2025 Annual Awards Recipients

NLSA Announces 2025 Annual Awards Recipients

The Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association is pleased to announce its 2025 annual award winners.  The winners will be formally recognized during the Hall of Fame induction and awards ceremony May 9, 2026 at the Holiday Inn, St. John’s.

The awards recipients are as follows:

Bio's

Youth Female Player of the Year - Ireland Winters

Ireland Winters is recognized as one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s top under-17 female soccer players. A dynamic and creative attacking midfielder, Ireland is known for her skillful footwork, situational awareness on the pitch, and overall playmaking abilities. She has been a member of the St. John’s Soccer Club since the age of seven and played a pivotal role on Team NL’s female soccer squad at the 2025 Canada Games. Demonstrating remarkable endurance and skill, Ireland played every minute of every match during the Games. Her standout performance at the 2025 Canada Games earned her significant recognition locally and nationally. 

Locally, she was called up to play for the St. John’s Women’s Jubilee team for the 2025 National Championships-Jubilee Trophy. Nationally, she was invited to an evaluation camp with the Vancouver Rise, a professional women’s soccer team, for consideration within their player development pathway. In addition, Ireland was invited to Canada Soccer’s National Development Centre (NDC) evaluation in Montreal—a program designed to identify and develop future Canadian women’s national team players. As part of the NDC program Ireland was named to the provisional roster for Canada’s Women’s U16 camp in Toronto and the Women’s U17 National Team’s tour in Spain in 2026, marking her as a rising talent in Canadian soccer.

Ireland attends Holy Heart of Mary High School and has volunteered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association as a coach/mentor for the High Performance and Provincial programs since 2023. 

Coach of the Year - Jake Stanford

Jake Stanford added to his legend as one of NL’s winningest coaches, with an historic double gold at nationals - first with the Holy Cross Nutra Holdings Jubilee Trophy women’s team, and a couple of hours later, with the men. Both teams will join the NLSA’s Honor Roll of Teams. 

Having spent years developing and nurturing the men’s and women’s programs, the long-time Holy Cross bench boss returned after a brief hiatus, with a laser focus on lifting his teams to victory on home soil.  The women had been there before with back-to-back national titles in 2022 and 2023, while the men had a national bronze and were hungry for more. 

Under Jake’s tutelage, both teams secured their provincial titles, with the men finishing with a 15-0 record, scoring 104 goals and allowing only five. The women also finished first on the regular season with 13 wins and one tie, with Holy Cross players holding down the top four positions in the league’s scoring race. They later went on to win their 10th provincial title in a row.

At nationals, Jake’s strategic and timely use of substitutions helped set the pace and control the tempo of the game, making sure the game went according to his plan. Both teams had dominant regular seasons, preparing them to peak at the perfect time and cement their dreams of national gold.

Both teams capped off the season by winning the men’s and women’s titles at the NL Cup

Senior Female Player of the Year - Teri Murphy

A tenacious midfielder with a high game IQ and strong work ethic, Teri Murphy was instrumental in Holy Cross Nutra Holdings’ successful 2025 season. She earned a place on the all-star team, was named Top Midfielder, and received the Most Valuable Player award for the regular season.  Murphy’s versatility made her a threat in every area of the field, whether setting up teammates or scoring herself. Murphy finished the season fourth overall in the league’s scoring race with six goals in 14 games. Her leadership on and off the field helped lift the team to its third Jubilee Trophy national title in four years. She was later named tournament MVP for Jubilee Trophy nationals. 

Senior Male Player of the Year - Harry Carter

A dynamic two-way player Harry Carter anchored both midfield and defense during an historic year for Holy Cross.  Carter’s natural athleticism and game sense allowed him to control the pace of games and distribute the ball effectively. Carter also chipped in with eight goals in 13 games and was recognized as Challenge Cup Player of the Month for July, a member of the league’s all star team and Most Valuable Player for the regular season.  At the national championships, Carter’s pivotal award was further acknowleged as he was named  tournament MVP as Holy Cross claimed the national Challenge Cup title.

Senior Team of the Year (tie) - Holy Cross Nutra Holdings Jubilee Trophy

Holy Cross Nutra Holdings women’s team capped another dominant year in local and national Jubilee Trophy play with a third national championship in four years.  The team went undefeated during the regular season, finishing with a record of 13 wins and one tie, with Holy Cross players holding down the top four scoring positions. They went on to win their 10th provincial championship in a row.  The team later captured the 2025 Jubilee Cup national championship with a thrilling weekend of competition on home soil in St. John’s, and finished out the season by capturing the inaugural NL Cup women’s championship. 

Senior Team of the Year (tie) - Holy Cross Kirby Group Challenge Cup

Holy Cross men pulled of a rare triple championship in 2025, capturing two provincial titles as well as the national Challenge Trophy championship.  It was the first time since 1988 that Holy Cross men had won a national title.  The men were a dominant force in local Challenge Cup play throughout the season, capturing the Bobby Breen award for first place regular season with a perfect 15-0 record , scoring 104 goals during the regular season, while allowing only five. The team went on to capture the provincial Challenge Cup title, which opened the door for them to capture a national title in October on home soil. The men capped of the year by winning the 2025 NL Cup (men’s division). 

Volunteer of the Year - Jamie Mullaly

Jamie Mullaly is a trailblazer in the soccer community, being the first CONCACAF C-Diploma trained volunteer in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. This achievement demonstrates Jamie Mullaly’s commitment to developing his knowledge and skills, which in turn, has benefited

 the soccer community in the region. Furthermore, Jamie Mullaly is the first volunteer coach from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador to successfully be accepted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Player Development Program since the 1990s. This accomplishment showcases Jamie Mullaly’s ability to break down barriers and open doors for others, paving the way for future generations of coaches and players.

