Halifax’s professional women’s soccer team is getting set for their second year in the Northern Super League (NSL). Stephen Hart has officially taken the title of head coach of the Halifax Tides, after joining the team halfway through the inaugural year as interim coach. “The excitement here is to see all the incoming players and the ones who are back for their second year,” Hart told CTV. The Tides had a rather lacklustre start in the NSL, dropping their first game 4-1 to the Calgary Wild. They didn’t pick up their first win until June against the Ottawa Rapid and only had three wins on the season. Hart says changing up the leadership and player group was necessary in the offseason. “I don’t think it’s key for the success of the club, but it’s key for having good balance,” Hart said. “A lot of them have been professional since they were 17 years old and that can help the players that we have understand the sort of role and responsibility of being a professional. So, we thought that would be important.” Fan favourites, including goalkeeper of the year Anika Tóth, have been resigned to the team. “She accepted the competition for the place, there’s a new goalkeeper coming in that will push her,” Hart said of Tóth. “And I think that’s important in the professional world that you never get complacent.” “There’s a lot more pressure this year than there was last year,” Tóth said, of gaining the starting position after Erin McLeod went out with an injury. “This year, I want to hold myself to a higher standard. My motivation comes intrinsically, so I’m always I competition with myself as well as the other keepers.” The Tides have also kept defenders Annika Leslie, Addy Weichers, Eva Fremaux, and Julianne “Jubes” Vallerand, midfielders Karima Lemire and Megumi Nakamura and forwards Saorla Miller, Syd Kennedy, and Tiffany Cameron. Hart wanted to add two players for every position so that there is a healthy competition for that starting role. “We wanted the players to bring a different sort of profile and a different quality to the position,” he added. “So that will give us a sort of a flexibility tactically. And, of course, the competition, everybody keeps pushing each other for a starting position on the field.” As for the local Nova Scotian talent, coming back to play at home was top of mind. “What an honor to be here again,” said Syd Kennedy. “Always grateful for the opportunity. And just love playing in a city like this with a soccer support as great as it is.” Kennedy says there was never a doubt she would come back to Halifax. “No, I don’t think so,” she laughed when asked about another club. “I think I wanted to be here, and the club was great and kind of walking me through everything to come. So, I’m super excited about it, for sure.” Adding depth in the defence with international experience was also part of the plan this season. “It’s great to get new faces around, and they’re even better people than they are soccer players, which everyone will come to see,” said Kennedy of her new teammates. “We needed a kind of a new energy around here. Like you said, it wasn’t as great as we wanted it to go, but we took a lot of learnings from year one, and we’re just trying to apply those learnings here in year two.” “It brings back competition and it just raises a standard. So, then we’re meeting that standard every day and that’s huge and kind of seeing results on the field as well.” Rylee Foster, a keeper with experience from Liverpool FC joins the list, along with Ontario’s Samantha St. Croix. As for defenders, Canadian-born Naya Cardoza who is an international player for Team Jamaica has been signed, along with Sheyenne Allen from the U.S.A., and Julie Pedersen of Norway. Rounding out the midfield in the preseason is Julia Benati, who played with the Ottawa Rapid in year one of the NSL. Synne Moe of Norway and Cho So-Hyun of South Korea bring international experience and Katherine “Kat” Jordan – who holds Canadian, Czech and American citizenship – comes to the team after playing most recently in the United States. And homemade Sarah Taylor is back with the team again this year. Finally, attacking for the Tide is U.S.A.’s Jordyn Rhodes and former Ottawa Rapid Stella Downing. “I think my first year, it was my first-year pro in general, and just the quality and how amazing it is to be playing with players that are more experienced than myself,” Downing said of her first season in Ottawa. “And I just realized I had so much to learn from the people around me, and I’m really grateful for that.” Downing’s energy was infectious, and that’s what she hopes to insert into this Tides’ offense. “I’m really excited and really grateful for the opportunity. I think I’m one of those players that has the intangibles,” she said. “I like to bring energy and work hard for the people around me.” And she will be rocking her signature game-day pigtails, along with some fashion. “Well, I don’t have a winter coat, let me tell you, it’s been a bit of an adjustment,” Downing said of trading coasts from hometown Vancouver. “I thrifted a fur one though, and I think it’s serving.” As for the leadership in Halifax, Downing is excited to continue learning from the coaching staff. “He’s already given me so much feedback, which I love,” Downing said of Coach Hart. “He just really pays attention to the details but also really encourages freedom.” The success of soccer programs, both on the men’s and women’s side, is evident through the popularity of games in Halifax. “I’ve been here a long time, so I know and I always felt that we had a garden of hidden soccer fans,” Hart added. “I think it’s important now to have professional soccer that both groups can emulate towards.” Home opener for the Tides is April 25 on Wanderers Grounds and tickets went on sale Monday. 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