Harper recognized for superb 15-point season with U SPORTS second team all-star honour

Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

HALIFAX, N.S. – After an incredible second season where she finished just two points shy of the program's single Canada West season record, Griffins midfielder Hannah Harper was named to the U SPORTS second all-star team on Wednesday.

Harper, who finished the 2024 season with seven goals and 15 points in 14 games, was previously named to the Canada West first all-star team.

She becomes the sixth Griffins player to make a U SPORTS all-star team, following first team selections Jamie Erickson (2019) and Grace Mwasalla (2022), and previous second team all-stars Emily Burns (2019), Samantha Gouveia (2021) and Anneke Odinga (2022).

"It means a lot to get the recognition from U SPORTS and all the coaches in Can West for just how good my season was," said Harper from the U SPORTS national championship awards banquet in Halifax, hosted by Dalhousie University. "It just means a lot to me."

Harper's points total is the second-most by a Griffins player in a Canada West season, trailing only Mwasalla's 17-point campaign in 2022.

"What a jump she made from Year 1 to Year 2," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro. "She played big minutes last year and was a very effective player, but that production wasn't what it is now. We knew she had it in her. She was highly sought-after her freshmen year and we knew she had the abilities to get this team to the next level. 

"In Year 2, to be able to accomplish what she has already is pretty unique and special. Two points off our career-best season and she was playing in a midfield role. A lot of people forget how hard that is. She's got so much more defensive responsibility playing as an attacking mid. For her to be our leader in assists and second on the team in goals, and just able to be that consistent threat game in and game out is awesome to see."

Hannah Harper received her U SPORTS second team all-star honour at a banquet in Halifax on Wednesday night.

Harper also led the Griffins in shots (43) and shots on goal (21), marks that are in the top-10 in program history. Two of her goals were on PKs, tied for the second-most by a Griffin in a Canada West season.

"I think a lot of it was just being calm and focusing on the moment and not the result of what was happening in the games," she said of her successful season. "Just focusing on doing the right things and not on how many points I was getting. 

"Then also, my team really helped me out. I had eight assists, but that means eight girls had to put the ball in the net besides me."

Although she has played just two seasons for the Griffins, Harper is already up to 18 career points, which places her seventh all-time amongst Griffins players in their Canada West era.

"She's only getting started and the future's so bright for her," said Cordeiro. "Knowing Hannah, she won't be satisfied with where she's at; she'll want more, so that excites me and the team because she's going to be a major player in the program over the next few years in helping us achieve some of our goals."

Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro poses with Hannah Harper after she was named to the U SPORTS second all-star team on Wednesday night in Halifax.

Harper joins fellow Canada West all-stars Dakota Beckett (UBC), Tilly James (Trinity Western) and Jade Taylor-Ryan (UBC) on the U SPORTS second all-star team. 

AUS' Caitlin Crichton (St. Francis Xavier) and Carolina Grzesniak (UNB), RSEQ's Blessing Mayi Kith (Unversité de Montréal), Mara Bouchard (McGill) and Léonie Portelance (Université de Montréal), and OUA's Maya Smith (Ottawa) and Elise Bell (Guelph) are also on the second team.

The U SPORTS women's soccer first all-star team consists of Canada West all-stars Ruby Nicholas (Victoria) and Jacqueline Tyrer (UBC), AUS all stars Alliyah Rowe (Cape Breton), Mya Harnish (Acadia) and Zoé Rowe (Memorial), RSEQ all stars Andréanne Dubeau (Universitié de Montréal), Chloé Renaud (McGill), Maude Lagacé (Universitie de Montréal), and OUA all stars Cassandra Provost (Ottawa), Nia Fleming-Thompson (York) and Jade Abreo (McMaster).