WATERLOO, Ont. - Laurier women's soccer forward Ashley Greco put herself on the map with an impressive rookie campaign, and going into year two, Greco expects the climb to continue.
Coming on to a team as talented as the Golden Hawks, Greco proved herself worthy throughout training camp, and cracked a spot on the starting 11, making her OUA debut in Laurier's 2024 season opener against the Brock Badgers, ending with one shot on goal.
After settling in, Greco made her mark in her second career game.
In a Sunday matinee against the York Lions, tensions were already high heading into the match. In the past six meetings with the Lions dating back to 2018, the Golden Hawks were winless with three shutout losses and three ties.
In the 29th minute, York jumped in front 1-0. It would take the Golden Hawks until midway through the second half to find a response. And that response was fueled by Greco.
"We were down 1-0, and I was thinking in my head, 'We have to find a way to score, we are playing well,'" Greco recounted.
"The ball went out for a corner, and coach Barry [MacLean] called me over and said to me, 'I want you to go inside the box. I want you to make it look like you're going far post, and then pull away,' because he anticipated the ball was going to be over hit. And it happened exactly like that."
"I could see Taya [Johnson] making a run, and I knew she could head the ball really well. I remember tracking it, delivering back in, and she finished."
Greco's first career point levelled the score, and the Golden Hawks earned four of a possible six points in their opening weekend.
"From that moment, knowing coach Barry had faith in me to do that, and also as a team that we could read each other's runs, it felt great," she said.
Greco would strike again a game later in Laurier's home opener against the Algoma Thunderbirds. In the 54th minute, Greco hit another milestone: her first OUA goal.
"The ball was inside the box and there was a rebound that came my way," she said.
"Out of instinct, because I'm an attacker, I wanted to get my best shot off. I hit it on a volley, and it went into the top corner. I was just ecstatic; it was a sense of joy."
Greco's goal capped off an offensive clinic for the Golden Hawks as they took down Algoma 6-0.
The Golden Hawks were on a tear to start the season, but the tables quickly turned.
"We started off the season unbeaten in five games, and we're doing well, and we hit a block or a period where there were some injuries to key players that really tested our chemistry and depth."
"We had to focus on working together through those times. Some people were called upon and as a team we had to adjust. It was a hard period, but we got through it."
Greco was key to the squad being able to get through the second half of the year. She logged 1,078 minutes through 12 games; just 12 minutes shy of being on the pitch for the entire season.
"I'm very honoured and grateful that I got that opportunity. To have that belief from the coaching staff as a rookie to step in every game and play every minute, it's amazing. It gives me a boost of confidence to know that my skills are seen and valued, and that I bring something to the team."
She further credited MacLean, saying, "He's very driven and focused on pushing players to reach their full potential. He holds standards and wants players to challenge themselves to reach that. He also motivates within that and brings the support and advice to reach those standards."
At the close of the regular season, Greco had not only cemented her place as an integral part of the lineup, she caught the attention of the entire league. By that time, award season had rolled around.
"I remember I was doing schoolwork, and my phone was buzzing like crazy. I saw that I was shown on the OUA Instagram, and a bunch of my family, friends, and teammates were reaching out to me," she detailed.
Greco was presented with the 2024 OUA West Division Rookie of the Year award. She became only the fifth Laurier women's soccer player to win, and the first since Gagan Parhar in 2015.
"I got goosebumps. I was a little bit emotional that all the hard work I put in was being recognized."
"It excites me, and it motivates me to want to go and get more, because in the end it helps the team," she said.
Then in April, Greco was recognized by the Laurier Athletics community and received the women's soccer team's Rookie of the Year award.
"I felt extremely proud to receive that award because I knew that I was there to make sure I made an impact and contribution to the team. All I care about is winning and putting the team in the best position to get better and win titles."
With a 3-5-4 record, the Golden Hawks secured a playoff position. Their opponent: the OUA's third seed McMaster Marauders.
In the previous six matchups, the Golden Hawks were winless. The first playoff round looked like it could turn the tables again.
"In that McMaster game, we were up 1-0," said Greco. "Going into the 90th minute, and injury time, we thought we were progressing, that this is it."
"And there was that tying goal that hurt us all."
In the final minute of stoppage time, the Marauders evened the tally to extend the game. Things were still even at one a piece through the first half of extra time.
But two minutes removed from a final whistle that would send the game to penalties, the Marauders scored the game winner, ending Laurier's season.
"A lot of us were frustrated and the fact that we had it, but you're playing against the toughest teams. I think it was more disappointment in that we played so well, we felt that we were the better team. Everyone put everything on the line," Greco said, reflecting on the heartbreaking moment.
"It taught me that you have to fight to the very end, whether your body is tired, you have to tell yourself that this is the game, that if you really want to win, you will put everything on the line. You have to give everything you've got because you don't know what's going to be next."
Greco surely put everything on the line as she played the full 120 minutes. "Under pressure in those moments, you just have to stay composed and focused, even if you're losing the game."
The loss added fuel to the Golden Hawks' fire with a new season just around the corner.
"Coming off that loss to McMaster, I think that left us with a sense that we need to be better, we need to keep pushing each other to the max. It made us really hungry to want more this season."
With the program graduating veteran pieces, Greco acknowledged the added pressure she faces and the expectations for her to hit the ground running.
"Honestly, I just see that as motivation to push myself to want to be the best and be consistent with it. I know I'm capable of continuing to excel."
"I want to play a crucial role in this team. I want to be able to contribute even more, whether that's scoring myself or creating goals for my teammates."
The team's goals have not changed; if anything, they have intensified.
"We want to win league titles, we want to go and challenge for national championships, and we know that comes with a lot. We're all focused on bringing energy and fighting through every game no matter what happens."
"Now it's just about going out this year and making a statement."
That statement starts on August 23 as the Golden Hawks hit the road to face York.
"It's an opportunity for us to set the tone right away. We know from the last time we played them what it's like to go against them and the talent they have."
"It's going to be an exciting season. We have the same goals as last year, and it's just now about coming in with a strong mentality, working hard right from the beginning, and flying from the start."
