Whitecaps London / Railway City FC . (Canada)

## Episode | Isabella "Bella" Lezizidis – Wheeling University

In this episode of the **Celebration Series**, we sit down with **Isabella "Bella" Lezizidis** as she prepares for an exciting new chapter at **Wheeling University** in West Virginia, where she'll continue her academic and soccer career while beginning her studies in **Psychology**, with the goal of pursuing a future in **Sports Psychology**.

Bella's journey is one of resilience, determination, and perspective. Throughout our conversation, she speaks openly and honestly about overcoming a significant ACL injury and how what initially felt like one of the biggest setbacks of her career ultimately became one of her greatest opportunities for growth. Her ability to transform adversity into motivation is both inspiring and a testament to the strength of her character.

On the pitch, Bella is a tenacious defender who competes with relentless determination. She plays with grit, discipline, and an incredible work ethic, never shying away from a challenge. Her commitment to improving every day has earned the respect of teammates and coaches alike, and she approaches the game with the same mindset that has helped her overcome obstacles throughout her journey.

Bella also shares why Wheeling University felt like the perfect fit. The close-knit campus, supportive environment, competitive NCAA Division II program, and the opportunity to attend school alongside a current Whitecaps teammate made the decision an exciting one. She is eager to embrace everything that lies ahead, both in the classroom and on the soccer field.

Join us as Bella reflects on the lessons she's learned through soccer, the importance of perseverance, and why embracing life's challenges can often lead to its greatest opportunities.

Congratulations, Bella! Everyone at Whitecaps London and Railway City FC is incredibly proud of you. We wish you continued success as you begin this exciting new chapter, and we'll be cheering you on every step of the way.

Episode 2 | Hannah Greenfeld – University of Windsor

In this episode of the Celebration Series, we sit down with Hannah Greenfeld as she begins an exciting new chapter at the University of Windsor, where she'll continue her academic and soccer career under the guidance of Head Coach Mendonca.

Hannah is the definition of determination. A relentless central midfielder, she plays every match with unmatched intensity, an incredible work rate, and a passion for winning every ball. Her tireless effort and competitive spirit have made her one of Whitecaps London's most respected midfielders and a teammate everyone loves to play alongside.

Off the pitch, Hannah is humble, kind, and genuine—a true friend to everyone around her. Her character, leadership, and love for the game have made her an outstanding ambassador for Whitecaps London and Railway City FC.

Join us as Hannah reflects on her soccer journey, shares what led her to the University of Windsor, discusses the challenges and rewards of becoming a student-athlete, and offers advice for the next generation of players chasing the same dream.

Congratulations, Hannah! We wish you every success in the classroom, on the pitch, and throughout this exciting next chapter. Your Whitecaps London and Railway City FC family will be cheering you on every step of the way.

Today, I'm incredibly excited to welcome Silje McGee to the Celebration Series.

Silje has been an outstanding representative of both Whitecaps London and Railway City FC throughout her youth soccer journey. She has consistently demonstrated what it means to be a leader—not only through her performances on the field, but through her character, commitment, and professionalism every step of the way.

A commanding centre back, Silje has captained many of her teams over the years and has earned the respect of teammates, coaches, and opponents alike. Her passion for the game, composure under pressure, and determination to continually improve have made her an exceptional ambassador for our club.

Her soccer journey has taken her well beyond the club level. Silje has trained with National Development Centre (NDC) and represented the Ontario Provincial Team, and had opportunities to develop and compete in Norway. Experiences that have helped shape both the player and the person she is today.

This fall, Silje begins an exciting new chapter as she heads to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she'll continue her soccer career while pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Combining one of the most demanding academic programs with the commitment of being a Division I student-athlete is no small feat, but knowing Silje, she'll embrace the challenge with the same work ethic and determination that have brought her to this point.

Like many athletes with big dreams, Silje also has aspirations of continuing to play beyond university, and everyone at Whitecaps London and Railway City FC will be cheering her on every step of the way.

Silje, congratulations on everything you've accomplished. We are incredibly proud of you, and we're excited to celebrate your journey today.

Welcome to the Celebration Series.

I really like ending each introduction with the same line:

"Welcome to the Celebration Series."

It gives every episode a consistent, professional feel while still making each athlete's introduction unique. I think listeners will quickly recognize it as part of the show's identity.

Celebration Series Introduction – Silje McGee

🎙️ Player Spotlight – Emilia Vilos

In this episode, we sit down with attacking midfielder Emilia Vilos, who joined our club this year to compete in the OPDL after developing through the Alliance Soccer Club pathway. Emilia spoke with a lot of appreciation for the coaches and experiences that helped prepare her for this next step, including giving a great shoutout to Jeff Cambridge for the role he played in her development.