Executive of the Year -Tyler Antle

Tyler has served on the CBS Soccer Board in several capacities over the years, including recently President and has been an integral part of the success of Strikers FC during that time. As the Board’s current Director of Recreational programs, Tyler is responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and training coaches and staff.

He ensures that all coaches receive the appropriate education and training required for the level of games and practices they lead. These coaches support our Soccer Tots, Grassroots programs, and the many house league programs offered by CBS Soccer. Each year, CBS assigns more than 50 coaches across these various programs.

As a former player himself, Tyler works closely with the club and its staff to provide the support they need to develop, grow, and feel confident in their roles.

Youth Male Player of the Year - Luca Dupasquier

Luca had a busy year of competition and training in 2025, making waves on both the local and national levels.  Luca provided calm and confident leadership as captain of Paradise Premier Youth League U15 boys team, which he led to the provincial championship. Luca won the golden boot award for the PYL U15 league with 30 goals and ten assists in 17 games and was also named Top Midfielder and league MVP. 

A member of the NLSA U15 and U16 provincial team and indoor performance centre, Luca is constantly pushing his boundaries, always looking for ways to improve. His work ethic and natural talent have been recognized with invitations to the REX camp with Soccer Canada in Halifax (March 2025), to the Vancouver Whitecaps Showcase with Team Nova Scotia in March 2025, where he scored two of the team’s three goals and earned a “Starting XI” award. He later attended the U18 Canada Youth Cup (as a U15 player) in Halifax (1 goal and 1 assist) (July 2025) and was named a top youth performer at the Forge Combine. In November 2025, Luca was invited to Vancouver for the Vancouver Whitecaps Evaluation Process.

Junior Female Team of the Year - Paradise Girls U17

The Paradise girls U-17 team continued to impress on the national stage with a fifth place finish at Canada Soccer’s U17 Cup.  The team got off to an excellent start, only to be knocked out of medal contention in a penalty shoot out versus PEI, who went on to win gold. Many of the team’s players had previous experience and understood the pressure of national competition through the Canada Games, and helped bolster the team’s ranks ahead of the nationals qualification. 

Taha Odan, Senior Official of the Year

Taha Odan embodies the elite standards the NLSA seeks in its high-performing officials. His 2025 season was defined by consistency, composure, and a deep understanding of the Laws of the Game. Taha’s technical proficiency earned him appointments to the highest levels of competition in the country, including the 2025 Canada Summer Games, and the National Challenge Cup and Jubilee Trophy championships. 

Beyond his physical fitness and decision-making on the field, Taha leads by example. He maintains a level of professionalism that inspires confidence in players, coaches, and his fellow officials. He doesn’t just manage matches; he elevates the environment of every game he enters.

Taha is not content with his current success; he is actively pursuing the next tier of officiating. His dedication to the "next level" is evident in his preparation and his openness to feedback. This drive ensures that he remains at the forefront of the refereeing community in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Perhaps most importantly, Taha is invested in the future of the sport. Despite his busy schedule at the senior and national levels, he makes time weekly for the U12 Winter League. By working with our youngest referees, Taha is providing real-time mentorship and "on-pitch" guidance, building the confidence of the next generation and ensuring the long-term health of the NLSA officiating pool. Taha Odan’s 2025 season was a masterclass in balancing elite-level performance with community service. For his achievements at the National level and his unwavering support of the U12 developmental programs, he is a most deserving candidate for the Senior Referee of the Year.

Gabe Watt, Youth Male Official of the Year

In the 2025 season Gabe Watt began as a metro league referee. One day while being mentored his name was brought forward as a candidate to use in PYL U13 and U15 games. The league began assigning Gabe to Assistant referee duties and watched him as an AR on multiple assignments. Noting Gabe's confidence and ability as an AR, he was then assigned to lead referee duties where he also excelled. Gabe transitioned from a metro league official to getting assigned to a PYL Gold medal game all in one season. Gabe is always looking to get assigned games and willing to help where he can. Gabe never hesitated to ask for an opinion or advice on something that happened in a match and listened to the answer provided, then implemented into future games.

Lily Moriarty - Youth Female Official of the Year

Lily is an exceptional athlete who excels in whatever sport she takes on.

Lily began her officiating career a few years back doing small-sided games in Conception Bay North.  You could tell from the beginning that she had what it takes to be an excellent official.  Her confidence on the field combined with her understanding of the game gave her an excellent foundation to build upon.  In the last few years, Lily has moved up to 11 a side soccer.  She started off with some Assistant Referee assignments and during every game she was studying the game and the middle official.  She made note of the referee’s positioning and how experienced referees handled certain situations during the game.  Last summer Lily ran her first middle in the girls under 15 Mega Tournament in Bay Roberts.  Although a little nervous, she was flawless.  Her confidence, positioning and use of her whistle to control the game was superb.  Her biggest moment came when the senior official for the tournament told her she was doing the “A” final.  A little taken back, she agreed.  This was her biggest game in her career and it ended up going to penalties.  Once again, she handled it with great calm and confidence.

Lily’s preparation before assignments is unmatched.  Days before her assignment, she will begin preparing.  Making sure she understands the rules for the league she will be refereeing in.  She will reach out to a senior official if she has any questions or is not 100% sure on a law.  Once kickoff time comes, she’s ready to go.  There is no doubt that Lily will be an excellent official for many years to come.