HAMILTON, Ont. - Wednesday night (Nov. 5, 2025) in Hamilton at the 2025 U SPORTS Women's Soccer All-Canadian banquet, University of Guelph forward Olivia Rizakos made program history by becoming the first Gryphon women's soccer player to take home the Chantal Navert Memorial Award as the U SPORTS Player of the Year. It marks the first time in the 30-year history of the award, which dates back to 1995, in which a University of Guelph student-athlete has been named the top player in the country in women's soccer. Rizakos, who is currently in her fourth year of eligibility while pursuing her Masters in psychology at U of G, becomes just the third OUA player in the last 13 years to win the award. Along with being named the national player of the year, Rizakos was also named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian on Wednesday evening, while her Gryphon teammate, Elise Bell, was named a U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian. The Gryphons women's soccer team will play in a national quarterfinal on Thursday afternoon (1:30pm) at McMaster University in Hamilton against the reigning national champions and the tournament's top-seeded, UBC Thunderbirds. Tickets for the event are currently on sale at usportstickets.ca. All 11 games of the championship will be streamed on CBC digital platforms.
 

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Gryphons Women's Soccer – 2025 U SPORTS Major Award Winners
Olivia Rizakos – U SPORTS Player of the Year (Chantal Navert Memorial Award)
 
Gryphons Women's Soccer – 2025 U SPORTS First Team All-Canadians
Olivia Rizakos (Forward)
 
Gryphons Women's Soccer – 2025 U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadians
Elise Bell (Midfield)
 

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Olivia Rizakos – U SPORTS Player of the Year | U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian
 
Olivia Rizakos becomes the first ever Gryphon women's soccer player to win the Chantal Navert Award as the U SPORTS Player of the Year following her extraordinary 2025 season in leading the Gryphons back to their first nationals appearance since 2017. The fourth-year forward and team captain has had a sensational 2025 season, helping lead her Gryphons to a first-place finish in the OUA West Division standings (8-1-3 record | wins-losses-draws) during the regular season, followed by an OUA silver medal finish in the OUA playoffs and berth to nationals. The Toronto native has been a goal scoring machine for the Gryphons this season, scoring 11 times (2nd in OUA | tied-for-3rd in U SPORTS) during the regular season while leading the country with 20 points (11 goals, 9 assists) in 12 regular season games played. Rizakos has either scored or assisted for the Gryphs in 12 of her team's 15 games (including postseason) this season. In her three playoff games, she has added a goal and an assist to her name. Fittingly, it was Rizakos who would score one of the most important goals of the season for the Gryphons, when she stepped up to the penalty spot and converted in the 53rd minute against Laurier in the OUA quarterfinals to lead the Gryphons to a 1-0 victory. Rizakos is one of the main focal points of a Gryphons attack that has scored the fourth-most goals (31) in the conference. Rizakos is a three-time OUA All-Star and now earns national recognition for the first time during her collegiate career. She becomes the eighth Gryphons women's soccer player since 2000 to garner All-Canadian status.
 

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Elise Bell – U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian
 
For a second consecutive season, Elise Bell has been earned U SPORTS All-Canadian status. Bell, a dynamic third-year midfielder from Toronto, becomes first Gryphons women's soccer player since Victoria Hinchliffe (2018 and 2019) to be named an All-Canadian in back-to-back seasons. In 2024, Bell was named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian at fullback. In 2025, the talented and versatile Bell moved into an attacking midfield position and thrived, earned U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian status. In her 10 games played this season, the bio-medical science major has scored twice and assisted on three other goals. Bell, currently in her third-year of studies and eligibility at the University of Guelph, has established herself as one of the top players in the country each of the past two seasons while showcasing elite pace and skill on the ball.
 

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2025 U SPORTS Women's Soccer Major Award Winners
 
U SPORTS Player of the Year (Chantal Navert Memorial Award): Olivia Rizakos, Guelph Gryphons
U SPORTS Rookie of the Year: Shalagh Guha, McMaster Marauders
U SPORTS Community Service Award: Leah Adams, Acadia Axewomen
U SPORTS Coach of the Year: Nadège Akamse, Montreal Carabins
 
 
2025 U SPORTS First Team All-Canadians
 
Goalkeeper: Dakota Beckett, UBC Thunderbirds
Defender: Hannah Chown, Toronto Varsity Blues
Defender: Maude Lagacé, Montreal Carabins
Midfielder: Grace Hannaford, Cape Breton Capers
Midfielder: Justine Lalande, Montreal Carabins
Midfielder: Annika Nolte, Nipissing Lakers
Midfielder: Tamara Djurisic, Mount Royal Cougars
Forward: Zoë Rowe, Memorial Sea-Hawks
Forward: Léa-Jeanne Fortier, Laval Rouge et Or
Forward: Olivia Rizakos, Guelph Gryphons
Forward: Esi Lufo, Thompson Rivers Wolfpack
 

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2025 U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadians
 
Goalkeeper: Anna Bianca Stevens-Cardin, Montreal Carabins
Defender: Blessing Mayi Kith, Montreal Carabins
Defender: Ella Sunde, UBC Thunderbirds
Midfielder: Elise Bell, Guelph Gryphons
Midfielder: Grace Hannaford, Cape Breton Capers
Midfielder: Elsa Lessard, Laval Rouge et Or
Midfielder: Sienna Gibson, UBC Thunderbirds
Forward: Cara Freeman, Saint Mary's Huskies
Forward: Paris Axam, Dalhousie Tigers
Forward: Lauren Illman, Carleton Ravens
Forward: Sophie Crowther, Trinity Western Spartans
 

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