Canadian NCAA Preview 2026: Sophomores

Sophomore seasons can be some of the most important in a player's development. The novelty of freshman year has worn off, expectations are higher, and opponents now know what to expect. For those who impressed as rookies, the challenge becomes proving their early success was no fluke.

Canada has several second-year players entering 2026 with momentum on their side. Some are coming off all-rookie honours, others are pushing for spots at the U20 World Cup, and a few have already established themselves as key contributors for their programs.

Here are five Canadian sophomores poised for breakout seasons.

The Edmontonian had quite the year since first arriving in Louisiana in the Summer of 2025, including a call to both the American U19 and Canadian U20 programs. Overlooked in her younger years by the Canadian program, she spent some time with the Chelsea academy to help grow her game. It’s fair to say it worked, because 7 goals and 7 assists is an incredible tally for a freshman, especially in a competitive SEC conference. She was named to the All-Conference and All-Rookie team.

Coming into year two as a well-known attacking threat, she won’t have that same element of surprise but her pace and tenacity remain hard to stop. Having spent parts of the summer in her hometown playing for St Albert, she’s back at LSU and already has two assists to her name. She’s certainly one to keep an eye on for a CanW20 World Cup roster spot, having balled out in their preparatory camp in Spain in June.

Earning a starting midfield role with a top NCAA as a rookie is no small feat. The midfielder/forward from Montreal did just that and excelled under Canadian coach David Ianni. Four goals and two assists in 1300 minutes played were enough to earn the 19-year-old a spot on the Big-10 All-Rookie team. She already has an assist and a goal in the first two games of the season.

A key part of the CONCACAF U20 winning squad in 2025 (2 goals, 2 assists, including one assist in the final), she’s as close as you can get to a lock for the World Cup in September. Primarily playing as a midfielder throughout her YNT career, she has been clutch since joining the pathway at U15. You may remember her penalty against Mexico in the semi-finals in 2022 and the epic photo of her cheering on her knees. She’s one we can rely on when it counts. 

It feels like Noelle Henning is the next CanWNT starter, and I know it’s early to declare given she’s only in her Sophomore season with Michigan State this Fall. With both our starting and back-up keeper north of 30 and no clear successor emerging, there’s a huge opportunity for a young GK to make her mark. While previous YNTs have often rotated goalies, Henning has been a nailed on starter since her mid teens and has amassed over 2200 minutes at the youth level. She has already joined the senior set-up on two occasions but has not yet made an appearance.

Now 19, she enters her second season with highly-ranked Michigan State and will more than likely be the starter for the U20 World Cup, having started in the 2024 edition of the tournament as a 16-yo and winning the Golden Glove at last year’s CONCACAF Championship. The Milton, ON native with German roots started 21 games and earned 8 shutouts in her first season. She lists Manuel Neuer as one of her role models, and her style of play is equally brave with the ball at her feet. Her biggest strength is no doubt her shot-stopping as she has the decision-making, size and athleticism to make show-stopping saves.

Not many people had Hosane Soukou on their radar, despite a stellar career with the CF Montreal academy. The forward joined a smaller school in Northwestern State, but a stellar rookie season lifted her all the way to Benin’s senior national team. 6 goals and 5 assists in 1300 minutes, and an All-Conference First Team nod will do that. If she can replicate last season’s success and avoid the sophomore slump, we could see a transfer to a bigger program in her future.

Soukou and Benin may have narrowly missed out on WAFCON but she helped the African nation qualify for the U20 World Cup for the first time in their history in May. She scored the opening goal in the 4-1 win over Ivory Coast to secure the historic feat.

Yes, you read that name right. There’s another Melenhorst and she is just as talented as her older sister Keera, Ottawa Rapid’s breakout star. Teegan was named Miami’s rookie of the year in 2025 (1300 min, 18/18 starts) and has played for the YNT program for years, including the CONCACAF W20 Championship winning squad from 2025. 

Teegan can play either as a midfielder or a forward and she’s best described as a creative and crafty offensive all-rounder. The Ottawa native is looking to make her mark at the U20 World Cup and is considered a lock for a final roster spot.

Emily Wong (Midfield, NC State). Another standout midfielder with YNT experience, you may remember Wong from her stint with the Rise senior squad in 2025. She made 5 appearances in a decimated midfield at the time. She also scored the first-ever CONCACAF W Champions Cup goal against Alianza in 2024 to secure the Rise Academy’s first win in the competition and qualification to the Group Stage. She played 1500 minutes and scored one goal for NC State in her rookie campaign.

Ines Nourani (Defender, UConn). The fullback from Boischatel, Quebec is one of the best we have in the pipeline. A CF Montreal Academy product, her rookie campaign at UConn is one to build on with 1100 minutes played. She kicked this season off with a goal and assist in the season opener.

Victoria Rocci (Midfield, South Alabama) is another talented midfielder who made her mark in the NCAA last season and has been a key part of the Canadian U20 squad. Rocci played 1100 minutes and notched two assists deployed as a defender for the Jaguars last season.

Norah Bell (Defender, Texas A&M). The defender from Kamloops had a fantastic rookie season with Arizona State, facilitating her transfer to Texas A&M to compete in a stronger conference. Her 18 starts for ASU ensured she got a look in Cindy Tye’s expanded roster for the April U20 training camp.

Madi Boutot (Virginia Tech, Defender). Quebec Soccer’s Ballon D’Or winner from 2023 may not have gotten a look from the CanYNT program over the years, but she put up stellar performances with Virginia Tech in her rookie year. The defender from St Lambert had two assists in 18 starts with the Hokies in over 1400 minutes played.