For as long as she can remember, soccer has been a part of Ella Filek's life. Growing up in Calgary, she was surrounded by family members who were immersed in the sport, including her uncle Glenn, who once coached the University of Calgary Dinos.

"I honestly don't remember an exact start date," Filek said. "It's kind of been a part of my life ever since I can remember. My whole family is kind of immersed in soccer, so I just got thrown into it right away."

At first, Filek wasn't drawn to the outfield like most young players. Instead, she gravitated toward the net. Goalkeeping, she admits, came naturally.

"I had a few people in my family who were goalkeepers," she said. "When I got into the training, I just had so much fun with it. I excelled more as a goalkeeper than an outfield player, and my team really needed one. It kind of came naturally that I'd play that position. I just played to my strengths."

Her path, however, was far from straightforward. In high school, Filek suffered a knee injury that sidelined her for an extended period and made her wonder whether she would ever play again.

"I kind of just came to the conclusion that I wouldn't play soccer ever again," she admitted.

Instead of walking away from the sport entirely, she turned to coaching. Filek earned her C license and began working with youth players around Calgary. But something was missing.

"After being diagnosed and getting on the right treatment, my knee got a lot better," she said. "I thought I'd just play soccer for fun, but then I got back into goalkeeping and realized it was a big part of my life that I was missing."

At the time, Filek was already a student at Mount Royal University, finishing her first year without soccer. She assumed her playing career was over. That changed after conversations with a couple of friends on the Cougars' roster.

"I was chatting with a few of my friends because our outdoor season was ending, and I asked, 'What do you guys do when the season ends?' They said they go to their university soccer teams," she recalled. "I had already been at MRU for a year, so I messaged them. They said it was too late, but told me to reach out to the coach anyway."

Filek sent head coach Tino Fusco an email in mid-August, just as preseason was ending. At first, she was told there wasn't a spot. But when one of the team's goalkeepers suffered an injury, she was invited to practice. She never left.

By the end of August, Filek had gone from a student spectator to MRU's starting goalkeeper.

"It was a gradual realization," she said. "I started practicing with the team and kept getting placed with the starters. But I didn't really believe it until Tino told us I would be starting the first game. It was a shock because I had come on so late, but I think I just continued to improve and prove that I was meant to be here."

Her rookie season was a trial by fire. The Cougars were a young squad, with nearly the entire starting lineup made up of first-year players. Wins were hard to come by, and the group often struggled with cohesion.

"Having a whole new team, there were definitely disadvantages," Filek said. "Compared to this season, we just have so much more experience and cohesion. Last year, there were times when if a goal went in, we'd fall apart. Now, we just bounce back."

That maturity has been evident this year. The Cougars, playing in a new division, have only lost one game to start the season. The group has carried itself with renewed confidence, both on the field and in the locker room.

"In the change room before games, if one person has a bunch of energy, it gives everyone else energy," Filek said. "We're comfortable just being ourselves, having a laugh, screaming songs before games. That was lacking last year, but now we've really built that culture."

For Filek, the difference between her first and second season has been just as personal as it has been team-wide. After the whirlwind of unexpectedly becoming the starter, she spent the offseason focused on her mental game.

"I had the skill, but when I was thrown into games, sometimes I would get stressed out," she said. "Now, with that year of experience under my belt, I know my capability and have a lot more confidence in myself."

She spent the summer training with League One teams and attending goalkeeper sessions alongside some of the best in Calgary. That extra work has helped her feel prepared, even as one of the smaller keepers in the conference.

Two years ago, Filek thought her playing days were over. Today, she's not only Mount Royal's starting goalkeeper but a leader on a top team in Canada West. The journey has been anything but simple, but for her, it's been worth every step.

"I think I just continue to improve and prove that I'm meant to be here," she said. "And I've been having a lot of fun with it."