RODE: Queens soccer looking forward to ACAC season

Published 7:00 am Thursday, August 20, 2026

Devin Simon joined the RDP Queens soccer team a little late this summer, so it did affect his recruiting a bit.
But not as much as it could have.
He still put together a roster of 23 players, including 12 returnees and two transfers.

“I would have liked a little more time to recruit, as you’re always looking for more time,” he said. “I was fortunate because of winning bronze at the Nationals last year, it helped recruiting, and a lot of girls reached out. We were able to add some fantastic pieces.”

Of the new nine players coming in, four of them played with the Red Deer Renegades. While the four will add to what is expected to be a high-level team this season, middle Morgan Leslie is expected to lead the way.
“She will be absolutely impressive in the midfield and will move up to provide some offence as well,” said Simon.
The other three local products are Lala Peyrow, Arden Berry and Maria Pritchard.
Keeper Rylie Dixon of Stettler is also expected to fit in nicely with veteran Jana Leskewich.
Leskewich is in her third season. She backed up Jesse Stewart at the Nationals but during the season she posted a 0.29 goals-against-average with four shutouts in seven games. She allowed just two goals.

Up front, the Queens will be led by one of the premier offensive players in the ACAC in Sein Furuyama.
She scored both goals for the Queens in the bronze medal game at the Nationals and was a tournament all-star.

Despite still recovering from a pair of surgeries on both legs last season, she scored eight goals in 12 games.
Before being injured, Sein shattered the league record for goals with 29 in the 2022-23 season and was an All-Canadian.
Sein lost her Japanese friend Yuri Umino, who returned home to finish her schooling. Umino was also an all-star at the Nationals.
However, another player out of Japan joined the team this week.
“She’s a midfielder and will be a huge addition,” said Simon. “Having her and Sein together will be comfortable for them.
“It’s a cool connection RDP has with Japan. It’s different than any other team and makes us special. It’s a nice place for the players to play … it feels comfortable.”

Joining Sein and Jana among the veterans are forward McKenna Leslie, midfielders Ava Balon, Kaia Bray and Maria Torres Herrera, defenders Zoe Fitzsimmons, Jaeda Marquart, Kiera McIntosh, Erick Payton, Kyra Remekie and Bryce Hanusich.

As well, fullback-winger Addyson McLean comes in from Keyano College and defender Brynn Smith from Olds College.

The fact that the RDP veterans are coming off a strong showing at the Nationals will only help.
“Having that confidence will help for sure,” said Simon. “The girls can step on the field with a lot of confidence, knowing they can compete with the best in the ACAC and they may be the best.”
Simon didn’t know a lot about the team, although he did attend the Nationals at Greta Chief Park last fall.
“It’s a brand new group to me, although watching the Nationals I could see their success and it’s super exciting for me,” he said. “What I’ve seen the first couple of weeks has been great.”
Simon came up playing soccer in Medicine Hat and moved to Olds in 2022. He worked with the Olds program two years ago. He’s a teacher at Holy Trinity in Olds and also is the program director for the girls program at the Dome.
“My goal is to make an imprint in central Alberta on the young people, women in sports,” he stressed.
The other newcomers are centre back Chyler Smith from Calgary, centre back Lauren Andrews from Morinville and Rowyn Van Wouw from Edmonton.
Simon looks at himself as a player’s coach.
He’s been able to put his imprint on the team as they opened camp in early August.
“There’s no school so we have that extra time. We spent time on fitness training, which I’m sure the girls don’t like, but we also had time to get comfortable with each other and to work on tactics.”
The Queens have played two matches so far, defeating Olds 4-1 and Keyano 3-0.
“It was nice to get a chance to play the entire group and to have success and to show that success with what we’re trying to do,” said Simon.
Meanwhile, the Kings also have a new coach in Lonny Behm. They lost their opening game 4-0 to TKU but defeated Olds 1-0 and Keyano 2-0
The RDP teams host Northwest Polytechnic Friday with the Kings playing at 3 p.m. followed by the Queens. The teams open ACAC play Aug. 29 at SAIT. The Queens host Augustana Aug. 30.
Danny Rode is a retired Advocate reporter and member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame who can be reached at dannyrode@telus.net