Newly signed to Ottawa Speedy FC, former Swedish youth worldwide Mollie Eriksson is seeking to assist construct the Northern Tremendous League from the bottom up.
And with a level in neuroscience behind her, the PhD pupil may very well be doing it as physician/goalkeeper.
“I sure hope so,” Eriksson, who grew up in Ottawa, stated cheerfully.
Eriksson is the primary goalkeeper introduced by Ottawa, whose greatest signing so far has been 37-year-old midfielder Desiree Scott, a veteran of 187 Canadian caps.
“I can’t wait to learn from her,” stated Eriksson.
In selecting to play for Ottawa, Eriksson is reunited with Speedy technical director Kristina Kiss, a former Canadian worldwide who coached her on the West Ottawa Soccer Membership.
“One of the best coaches I’ve ever played for,” Eriksson stated of Kiss. “She has an absolutely amazing ability to inspire her players and really help them achieve their utmost potential.”
At 24, Eriksson has already packed loads in on and off the soccer pitch.
Born in Stockholm to a Canadian mom and Swedish father, the household got here to Canada when Eriksson was younger — transferring round earlier than ultimately settling in Ottawa in 2008.
Her father, a former member of the Swedish navy who now could be an Air Canada pilot, met her mom, a local of Revelstoke, whereas on a ski journey in B.C.
Eriksson attended the identical highschool as Ottawa teammate Liv Scott and the 2 represented Ontario together with fellow Speedy gamers Melanie Forbes and Emily Amano. Eriksson can also be no stranger to Ottawa teammate Julia Benati, having performed in opposition to the previous League1 Ontario MVP with FC London.
She performed collegiate soccer at DePaul in Chicago the place she made 75 appearances, all begins, with 19 shutouts and a 1.11 goals-against common. She was named to the Large East freshman group after ending with an 0.86 goals-against common throughout 19 video games.
Eriksson has spent the final three years with North Mississauga SC in League1 Ontario, the place she was a finalist for goalkeeper of the 12 months the final two seasons. In 2024, she was named to the Girls’s Premier Division Second Crew All-Stars.
Eriksson additionally performed for Darby FC in League1 Ontario in addition to NDC Ontario, which beforehand was a part of a regional growth program often called REX.
Earlier than the unique REX program misplaced funding, Eriksson was known as into two Canadian under-17 camps. When she was not picked for the under-17 group, she began to look to Sweden along with her household contemplating transferring again there.
In 2016, she went in Sweden to pursue her soccer dream and hung out with a number of native groups earlier than a coaching stint with Rosenborg. A coach with the nationwide program noticed her and Eriksson discovered herself taking part in for each the Swedish under-16 and under-17 groups.
Off the sphere, it was a crash course in bettering her Swedish, which is now fairly good.
When the REX program resurfaced as NDC Ontario, Eriksson returned and subsequently attended three Canadian under-20 camps earlier than attending DePaul. Her subsequent invitation got here from the Swedish under-23 facet, her final worldwide camp.
Eriksson hopes her play within the NSL will open extra worldwide doorways, both with Canada or Sweden.
Whereas a goalkeeper by commerce, Eriksson has performed at centre again in League1 Ontario reserve video games. In consequence, her distribution as a goalkeeper is great.
Kiss calls her an “unwavering presence between the posts.”
“A great shot-stopper who commands her area with confidence, she also excels in playing out from the back, seamlessly transitioning from defence to attack,” Kiss added in a press release. “Her composure and tactical awareness make her an invaluable asset to the team.”
Eriksson brings a whole lot of mind energy as properly.
After finishing a level in neuroscience at DePaul, she began a grasp’s degree in psychology and neuroscience at McMaster College in Hamilton. After her first 12 months, she was promoted to the PhD program and is now learning how persona influences psychological well being in adolescent populations.
She has three years left in this system.
Eriksson received’t be the one Ottawa participant increasing her horizons outdoors of soccer. On Monday, the membership introduced the signing of former Norwegian youth worldwide defender Susanne Haaland, who has a grasp’s degree in legislation and has been working half time with a think-tank, focusing totally on environmental points and authorized and human rights.
Whereas it’s early days, Eriksson has nothing however good issues to say in regards to the six-team NSL, which kicks off April 16.
“It’s incredible to see all the resources, and, quite frankly, all the money being put toward this,” she stated. “And it’s really exciting, because we live in a world where money speaks. So I think it speaks a lot, the investment in women’s sports and this having a future. So far I’m really impressed.”
This report by Ontario Chronicle was first revealed Jan. 21, 2025.
