O Canada

College can be a transformative period in any young adult’s life. Those experiences can be even more challenging when you’re several thousand miles away from home.

Friendships have made for a smooth adjustment for a group of five Canadian natives who have found success as members of the Georgia Gwinnett College women’s soccer team.

Making their way from the British Columbia, Canada, region to Lawrenceville, Georgia, have been Maya Alibudbud, Kyara Armenta and Isabel Jalandoon while Miranda Robinson and Victoria Watson have come from the Ontario area.

These players add an international flavor to a program that also features players from Sweden, England, Denmark, Germany, and Costa Rica, along with teammates from throughout the United States. 

In fact, Alibudbud calls it an “Once in a lifetime opportunity.” She adds, “Why not come to the United States and play on a team that has teammates from Sweden, Costa Rica and different cultures?”

Alibudbud and Armenta were teammates on the same TSS FC club team from the suburbs of Vancouver whose coaches Kevin Booker and Brendan Quarry are known for instilling players with strong fundamentals and knowledge of the game.

Those skills caught the eye of GGC Head Coach Dr. Mike Giuliano. 

Vancouver is a short drive to the Pacific Ocean, the northern extremes of the Rocky Mountains and even desert-like conditions.

Alibudbud visited Georgia Gwinnett College during her senior high school season. She fell in love with the facilities, prospective teammates and the opportunity to make a difference in a developing women’s soccer program.

She earned all-conference honors as a freshman and has helped the Grizzlies to conference and national tournament victories.  The international business major is preparing to wrap up her collegiate career with her family present for the Continental Athletic Conference championship tournament from November 13-14 at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

Armenta decided to join Alibudbud in becoming a Grizzly for the 2019 campaign.

“I trusted Maya and Coach Giuliano, while the school’s online resources made it feel like I had already been on campus before I arrived,” said the forward.

After a slow start, Armenta became a valuable contributor for the team and joined her fellow Canadian in earning all-conference honors. 

“It was a big transition trying to settle in and figuring out how coach wanted me to play,” said Armenta. “Once I scored against Lindsey Wilson my freshman year, I was able to be Kiki and play like I had done all of my life.”

Armenta has scored 13 career goals, including four tallies this fall, while Alibudbud has had a team-high three assists this season.

“Maya has started multiple games at different positions. Her ability to protect the ball is better than anybody on the team,” said Giuliano, who has led the Grizzlies to a 7-4 record in 2021.

Injuries have kept Jalandoon from playing since also arriving from the British Columbia region. 

“Izzy is a great player and could help us so much on the field,” said Alibudbud, a supportive teammate. “She is so strong mentally to come back year after year from all of the injuries. I admire the support she has shown us from the sidelines.”

Meanwhile, Watson came to Georgia Gwinnett College after playing for the Jamaican National Team’s Under 20 team and helping the G.S. United team capture the 2018 Toyota national championship’s Jubilee Trophy. She has scored four goals during the past two collegiate seasons. 

“I’m really high on Victoria because she brings pace to our attack. Pace is a scary element for opposing teams, preventing them from pressuring us. A player like Victoria can get behind the (opposing) defense with space.”

Robinson had a stellar high school career at Arnprior High School (Ottawa, Canada), being a four-time most valuable player on her team and the school’s top female athlete as a junior and senior. At GGC she has scored two goals and two assists.

The Grizzlies have a 7-4 record and are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 national poll. They are enjoying a break in the 2021 schedule before hosting No. 5 Southeastern University (Florida) on October 7.