with each other is really important."

Thoms is taking Lakeland's Veterinary Technology program. She and the rest of the women's squad make their debut at VLA Fields on Sept. 7 at 12:00 pm, with the men's team following at 2:00 pm.