Floor Ursem (L) and Esi Lufo in action for the TRU WolfPack. (Image Credit: TRU WolfPack)

By Victor Kaisar

U SPORTS All-Canadian

WolfPack forward Lufo named U SPORTS All-Canadian, goalkeeper Ursem named to All-Rookie team

Nov 8, 2025 | 10:04 AM

KAMLOOPS — Esi Lufo has made history as the first ever Thompson Rivers University (TRU) WolfPack women’s soccer player to be named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian.

The third-year forward from Albania, who was named a Pacific Division All-Star last month, is coming off a career season that saw her finish in a tie for the Canada West scoring lead – and fifth in the nation – with nine goals in 14 matches.

Lufo’s exploits in 2025 means she now holds the WolfPack women’s record for season goals (9), career goals (12), season points (11) and career points (21).

“Those individual achievements are absolutely 100 per cent deserved,” WolfPack head coach Mark Pennington said. “I don’t think there are any more fitting athletes to be our leader in all those categories. She’s broken all those records in a really short span and that’s credit to her and the work she’s done.”

“It really took her two years to get going, so we’re hoping the ceiling is higher for her next year and to see even more growth, that’s the goal.”

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Joining Lufo in receiving national recognition was goalkeeper Floor Ursem who was named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie team. Both Ursem and WolfPack midfielder Sara Kuusimaki, were named to the Canada West All-Rookie team in October.

Ursem, from Uitgeest, Netherlands, started 13 games in her first year in Kamloops, and finished with 46 saves and a program record four shutouts this season. Those four shutouts are the second-most by any rookie in Canada West history.

“It’s really hard in your first year, especially for goalkeepers because unfortunately in that position your mistakes are highlighted,” Pennington added. “Floor came in, had an air of confidence as well as a presence and stature in the goal that we really like.”

“Out of all our players I think we are really just scratching the surface with her because she can grow from strength to strength when she gets more time, confidence and understanding with our back four, so I’m really excited to see where she can go.”

This is the first time ever that the WolfPack women have had two players honoured at the U SPORTS level in one year. Lufo and Ursem join Juli La Rotta, who was named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team last season.

“My goal since I got here was to put the program on the map and make it more of a destination program,” Pennington said. “Having players perform and get these individual accolades is helping make our program a bit more well-known.”

“I thought we could have had a couple more players recognized at the conference level but we will take three awards at the Canada West level and two at the U SPORTS level right now and the goal for next year is to have a few more.”