Emilia is incredibly well spoken, thoughtful, and organized, and throughout the conversation she showed a level of self-awareness that really stands out in a young player. She understands that improvement comes from intentional work, and she approaches training and development with that mindset. She plays an exciting style as an attacking midfielder, using both feet comfortably, thriving in tight spaces, and bringing creativity and speed to the game.

What really came through in the podcast was Emilia’s balanced outlook. She’s competitive and driven, but also realistic about the work required to improve and succeed. She values being around teammates who are positive, focused, and intentional about the game, and it’s clear that the team environment is something she truly enjoys.

Off the field, Emilia has a wide range of interests. She loves school, enjoys cooking (with pasta being her specialty), and one of the fun surprises from the conversation was learning about her massive Lego collection. She’s a proud Lego builder and definitely a hidden Lego enthusiast.

As she prepares for her first OPDL season, Emilia is excited to test herself at this level and continue developing her game. Looking ahead, she hopes to one day play at the NCAA level while keeping academics as a top priority.

Fast, technical, creative, and disciplined, Emilia Vilos is a player who brings both personality and perspective to the game. This conversation is a great chance to get to know her as she begins her OPDL journey.

🎙️ Player Spotlight – Cali Soumalias

In this episode, we sit down with U16 OPDL centre back Cali Soumalias, and from the moment the conversation started it was clear we were talking with someone who brings passion, personality, and leadership to everything she does.

Cali was incredibly well spoken throughout the podcast. In fact, during the conversation I told her she might have a future in broadcasting if she ever decides to go that route. She communicates with confidence, energy, and purpose — the same qualities that make her such a strong presence on the field.

A former gymnast and dancer who ultimately chose soccer, Cali now anchors the back line as a centre back. She plays the position with intensity, organization, and a natural leadership voice. Being vocal and guiding the team is something she takes pride in, and it’s clear that her teammates feed off that energy. When the moment calls for it, Cali has a simple phrase that sums up her mindset: “Go time.”

She spoke highly about playing in the OPDL, calling it an incredibly competitive league that challenges players to grow every single week. She also shared openly about the injuries she has battled through and how difficult those moments can be for athletes. What stood out most was her resilience and her ability to stay motivated even when things weren’t easy.

One of her proudest moments on the field came from a perfectly timed slide tackle that she described with so much excitement you could almost see the play unfolding. It’s a great story, and one you’ll definitely want to listen for in the episode.

Cali is deeply connected to her teammates and her family, both of whom play a huge role in her journey. She trains with intention, competes with intensity, and carries big goals — including playing post-secondary soccer, ideally in the NCAA, while also keeping the door open to Canadian university programs.

Her coach, David Rojas, speaks incredibly highly of her, and after listening to this conversation you’ll understand why. Cali Soumalias brings leadership, determination, and personality to the pitch.

And when it’s go time, you know Cali is ready.

🎙️ Player Spotlight – Mason Franz

This episode features U17 OPDL midfielder Mason Franz e— a player whose mindset and commitment to improvement come through immediately the moment he starts talking about the game.

Mason was thoughtful, well spoken, and incredibly clear about what soccer demands from him, especially in the attacking midfield role where fitness, decision making, and awareness never get a break. He takes pride in his preparation and understands that performance starts long before kickoff. For him, staying fit isn’t optional — it’s part of respecting the position and the team.

Now in his third year with Whitecaps London, Mason spoke about how impressive the OPDL level is across the province and how the constant competition pushes him forward. He values the social side of the game, but what he really appreciates is being surrounded by teammates who challenge each other every single training session. That environment is exactly what drives him.

One of his proudest moments was earning provincial screening selection, and he continues to build toward his next goals — playing at the university level and hopefully beyond, while staying committed to school and the responsibility that comes with balancing both.

He enjoys playing in tight spaces, which is why futsal has become such an important part of his development, and he spoke genuinely about the role his parents play in supporting and holding him accountable on and off the pitch.

When asked whether soccer should stay serious or stay fun, Mason didn’t hesitate: it has to stay fun. That perspective says a lot about who he is as a player and person.

A mature, motivated athlete with a grounded outlook and big ambitions — you’ll enjoy getting to know Mason Franz in this conversation.

🎙️ Player Spotlight – Molly Hammond

In this episode, we sit down with Molly Hammond from our 2010 Girls OPDL team. A passionate, thoughtful centre back who brings both intensity and perspective to the game.

Molly shared a moment from when she was younger that perfectly captures how the game first grabbed her. While playing with Delko Bridge, she scored a goal and her coach at the time, Wendy, ran over, gave her the biggest bear hug, and spun her around in celebration. Years later, that memory still sticks with her as the moment she truly fell in love with the beautiful game.

