Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – There they were: Jamie Erickson and Erin Van Dolder – two esteemed MacEwan Griffins women's soccer alumni – in the same social media graphic promoting their upcoming match in the Irish women's first division.
Against each other.
Massive game this day next week in Eamonn Deacy Park ⏳
— Gaillimh Aontaithe ���� (@GalwayUnitedFC) June 22, 2024
Match Tickets are available for our Quarter Final now �� https://t.co/92QzjlyAmV#ItsATribalThing | #UnitedAsOne pic.twitter.com/nUnTbBo3aW
"It was so cool to see a couple of our alumni go head-to-head," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro of the June 29 Avenir Sports All Island quarter-final match between Erickson's Galway United and Van Dolder's Treaty United. "At the end of the day, that's what you want.
"You want to see these amazing student-athletes go on to bigger and better things. We're so proud of what they've done for our program here and the culture here. To see them fulfil their dreams of playing professionally overseas, it's great."
Erickson – a star centre-back with the Griffins from 2015-19 – has been making a name for herself in Ireland since 2022. She recently scored the decisive penalty kick to send Galway to the Avenir Cup final, set for Saturday.
WE'RE THROUGH TO THE FINAL!!!!#ItsATribalThing | #UnitedAsOne | #GUFC pic.twitter.com/vkxaqOcilO
— Gaillimh Aontaithe ���� (@GalwayUnitedFC) July 24, 2024
"Jamie's been a rock for her team," said Cordeiro. "Since going there, she's been a player who's played a ton of minutes and been one of their leaders. At the centre-back position, she's doing what she did here. You see her on the scoresheet every other game.
"It's great to see so many of our alumni not only contributing but being major parts of the teams that they're on. It doesn't surprise me because we knew how much they meant here and what types of leaders they were here."
Van Dolder, who was a key part of MacEwan's 2021 U SPORTS national championship squad after transferring from the NCAA, headed to the Emerald Isle back in February to make her pro debut, but didn't play against Erickson until that June match.
"It was so far into the season that I almost forgot she was in the league," she said with a laugh."It's interesting the mind game of seeing someone you know. Even though you have fans out here, you're actually on a stage and it almost feels like you don't know anyone. You're new here. So, seeing someone from home, you have to keep your head in it and not think back to a time when you were a lesser player than you are now."
Van Dolder has been making big contributions for Treaty, who are based in Limerick, but also encompass several southern counties on the Isle.
"I think I've grown a lot," she said. "The game here's very fast. When you watch professional soccer, the Irish league is different in that everyone's in a full press at all times. It's actually chaotic. Everyone just runs into the ground and makes subs.
"It's very fast, very physical, which isn't the case everywhere in Europe. So, it's exciting – a good challenge to be able to keep up with the pace and physicality while trying to develop technically."
Erin Van Dolder goes for a ball against UBC during the 2021 U SPORTS national semifinal match (Vaughn Merchant photo).
Van Dolder's play in midfield for the Griffins was crucial in securing the 2021 U SPORTS national championship.
"Erin was always a gamer," said Cordeiro. "She had a couple setbacks when she was dealing with some health concerns and then there was no looking back. That 2021 season, I'm getting goosebumps thinking back to it. We really had to monitor her minutes early on and then once we got to Canada West playoffs and nationals, she took on a whole different level and was instrumental in us winning that national championship. Her form was second to none."
Van Dolder credits her time at MacEwan as the moment she fell in love with soccer again after transferring from Rice University.
"For me, MacEwan is probably one of the reasons I got back into soccer after my career in the NCAA," she said. "I was really lucky to have a very good relationship with Dean and he got me back falling in love with the game. Getting to see the beautiful environment that is rare on a team where everyone buys in – that's what makes national championship teams. I think having seen that and falling back in love with the game – finding that purest form of competition, but also how you want (the win) for your teammates as badly as you do for yourself.
"That togetherness, I think I've transferred here. It's really exciting as we're going through the season and the team is developing and growing, to start to curate that environment similar to what we had in that national championship year."
