|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
FC London’s women’s team has a new coach in 2026 and is focused, more than ever, on developing young players and sending them off for success at the next level.
Soccer is underway in the Forest City, and FC London’s women’s team is in full swing. Early results have been mixed, with a 1-2 record in league play and a 2-0 mark in the OPL Cup, but the squad boasts plenty of talent under new head coach Will Cromack, who was hired earlier this year.
Cromack, who moved to the city three years ago and whose daughter, Charlotte, played for FC London before heading to Europe to play pro in Hungary, has been part of the club since arriving in London, primarily at the youth levels. He’s excited to step into the head coaching role of the premier team, especially with the group of players he has under his tutelage.
“The greatest part of the team that I’ve seen so far is that they’re genuinely good people,” said Cromack. “My 20 years in coaching have taught me that you can go a long way when a team is genuinely nice off the field. They can build something special together.”
* * *
In the handful of matches the team has played so far, Cromack has been trying out different formations and tactics to get a feel for the squad and understand each player’s strengths and weaknesses on the pitch. It’s an ongoing process, as he’s had to wait for the arrival of a couple of players wrapping up their time with their NCAA programs.
Though the team got off to a slow start in league play, losing matches to the Woodbridge Strikers (2-0) and NDC Ontario (4-0), they fared much better in Ontario Premier League Cup play, winning their first two rounds, including victories against Richmond Hill SC (5–1) and the Kingston Sentinels (2–1).
One thing that has grabbed Cromack’s attention in the early going is the parity of the league. He says every team feels strong, which allows for an environment of fierce competition.
With it being Cromack’s first year at the helm, he’s learning new things every day about his players, many of whom are completely new to him. In other words, there is certainly a learning curve in the first few weeks of the season.
* * *
When it comes to the makeup of the women’s roster, there are more than a few players who fans may want to watch for this year.
Firstly, the “premier player” of the roster is Stephanie Schoeley. Born in London, she grew up in Thedford and originally attended Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School before transferring to sports high school Bill Crothers Secondary School in Markham while she participated in the national development program.
Schoeley is part of the U-20 national team and will be away from FC London for a couple of weeks to train with Team Canada in Spain. When in London, expect her to be a force locking down the defence as she has during the school year with the Providence College Friars, where she earned Big East All-Third Team honours.
Cromack’s captain is Saskatoon native striker Madison Goertz, who played collegiately at McMaster University and the University of New Brunswick, where she was the team captain in 2021. Goertz was also a four-time Academic All-Canadian, and she is currently heading into the second year of her PhD in applied mathematics.
A key piece to the midfield this year is Mia Bosch. Bosch, who calls Thunder Bay home, plays collegiately at South Dakota State University. Cromack notes that Bosch can also play her way onto Team Canada’s U-20 squad with her name already being in the player pool.
Bosch scored twice in FC London’s 3-0 win Wednesday over Guelph United, the team’s first regular season victory of the 2026 campaign. Claire Kean-Running scored the other goal in that contest. Other early goal scorers include Giuliana Marra, with a pair, Cheyenne Bower, Lauren Sullivan, Julia Ritchie and Abigail Fox.
* * *
The OPL places a lot of focus on development. This becomes clear when you look at its rules. U-23 players must play a combined 6,500 minutes for each team during the 2026 regular season.
“We only have [Goertz] who’s over 23, so we won’t have any problems with that,” said Cromack. “We’re young, but our goal is to be difficult to play against.”
With such a strong focus on development, Cromack says there’s more for a player to prepare for than just being a good athlete when it comes to making it to the next level, which can be an unforgiving environment.
“It’s only about wins, so once you’re in the pro world, and once there’s promotion and relegation, it can be really difficult for players, because if you’re not in the lineup, you may never get in,” Cromack said.
The coach further notes that, nowadays, there are a lot of players who seemingly think they will be able to find a school or a club that will be a perfect fit for them. The reality is more difficult, and Cromack believes it’s important to be truthful with players. The journey to the next level can be a complicated one, and he incorporates this reality into his coaching style.
The club has had many success stories, though, including sending numerous players to the pro ranks over the years. And they will continue this pathway under Cromack’s leadership.
In the meantime, they’ll also be playing for wins, and there will be plenty of opportunity for those, as FC London will play a 22-match schedule (plus Cup action) in 2026. With a few wins under their belts, they’re already heading in the right direction.
