Hall of Fame Profile: Canadian dynamo Marie-Andree Canuel was a gritty catalyst for the UMaine women’s soccer team
9/27/2024 8:21:00 AM | Women's Soccer, Hall of Fame
Canuel to be inducted into UMaine Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 4
ORONO, Maine -- A miscommunication nearly cost the University of Maine the opportunity to acquire one of the most impactful women's soccer players in program history.
Marie-Andree Canuel was playing at Canadian soccer power Cegep Garneau and was considering potential college offers, but her coach wasn't clear on her intentions. An initial inquiry from UMaine head coach Scott Athlerley never reached her.
"My coach thought I was not interested," said Canuel who, upon learning of the situation, quickly contacted Athlerley expressing her desire to study and play in the United States.
"He came the day after to my house, speaking to my family," the Quebec native said. "I'm still laughing at how slowly he was speaking so my parents could understand."
Limited French skills notwithstanding, Atherley and then-assistant coach Jackie Gebhart made an excellent impression on the French-speaking family. Canuel agreed to become a Black Bear.
The gritty attacking midfielder was among the catalysts during the most productive period in the history of the Black Bears program and her efforts have landed her in the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame.
Canuel played from 2004-06 and garnered All-America East First Team and All-New England honors each of those seasons. She helped UMaine make three consecutive postseason appearances and was named to the all-tournament team each time.
In 2004, Canuel was named the America East Rookie of the Year and was tabbed as a freshman All-American, the first in program history. She the scored seven goals in 2005 to earn conference Midfielder of the Year recognition.
"Her ability to read the game, her understanding, her vision was outstanding," said UMaine head coach Scott Atherley. "She had multiple talents as a player and then she had the drive and athleticism to add to it."
In her final season, Canuel was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas NCAA Division I Women's Northeast All-Region First Team. She helped UMaine compile a 38-16-5 overall record (.686 winning percentage) and make three straight trips to the conference championship game.
One of the key benefits for Canuel at UMaine was having the chance to specialize at one position. Previously, she had been moved around to help her team wherever she was needed.
Despite standing only 5-foot-4, Canuel said she scored a good number of goals on corners. She had a knack for maneuvering into the right spot and getting her head on the ball.
"She's one of the best headers of the ball that I've ever coached," Atherley said. "Her timing was impeccable and she was fearless. She was a real attacking threat that most teams didn't have."
Canuel thrived on the student-athlete experience. She enjoyed being able to play and go to class without having to work, as she had done attending post-secondary school (Cegep) Quebec.
"Studying was not hard, so it was just having fun, going to play soccer, going to school," she said.
Canuel said playing for Atherley and Gebhart was intense, but they kept the game fun. She still remembers his first pregame speech.
"I was impressed by how he was speaking and getting us to be ready to play," she said.
Canuel, who earned her degree in physics, said reading and writing English was easier for her than speaking it. With a French-English dictionary often in hand, she had plenty of support from teammates and friends, including fellow Canadian Jasmine Phillips, UMaine's goalkeeper.
"She was the person who was always there for my English," Canuel said. "She helped me to translate and to speak better."
Canuel said her advanced English classes in Quebec really hadn't prepared her sufficiently for campus life in Orono.
On the pitch, Canuel can't erase the sting of the Black Bears' three painful title-game losses. They included a 2-1, double-overtime setback against Boston University in the 2005 America East championship game.
One of her fondest memories was of her second game in a UMaine uniform, during which she scored four goals in a 5-0 home victory over Providence.
"I walked around, people were saying, 'you're the freshman who scored four goals,'" Canuel said. "It was strange for me to have that attention."
She received plenty of attention for the remainder of her career, which ended after she completed her degree requirements in three years. Canuel opted not to return for her senior season in 2007.
It's a decision that she made for all the right reasons but, in hindsight, regrets. Canuel wanted to get started on her lengthy postgraduate program to become a physical therapist.
"I feel like I was on a cloud and then I come back and OK, it's reality. You don't realize it when you're in it, that it's not that bad," she said of the additional studies.
Canuel, who works as a physical therapist, and her partner, Marcel Vachon, have three children. They are daughter Gustine, 8, and sons Philippe, 6, and Charles-Olivier, 4.
