Friday, August 9, 2024 - 3:02 PM
Olivia Sheppard’s soccer journey shows her dedication, skill, and passion for soccer. She started playing at the age of 6 at her local community club in Tsawwassen. At age 12, she was successful in earning a spot in the Coastal FC BCSPL high-performance program, and her performances were rewarded with selection to the BC Soccer Provincial Team Program. Her talent and hard work earned her a spot on Canada’s U20 and U23 national teams. She then received a scholarship to Princeton, where she excelled both academically and athletically, helping her team reach the Elite 8 in the NCAA tournament. After college, she played professional soccer in Iceland, fulfilling her lifelong dream. Now, she continues to influence the game by playing semi-professionally for Burnaby FC in League 1 BC & Coastal FC Women’s Premier team while also contributing to the healthcare field with KPMG.
Early Life and Beginnings
From the age of 6, Olivia Sheppard has been passionate about soccer. Her father, Bruce, a dedicated soccer fan, introduced her and her brother, Matthew, to the sport. When she was young, Olivia joined Coastal FC, one of the first clubs to join the High-Performance League. Olivia was excited to be part of this new program to take her soccer game to the next level.
Coastal FC: The Early Years
Olivia had a great time at Coastal FC, enjoying the fun competition while making friendships for life. She valued the positive environment, which made trips to the island and matches fun. She formed lasting friendships with teammates such as Ashley Burgess, whom she now plays with on the Coastal FC Women's Premier team. From 2012 to 2014, Olivia was part of the Coastal FC BCSPL team, which participated in the BC Soccer Premier League. In 2012, Olivia and her BCSPL team played in the Canadian National Championships in Toronto, where she was awarded the Canadian National Championship Golden Boot Award.
Canadian Women’s National Team Experience🇨🇦
In 2014, Oliva progressed from Coastal FC to the Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite program, where she continued her soccer career. From 2015 to 2017, Olivia Sheppard was selected to participate in the Canada National U20 and U23 training camps, making her one of the youngest players at the camp. This experience, during which she played alongside many Women's National Team (CANWNT) players, was a significant milestone and a challenging yet inspiring period in her career.
The Journey to Princeton🎓
Obtaining a scholarship in the USA was a journey for Olivia Sheppard. During a showcase in California, she caught the attention of an assistant coach from Princeton. After verbally committing to Princeton University, she had to prove herself to the newly hired coaching staff under Head Coach Sean Driscoll at a Princeton Player ID camp with her physical presence and technical ability as a defender. Olivia's goal was always to play in the Ivy League. Touring multiple Ivy League schools, she felt that Princeton was her dream school. This decision was solidified by a meeting with the new head coach, Sean Driscoll. Arriving at Princeton was like stepping into a movie, with its historical buildings, castle-like dorm rooms, and Einstein's old classroom making her initial experience overwhelming but fascinating.
Adjusting to college life at Princeton was challenging but manageable with the support of her teammates. Early morning workouts, intense academic schedules, and her support from friends and family helped Olivia Sheppard succeed both on and off the field.
The transition from Canadian to NCAA soccer was a big change for Sheppard. While Canadian soccer prioritized tactical work, NCAA soccer placed more emphasis on physicality. Adapting to this new mindset and intense physical training was essential for her success. As a defender and midfielder, Olivia took pleasure in making great tackles and preventing goals. Her motivation primarily came from the defensive aspects of the game, although scoring was always an added bonus.
One of her favourite memories from her time at Princeton was reaching the NCAA Elite 8 in 2017 during her sophomore year. Defeating the number one seed University of North Carolina (UNC) in the Sweet 16 in penalty kicks and then playing against the number two seed UCLA in the Elite 8 were definitely the highlights of her career. Sheppard and the 2017 & 2018 Princeton team also won the Ivy League Championships in consecutive years.
Professional Soccer in Iceland🇮🇸
Olivia Sheppard's move to professional soccer in Iceland was made possible by an agent with connections at the club. Her time in Iceland was an overall great experience, allowing her to fulfill her lifelong dream of playing professional soccer while also exploring Iceland's beautiful country.
Soccer has taught Olivia valuable life lessons, including the importance of being a good teammate and leader. Overcoming challenges, such as concussions, required resilience and hard work, skills that she now applies in her professional life.
She now works for KPMG as a management consultant in the healthcare solutions sector. She is dedicated to keeping soccer in her life by playing during the summer months for Burnaby FC in the semi-pro League. Olivia is also the team captain of the Coastal Women’s Premier Team and coaches in the Coastal FC Academy on the weekends.