Since then, Molly’s journey has taken her from Delko Bridge to Byron in 2020, and eventually to Whitecaps London where she now anchors the back line primarily as a centre back, while also being comfortable at full back. Throughout the conversation, she spoke with tremendous respect for her coach David Rojas, crediting his drive to win, high expectations, and constructive feedback as major influences in her growth as a player.

Molly embraces the commitment that comes with playing at this level. Beyond team training, she continues to invest in her development by working with specialty coaches around the city, always looking for ways to improve. What stands out most is her willingness to be honest about both her strengths and the areas she’s still working on...a quality that separates athletes who truly want to grow.

She believes last season marked one of the biggest jumps in her development, especially in her communication on the field, her confidence in taking risks, and her ability to lead from the back. As a defender, she takes pride in building the play out from the back and also relishes the challenge of recovering and defending her goal when the game demands it.

Off the pitch, Molly plays field hockey at school and enjoys spending time with friends, who describe her as laid back, loyal, funny, and deeply committed to the people around her.

Looking ahead, Molly hopes to continue her soccer journey at the NCAA or OUA level, while also pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor and eventually attending medical school.

Her final takeaway from the podcast was simple but powerful: celebrate the small victories. Whether it’s a perfectly placed pass through defenders that creates a chance or a small moment of progress in a game, those moments matter. For Molly, recognizing those small wins is part of what keeps the love of the game alive.

You’ll hear that passion throughout this conversation with Molly Hammond.

NEW PODCAST EPISODE 🎙️

We just wrapped a fantastic conversation with EMSA District leaders Karen King and Eliana Caranci — and it truly pulls back the curtain on the people guiding our game behind the scenes.

In this episode we talk about:
• Why they chose to get involved in soccer governance
• Where the district fits within the Canada Soccer → Ontario Soccer → District → Club pathway
• What a district actually does day-to-day for players, families and clubs
• The evolution of the game and the explosive growth of women’s soccer
• Real challenges at the district level — including accessibility and the human side of decision-making
• The role parents play in youth sport
• A World Cup year and what it means for the future of the game

Two powerful takeaways stood out:

“Don’t forget to have fun.” — Eliana Caranci

“You have to see it to be it.” — Karen King
A message to young female leaders to step forward and get involved in the game beyond playing.

Karen and Eliana spoke with clarity, passion, and genuine care for the sport and the people in it. They also highlighted how progressive the EMSA District is — with four female board members, more than any other district in the province — a strong reflection of leadership opportunity and engagement in our game.

This episode helps families understand that many decisions affecting soccer come from a governance structure working to balance policy, fairness, and the human element of doing what’s right.

For more information about the district:
Website: https://emsadistrict.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emsa.district/?hl=en

A big thank you to Karen and Eliana for the work they do every day for our soccer community 👏

🎙️ Player Spotlight – Benjamin Sammut

In this episode, we sit down with U15 OPDL Boys player Benjamin Sammut — a focused, thoughtful, and composed young athlete who brings maturity and perspective well beyond his years.

Benjamin has been with our club for two seasons and made an immediate impact, not just through his play but through his character. He speaks with clarity and purpose, shows deep respect for his teammates and coaches — especially Coach Garrincha — and approaches the game with a calm confidence that stands out.

Currently sidelined by a fluke injury, Benjamin will unfortunately miss Provincial Screening and the Whitecaps Vancouver ID Camp he earned selection for. But what truly defined this conversation was his mindset. His attitude throughout has been incredibly refreshing — understanding what he can’t control, staying positive, and focusing on growth rather than setbacks.

On the field, he identifies his physical presence, strength on the ball, and speed as his biggest assets. Off the field, it’s his perspective and resilience that leave the strongest impression. It’s clear that this is a player who will continue to succeed wherever the game — and life — takes him.

You’ll appreciate the maturity and character that come through in this one.

🎙️ Player Spotlight – Makayla Varallo

This episode features one of the brightest and most driven young players in our program — Makayla Varallo from our U15 OPDL Girls team.

Makayla was an absolute standout on this podcast. Passionate, articulate, and electric from start to finish, she spoke about her journey and her goals with a level of clarity that feels years beyond her age. When she talks about soccer, you can feel that it’s serious for her. This isn’t just something she enjoys — it’s something she’s building toward.

Since joining our club in 2020, Makayla has shown incredible growth. Her development on the field has been matched by her maturity and mindset off it. She’s self-motivated, focused, and crystal clear about what she wants — with dreams of playing post-secondary soccer in either the USA or Canada. And listening to her speak, you can absolutely see that path forming.

As she heads into Ontario Soccer provincial screening, we couldn’t be more proud or excited for her. She has earned this opportunity through hard work, discipline, and belief in herself. We’re wishing her nothing but success as she pushes toward that next level.

Makayla represents everything we hope for in a player — ambition, growth, passion, and purpose.

You’re going to love this conversation.