The 2024 UMaine Sports Hall of Fame class will be officially inducted at a banquet held at Jeff's Catering on Friday, Oct. 4. For more details on this year's induction class, please click here.
Marie-Andree Canuel was playing at Canadian soccer power Cegep Garneau and was considering potential college offers, but her coach wasn't clear on her intentions. An initial inquiry from UMaine head coach Scott Athlerley never reached her.
"My coach thought I was not interested," said Canuel who, upon learning of the situation, quickly contacted Athlerley expressing her desire to study and play in the United States.
"He came the day after to my house, speaking to my family," the Quebec native said. "I'm still laughing at how slowly he was speaking so my parents could understand."
Limited French skills notwithstanding, Atherley and then-assistant coach Jackie Gebhart made an excellent impression on the French-speaking family. Canuel agreed to become a Black Bear.
The gritty attacking midfielder was among the catalysts during the most productive period in the history of the Black Bears program and her efforts have landed her in the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame.
Canuel played from 2004-06 and garnered All-America East First Team and All-New England honors each of those seasons. She helped UMaine make three consecutive postseason appearances and was named to the all-tournament team each time.
In 2004, Canuel was named the America East Rookie of the Year and was tabbed as a freshman All-American, the first in program history. She the scored seven goals in 2005 to earn conference Midfielder of the Year recognition.
"Her ability to read the game, her understanding, her vision was outstanding," said UMaine head coach Scott Atherley. "She had multiple talents as a player and then she had the drive and athleticism to add to it."
In her final season, Canuel was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas NCAA Division I Women's Northeast All-Region First Team. She helped UMaine compile a 38-16-5 overall record (.686 winning percentage) and make three straight trips to the conference championship game.
One of the key benefits for Canuel at UMaine was having the chance to specialize at one position. Previously, she had been moved around to help her team wherever she was needed.
Despite standing only 5-foot-4, Canuel said she scored a good number of goals on corners. She had a knack for maneuvering into the right spot and getting her head on the ball.
"She's one of the best headers of the ball that I've ever coached," Atherley said. "Her timing was impeccable and she was fearless. She was a real attacking threat that most teams didn't have."
Canuel thrived on the student-athlete experience. She enjoyed being able to play and go to class without having to work, as she had done attending post-secondary school (Cegep) Quebec.
"Studying was not hard, so it was just having fun, going to play soccer, going to school," she said.
Canuel said playing for Atherley and Gebhart was intense, but they kept the game fun. She still remembers his first pregame speech.
"I was impressed by how he was speaking and getting us to be ready to play," she said.
Canuel, who earned her degree in physics, said reading and writing English was easier for her than speaking it. With a French-English dictionary often in hand, she had plenty of support from teammates and friends, including fellow Canadian Jasmine Phillips, UMaine's goalkeeper.
"She was the person who was always there for my English," Canuel said. "She helped me to translate and to speak better."
Canuel said her advanced English classes in Quebec really hadn't prepared her sufficiently for campus life in Orono.
On the pitch, Canuel can't erase the sting of the Black Bears' three painful title-game losses. They included a 2-1, double-overtime setback against Boston University in the 2005 America East championship game.
One of her fondest memories was of her second game in a UMaine uniform, during which she scored four goals in a 5-0 home victory over Providence.
"I walked around, people were saying, 'you're the freshman who scored four goals,'" Canuel said. "It was strange for me to have that attention."
She received plenty of attention for the remainder of her career, which ended after she completed her degree requirements in three years. Canuel opted not to return for her senior season in 2007.
It's a decision that she made for all the right reasons but, in hindsight, regrets. Canuel wanted to get started on her lengthy postgraduate program to become a physical therapist.
"I feel like I was on a cloud and then I come back and OK, it's reality. You don't realize it when you're in it, that it's not that bad," she said of the additional studies.
Canuel, who works as a physical therapist, and her partner, Marcel Vachon, have three children. They are daughter Gustine, 8, and sons Philippe, 6, and Charles-Olivier, 4.
The 2024 UMaine Sports Hall of Fame class will be officially inducted at a banquet held at Jeff's Catering on Friday, Oct. 4. For more details on this year's induction class, please click here.
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