The past 2024-25 season for Women's Soccer was one for the Bruins history books. With an impressive 3-1 record at playoffs, the team cinched the bronze medal at the OCAA Championships. It was a moment that defender, Chelsea Guthrie, a second-year in the Athletic Therapy program, claims to be her biggest achievement in soccer. A season full of intensities, excitement, and hard work—the win was truly a team effort.
"Soccer is a team sport and being able to collaborate well with others is what can help get a team far," she says.
Despite the ups and downs, Guthrie sees the season as one where the team developed a deeper understanding between each other. The women saw themselves overcoming teams the Bruins had struggled to win against in the past; the experience of competing together strengthened the bonds between Guthrie and her teammates.
Guthrie grew up watching her older brother play soccer and began showing an interest in the sport herself when she was four years old. Demonstrating her wide range of defensive skills, Guthrie plays centre back but has been playing as holding midfielder during her time in Double-Blue.
"Chelsea is a solid defender who reads the game and responds quickly," says Head Coach Paul. "She has an extremely strong right leg that can get the ball where it needs to be with excellent accuracy. She tackles fearlessly, and consistently wins high balls. She is a complete defender."
Over the span of her soccer career, Guthrie has played for both the St. Catharines Roma Soccer Club and the Niagara Soccer League. In addition to her bronze medal with the Bruins, Guthrie is also a two-time Niagara Soccer League champion (2019 with Niagara United Soccer Club, 2021 with St. Catharines Roma Soccer Club) and a Spring Kickoff champion (2022 with St. Catharines Roma Soccer Club).
Off the pitch, Guthrie originally wanted to study kinesiology, but ultimately decided on the Athletic Therapy program after learning about it from a family friend. "[I] wanted to focus more on the sports aspect," she says. "What I like about this program is that it is very hands on since we have multiple labs that help reinforce the knowledge we learnt in the classroom." The small class sizes also allow Guthrie to better know her classmates and professors, making her education more personal.
Sports and the classroom aside, spending some quality alone time and baking are two things that Guthrie finds relaxing and enjoyable. But her favourite activity is hanging out with her friends—loved ones she can be happy around and have fun with no matter what.
As Guthrie works toward completing her degree, the defender plans on working as an athletic therapist for a team. "I really enjoy the team environment especially coming from an athletic background, and I am excited to see what the future hold for me in that regard."