Senior midfielder Jessica Whitaker, a native of Darlington, England, has been selected to the Preseason All‑Metro Team, a recognition that underscores her impact on the Canisius Golden Griffins ahead of the 2026 campaign.
During the 2025 season Whitaker appeared in all 19 games, leading the team with 14 points, including six assists and four goals, while earning All‑MAAC First Team honors.
The Griffins captured 118 points in the Metro Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll, tying for fourth place, marking the fourth straight year the program has been projected inside the league’s top four.
Fairfield topped the poll with 164 points and nine first‑place votes, followed by Sacred Heart with 151 points and three first‑place votes, while Quinnipiac secured third with 146 points and a single first‑place vote.
Canisius will open its regular season on August 13 at the Demske Sports Complex against Le Moyne, before conference play kicks off on September 5 with a rematch against Sacred Heart, the defending tournament champions.
Looking Forward
Coaches and teammates alike expect Whitaker’s playmaking ability to translate into a deeper run in the MAAC tournament, building on the momentum of recent top‑four finishes and aiming to challenge the league’s traditional powerhouses.