When the final whistle blew, the UNBC Timberwolves women’s soccer team rushed to their stalwart goalkeeper Brooke Molby.
Her university athletics career came to a close on Sunday in a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack.
In an interview with MyPGNow.com, Molby admitted there was no shortage of emotions heading into the team’s final contest.
“It’s really hard when you are in your last game. Everyone is really sad and there are tears in the locker room and everything but I was super-excited to get on the pitch one last time and I was so grateful to play in my last two games.”
“It’s sort of surreal that it’s over with the last game, whistle, and final huddle with the team. It was surreal but so sad that it is over but I have had such good memories and feel so grateful to be able to participate.”
Over four seasons, the Squamish B.C product has proven to be one of the best players to ever wear a T-Wolves jersey.
Recruited in 2017 by head coach Neil Sedgwick, Molby came to UNBC with fellow hometown product Madison Doyle, solidifying the varsity programs backline, which also included defender Mara McCleary.
Molby was part of a rebuilding effort that saw UNBC go to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons with the likes of Julia Babicz, Paige Payne, and Sofia Jones just to name a few.
When looking back at her tenure at UNBC, Molby noted there are two memories that come to mind.
“In my first year we tied UBC 1-1 and Madi (Doyle) both got to play. That was such a super-exciting moment for the program and then the second one was when we won our first round of playoffs ever against Manitoba in the shootout. The whole team was running after me and I had no idea that we’d won.”
Molby’s final year in the goal crease proved to be her busiest, playing all 1080 minutes for UNBC.
Featuring a roster that included 21 first-year players, the Timberwolves finished 2021 with a 1-9-2 record.
Molby averaged nearly seven saves per game for the T-Wolves, a mark that was third-highest among all goalkeepers in the Canada West conference trailing only Katrina Greenlay (Mount Royal) and Taryn Raabe (Winnipeg).
However, Molby believes brighter days are ahead for the program even if she won’t be able to contribute to the on-field success.
“Seeing where we have started to where we have gotten to, the amount of wins we have gotten, the number of times we were able to make playoffs – it is so great to see how much the program has grown and I am very excited to see how much it is going to grow in the future.”
“We had a young team this year and even though we had quite a few losses, we played exceptionally well and the girls grew and grew the entire season.”
Brooke Molby is our hero.
14 saves. What an effort.#RunAsOne pic.twitter.com/rSLsy9f4Uh
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) September 25, 2021
Molby admits it will be weird not gearing up for another university soccer season.
“It’s going to be a big gap. I am going to have to fill in some other way. Soccer has been a part of my life for 19 years and I have been a goalkeeper for 13 of those, it’s going to feel a bit crazy that it won’t be there every day.”
Molby now has her sights set on the rest of her academics. This spring she will obtain a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in psychology.
She then plans to apply for the Masters in Education program with a specialization in counselling next fall.
Molby has a strong desire to work with kids and youth.
“I’ve always had an interest in psychology and I’ve always loved giving advice and being someone people can lean on and listen to and I’ve always kind of had that want in helping people and I think counselling is a good route for me.”
Molby finishes her storied UNBC career second all-time in saves, and first among all goalkeepers in wins and shutouts.
