LFC women aim for provincial berth

By Lethbridge Herald on May 22, 2025.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Football Club (LFC) women’s Alberta Major Soccer League team get a new season underway this  weekend under the guidance of new head coach Mark Meerkerk.

Meerkerk is  the  current LFC men’s head coach and had taken over the coaching duties with the women’s team this year.

“I think this team is gonna do well,” said Meerkerk.

“My goal is  for us to get to provincials this year. So if we’re in the top 4 that’s kinda  where I’m aiming for. I think we’re sound throughout the field and I think we’re gonna do some scoring this year.”

A provincials berth would be a bigger step for the LFC women.

“They’ve been seventh or sixth typically in the last couple of years, so we’d like to change that and see what we can do,” said Meerkerk.

In order to shoot up the standings, the girls will have to make sure they stay together.

“Make sure that we’re all at training together, make sure we’re all working (and) make sure everybody’s  on the same page,” said Meerkerk.

Meerkerk doesn’t plan to make philosophy changes when either coaching the men’s or women’s teams.

“The way we wanna play is gonna be the same, so I think that’s where we’re gonna find success,” said Meerkerk.

Meerkerk sees the women’s side of the AMSL being at status quo for competitiveness.

“It’ll be competitive throughout,” said Meerkerk.

Chloe Jankowiak is back with the LFC women for her second straight year after taking time off in the previous seasons before that.

“We have new coaches and they seem to bring a lot of new positive energy and  a shift in coaching (and) a lot more focus on  just fundamentals and growing the sport in the city,” said Jankowiak.

It is looking like the success is going to be great from what Jankowiak can see so far.

“We’re clicking fast and the communication has been great, so I see this season going pretty well,” said Jankowiak.

 The LFC women host the Edmonton Angels Scottish SC on Saturday and the Edmonton Drillers on Sunday with both games at noon at Servus Centre Outdoor Field.