Steinbach’s Heide goes from walk-on to starter at Waterloo

Advertisement

Advertise with us

The Providence Pilots women’s soccer team is playing close to or at a USports level.

If it wasn’t shown by an exhibition victory over the University of Winnipeg, it’s shown by Steinbach’s Paige Heide finding success at Waterloo University.

Heide played four years with the Pilots, winning the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) player of the year award last year and helped the team to a national championship in the Christian Colleges Athletic Association in 2022.

Paige Heide spent four seasons playing for the Providence Pilots and is now thriving with the Waterloo Warriors in USports. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)
Paige Heide spent four seasons playing for the Providence Pilots and is now thriving with the Waterloo Warriors in USports. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

She’s since moved to to Waterloo University in Ontario to begin her schooling for optometry.

“I was pretty sure Providence would be the end of soccer for me,” Heide said.

“There was a part of me that wondered if it could be possible… I didn’t know if it would work out.”

Heide didn’t give up on her playing career, sending game film and stats to the Warriors’ coaching staff, impressing them enough to earn a spot at the team’s August practices.

“It was definitely very stressful,” Heide said, remembering the tryout process.

“I kind of knew what I was coming into… I would have to show what I could do… It worked out well in the end.”

Providence head coach Tory Walker isn’t surprised to see Heide thrive at Waterloo, noting she won “almost every major award,” she was eligible for at Providence.

“She’s elite in everything she does,” Walker said, noting Heide also earns outstanding grades in the classroom.

“Obviously skill-wise she’s really good. I think her work-ethic in life is pretty high-level.”

Heide has taken her opportunity by the horns, not only earning a spot on the team, but starting every game for the Warriors as an attacking midfielder or striker.

“There’s always soccer you can play, but I did think it was the end of school and soccer for sure,” she said.

“I still had two years of eligibility left and I thought it was worth giving it a shot.”

That attitude has paid off, as she’s racked up over 800 minutes of game action this season.

“I was going to give it everything I had, there was nothing to lose,” Heide said.

Heide has even nabbed a USports goal, one of Waterloo’s 15 on the season so far. In the team’s 2-2 draw at Laurier, Heide made an unmarked late run into the box, heading the ball into the top corner to help her team earn a key point.

Walker said when he spoke to Heide before the start of the season, she was unsure if she’d fit in at Waterloo. Walker was convinced Heide would thrive.

Steinbach's Paige Heide has gone from walk-on player to regular starter for the University of Waterloo Warriors. (Waterloo Mackenzie Gerry)
Steinbach's Paige Heide has gone from walk-on player to regular starter for the University of Waterloo Warriors. (Waterloo Mackenzie Gerry)

“I don’t think we’re that far off (of USports) anymore,” Walker said.

“She was a top player for us, so I figured she’d be a top player for them… It’s a no-brainer for her to be someone a coach would want.”

She’s also nabbed two assists on the season.

The Warriors fell 2-0 to McMaster in their season finale, meaning they’ll miss out on the Ontario University Athletics post-season.

Back in Manitoba, Heide’s former team is doing well, battling with Brandon for top spot in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference. The league’s two top teams have exchanged victories throughout the season, with Brandon coming out on top twice and Providence once.

“I think we know we can play well against them,” Walker said when breaking down the Brandon match-up.

“The thing I would say is encouraging is they haven’t really scored on us in open play. They’ve only scored on set pieces really.”

Both teams are undefeated against the rest of the conference.

Walker said the top teams in every sport in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association are on par with some USports schools, including Brandon and Providence in Manitoba women’s soccer.

“We’re getting closer every year,” Walker said, noting this edition of the Pilots might be the best ever.

“It’s a goal of mine to be one of the top teams in Manitoba… I predict us getting better every year.”

While it wasn’t a surprise to Walker his team was playing at a USports level, it was a surprise to the University of Winnipeg, who easily handled other MCAC teams before playing Providence in pre-season play and coming up short.

The MCAC soccer championships will be hosted in Winnipeg at a couple indoor soccer facilities, beginning Oct. 24.

Report Error Submit a Tip

Local

LOAD MORE