HAMILTON, Ont. – McMaster Marauders defender Shalagh Guha (Waterloo, Ont.) capped off an outstanding first season by receiving national recognition at the 2025 U SPORTS Women's Soccer Awards Ceremony on Wednesday evening. Guha was named both the U SPORTS Rookie of the Year and a member of the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team, adding to an already impressive list of accolades from her debut campaign.

The first-year defender has quickly become a cornerstone of McMaster's lineup, bringing poise, intelligence, and consistency to the back line throughout the 2025 season. Starting all 12 regular-season matches, Guha showcased her versatility as both a defensive anchor and an offensive contributor, finishing the season with three goals and four assists for seven total points. Her ability to read the game, win key challenges, and transition play efficiently made her one of the most well-rounded defenders in the country.

Guha's performances earned her OUA Rookie of the Year and OUA First Team All-Star honors earlier this fall, setting the stage for her national recognition. She became the first McMaster player in program history to receive the U SPORTS Rookie of the Year award, and one of the few defenders nationwide to be recognized with such distinction, a testament to her rare blend of technical skill and tactical maturity.

What sets Guha apart is more than her on-field talent. A student in McMaster's demanding Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed) program, she has balanced academic excellence with athletic achievement, a challenge she has met with the same composure that defines her play. Known among coaches and teammates for her calm under pressure and her steady leadership, Guha has quickly earned the respect of those around her.

Guha's breakout season has been one of the defining stories of the Marauders' year, as McMaster hosts the 2025 U SPORTS Women's Soccer Championship at Ron Joyce Stadium. Her contributions helped McMaster establish one of the strongest defensive units in the OUA, while her attacking instincts from the back gave the Marauders a new dimension in possession.

With her rookie season almost complete, Guha has already built a foundation for what promises to be a standout university career. Her combination of technical quality, tactical understanding, and quiet leadership has made her one of the most exciting young defenders in the nation, and a key piece of McMaster's future.