The Sudbury Cyclones women's team wanted to pick right up where they left off - for very good reason - kickstarting their second year of play in the Ontario Premier League Women's OPL 3 bracket.

With one Cup game in the books, no complaints yet.

Despite only fielding two of the starters who played in their inaugural 2025 season opener (keeper Noémie Bouchard and local attacker Brooke Dugas), the Cyclones managed to eke out a 1-0 win over Rush Academy Canada, the very same team that eliminated the Sudbury squad from the in-house in-season competition with a 5-0 thrashing.

"Last year, we started wit a three-back, the same way we finished the U21 (2024) season - but that didn't suit this team," explained returning head coach Ross Moynihan. "We moved to a four back and started this season the same way."

There was certainly plenty of supporting data to support this strategy.

"We won our first league game last year but then lost five straight," said Moynihan. Then came the deployment adjustment that turned things around, leading to a six game winning streak as the Cyclones finished the summer with a record of 7-7-0, battling their way back to 8th place in a 12-team grouping.

"We wanted to start (this year) how we finished (last year)," said Moynihan.

A goal by Emmy Arsenault in the 52nd minute and a rock-solid performance in net from Noémie Bouchard was all that it would take for the Sudbury reps to move on to round two of Cup play, despite being extremely limited with regards to suitable training venues this spring.

"We came away very happy with the togetherness of our team and the heart that they showed," said Moynihan. "This was kind of an exhibition game for us to see where we are at, what we can improve on, what we can do as a team with new girls coming in."

Though 13 of the 20 players on the roster are returnees, four starters from last year remain injured, with others enjoying the opportunity to step up, acclimatizing themselves quickly to the Cyclones' style of play.

"The players that we brought in are used to that kind of a system," said Moynihan, his team deployed a 4-2-3-1 shape as their alignment of choice at the moment. "It was important for us, bringing in new players, to continue being defensively sound and playing out from the back."

"It was one of our strengths last year," Moynihan continued. "Once we got out back line sorted, we were very secure there."

Up front, the movement of his troops is far less mandated, allowing skilled players to do their thing.

"Once we crossed into the opposition third of the field, it was kind of just creativity there," said Moynihan. "It was generally get down the line and cross it in or head for goal. The players had freedom to choose their moments there - but we were very focused on defense."

The Cyclones will open regular season play on (Sunday) April 26th with a road game versus Oakville SC, with their home opener set for one week later (May 2nd), a 3:00 p.m. kickoff with Rush Academy at the James Jerome Sports Complex.

The 2026 edition of the Sudbury Cyclones women's team also features Charlie Frew, Kate Pauli, Charlize Baker, Tia Lee, Grace Schisler, Kaja Beljo, Kiara Levac, Kynlee Cresswell, Sophia Oommen, Natasia San Cartier, Amelie Pires, Yvonne Barnes, Abby Godfrey, Emma Meadows, Olivia Skinkle, Natalia Bégic and Arijana Tuttle.

Joining Ross Moynihan on the team staff are assistant coach Cole Giffin, goalkeeping coach Chris Belanger, manager Jessica Grenier and trainer Mathieu Longpré.