SFU football player becomes first Canadian woman to play and score in college game

Going into last Saturday's game against Linfield University in Oregon, Simon Fraser Universityfootball player Kristie Elliott didn't know she would be makinghistory.

Elliott, who's a kicker with the team, became the first Canadian woman to play in, and score in, a collegefootball game.

"It's amazing, it's cool. I've gotten so much support from around the world," said Elliott.

The SFUfootball team is in the NCAAII division. Although the team lost the game 56-20to Linfield University, Elliottscored two points by twice converting an extra point following a touchdown.

Started with a bet

Elliott,a psychology major, earned a walk-on spot with the SFU team in 2019 following a bet she made with player on the team that she could kick a 40-yard field goal.

Before that she had never even watched a football game or played the sport. She was amember of the SFU track and field team.

Soon after sending a video of her successfully kicking the ball 40 yards through upright posts, she heard from SFU's football coach. He encouraged her to invest some time into learning the sport and crafting her kick.

"I was just thinking like, 'this is an opportunity that doesn't happen every day. And if I go out there and practice and I don't like it, then I can always stop, right?'" she said.

After doing well at training camp in 2019, she earned a spot on the team that same year but did not play in a game.

In 2020, no games were playeddue to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this fall games are back on and Elliott was also back with the team as a kicker for her third straight year.

"Looking back two years ago, I can never imagine myself being in the situation, but I guess hard work pays off."

Paving the way

Elliott said the team has more than 90 male players, and thecoaching staff is also all men.

Although it can be overwhelming at times, Elliott said her teammates are like brothers to her, and always support her.

"Honestly, I think I'm going to have best friends for life," she said.

Elliott is celebrating another win this season: getting the keys to her own locker room.

It's an old storage room, but she said she plans on making it her own safe space where she can hang out.

She wants other girls and women to take inspiration from her achievement and is actively telling her story and acting as a mentor to others.

"Given my situation and experience, I want girls to know they can do anything. I think my story can be beneficial," she said as part of a release from SFU.