A North Vancouver coach is behind one of the most dominant university soccer teams in Canadian history.
On Sunday, a Gatorade-soaked Jesse Symons pumped his fists and roared in celebration, as UBC won its second-straight national title at the U SPORTS Women’s Soccer Championship in Halifax, N.S.
Along with the team’s trophy, Symons was also recognized for his outstanding leadership. He was named coach of the year at both the regional and national level.
After a gruelling post-season which took the team to Calgary for the Canada West championship and then the East Coast for nationals, UBC defeated Laval 1-0 in the final.
With that victory, the Thunderbirds made history with a perfect 20-0 season, becoming the first Canadian university soccer team with an undefeated record since the creation of the women's national championship tournament in 1987 (UBC also won that inaugural event).
This year's Thunderbirds put together their perfect season with strong offence but also overwhelming defence, earning six consecutive shutouts through both the CW and U Sports playoffs. They allowed just four goals in the regular season.
Set in that ironclad defensive lineup is North Vancouver right back Ella Sunde, playing 90 minutes in the final and 120 minutes in the semi-final win against Cape Breton (1-0).
At the beginning of the season, Symons said he was a bit nervous, as injuries removed some of his top goal-scorers from the lineup, including another North Van product, Sophie Damian.
“But it turned out that we just had more weapons,” he said. “Everyone sort of stepped up in those areas.”
Combined with his proven defensive players, “we were harder to stop than any team I’ve ever had,” Symons said.
Coach focuses on preparation and players
At the core of the team’s near-flawless performance this year was focusing on the game ahead and not getting caught up in the bigger picture.
“Last year we learned,” he said. “We lost Game 10 mid-season, and it was all about: will this team go to end of season [undefeated]? Will they not?
“And we just played so bad in that game in Victoria last year,” Symons said.
That single 0-2 loss was a wake-up call to the squad of perfectionists.
This season was all about routine and habit, the coach said, with major focus being put into prepping for each individual team in upcoming games.
Sunde said that coach Symons is on “another level” when it comes to tactics.
“He really dials in on video … that’s kind of been a big thing he focuses on,” she said. “We’re going to be the most prepared team.”
The players really focus on what each can do individually, and what formations work best against each opposing team.
“It’s not like we just show up and play,” Sunde said.
But Symons’s coaching approach is less about roles on the field and more about the players themselves.
“A big thing he talks about is the person, and he recruits based on having good people in the environment,” Sunde said. “That also contributes to our success because everyone’s so close and supporting each other, even though our roster is pretty big and obviously not everyone gets to play.”
That attention to recruiting led to some standout rookie performances, including Sienna Gibson, who was named MVP at nationals.
“Consistently, the rookies are getting acknowledgement, and I think that’s a testament to who he brings in and the depth of the team as well,” Sunde said.
In an interview, Symons acknowledged that his coach of the year awards were “great recognition,” but didn’t dwell much on the topic other than to put shine on his team, and all the other great coaches at the national event.
Symons has a long history with women’s soccer, much of it on the North Shore. Prior to his nine years with the Thunderbirds, he was the former technical director of the North Shore Girls Soccer Club, and served as head instructor at the soccer academy run out of West Vancouver's Sentinel Secondary.
He’s also currently the assistant coach of his daughter’s team, the U9 North Shore Girls Huskies.
North Vancouver player considering future in pro soccer
Symons gave high praise for Sunde’s contributions to the UBC team.
“Our team has 17 shoutouts in 20 games this year. Ella was a big part of that,” he said. “She gets up and down [the field] as a fullback and is able to join in the attack, but also just manages some of the top wingers in the country.”
“She’s really matured into a leader on the team, and is a person that really wants to be successful with not only herself, but with her teammates,” Symons said.
Sunde’s a player that any soccer coach would put on a starting lineup, “because she’s got that electric personality that makes everyone better,” Symons said.
Now 20 years old, Sunde got her start with the North Shore Girls Soccer Club at age five, first playing competitively with the program’s Gold 1 team. Later, she joined the Mountain United FC (now Burnaby FC) high performance club.
Sunde was playing in the BC Soccer Premier League when she was recruited by Symons to join the UBC squad.
While the science student’s current plan is to get into med school, she’s also considering playing soccer professionally.
She’s been given food for thought from several opportunities through the UBC program, like being part of a $1-million event called The Soccer Tournament earlier this year. She’ll compete again in the match next June.
“UBC seems to provide a lot of opportunities,” Sunde said. “There are many players on my team who have already taken a step into the professional world.”
She also has her eyes on the upcoming Northern Super League – a Canadian professional soccer league for women – which is set to debut in 2026.
“I’m just excited to see where it goes, honestly, and who knows what the future holds for me,” Sunde said.
