"All of our Canadian kids bring a lot to what we do," Spartan head coach Jeff Hosler said. 

Henning, the starting goalie, is already making a name for herself earning honors like Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Briggs has been a key playmaker, leading the Spartans in both assists and minutes. Watson is having a career-best season, with four goals and five assists to her name. Meanwhile, Beerworth has added solidity to the backline while also providing relentless forward momentum and contributing to the attack. Together, these players are a big reason why MSU has become such a strong and well-rounded team.

Kayla Briggs: From idolizing to playing alongside her heroes

When Briggs walked out of the tunnel at Starlight Stadium to earn her first cap for the Canadian Women’s National Team, it was the culmination of years of work. 

Briggs got identified as a potential player for Canada when she was in eleventh grade at Monarch Park Collegiate Institute, where she and Watson went to high school together. Her identification led her to join the National Development Center, where Watson and Henning already played.

From there, she traveled with Canada’s youth teams, playing in U17 and U20 tournaments such as World Cups and Concacaf tournaments. This past spring, she received her first senior call-up.

"That was surreal. That was insane," Briggs said. "That was a pretty awesome experience to play with people that I grew up idolizing."

The roster was stacked with Olympic gold medalists and household names: Vanessa Gilles, Ashley Lawrence, Jayde Riviere, Quinn, Jessie Fleming and Olivia Smith — players who star for clubs around the world, including Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

"It was a surreal moment, because these are players that I’ve grown up watching," Briggs said. "Jessie Fleming is one of my biggest idols and next thing you know, I’m playing with her. Just getting to do drills with her, watch her train, and learn from her based off of things like that was just insane."

Briggs is living the dream at MSU but has great ambitions for what comes next.

"I would love to be a part of a World Cup," she said. "I am surrounded by such great people at this program which is helping me lead the pathway to what I want to achieve. Continuing to push myself to improve in this environment is going to be huge for me. When I get opportunities with the senior team, I just need to take it in and go for it."

She is certainly making an argument for her inclusion in future Canada rosters with her impression in green and white since transferring this season. Currently leading the Spartans in not only minutes played, but also assists-seven this season- Briggs has played a key role in shaping such a successful Spartan attack. Her two goals have also helped the Spartans in important games but do little to quantify her impact.

"Kayla is in really top form right now. She’s a big part of our engine," Hosler said. "The player load she puts out every day, the work ethic she shows up to training with… she can cover a lot of ground on both sides of the ball, and I think her creativity in the attack is really showing."

Briggs has a bright future ahead, and the Spartans are fortunate to be part of such a crucial point in her rise to the top.

Noelle Henning: Star in the net

Since earning the starting spot in goal for Michigan State, Henning has been lights-out in the green and white. While unusual for a freshman goalkeeper to be so expertly calm, this composure and consistency comes from years of international experience.

Henning has been with Canada since the U15 level. This impressive longevity at the highest youth level has been rewarded with recognition and trust that is carrying over into both her college and senior national team careers.

This past summer before joining MSU, Henning was named goalkeeper of the tournament as she helped lead Canada to gold at the U20 Concacaf Championship.

"We had some pretty big games during the tournament," Henning said. "It was about just being able to show up big time during those moments and being there for the team as a leader. I ultimately got the trophy and I’m very happy about that."

In July, right after impressing on the youth international stage, Henning was named to the senior national team roster for the first time as an injury replacement for Lysianne Proulx, a camp Briggs was also present for.

"I remember being called in for a couple of training sessions [with the senior team] and then Casey Stoney (head coach of team Canada) pulled me aside and said, ‘Hey, we want you on this roster as the third goalkeeper.’ It didn’t even feel real," Henning said. "I’m so happy to have been able to accomplish that alongside Kayla."

She, too, got to train alongside her heroes. 

"Playing with Kailen Sheridan was crazy," Henning said.

Sheridan, who plies her trade for San Diego Wave in the NWSL and won the Golden Glove in 2022, has been Canada’s starting goalkeeper through huge tournaments like the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2023 World Cup.

"I watched her on TV for so long, so I’m like, 'Why are you standing in front of me?'" said Henning. "She’s been one of my idols growing up, so seeing her in person just doing her thing is so inspiring."

Henning has her sights set high.

"I would love to play overseas somewhere in England, Germany, or France. I’m German, so I have that background and Bayern Munich would be my dream club," Henning said. "I want to play with the senior women’s national team, go to World Cups, Olympics…Honestly, the sky is the limit. I want to achieve all of that."

With the name she is making for herself not just at MSU, but all over collegiate soccer as a freshman, there is no doubt that she has the ability to make it to the highest level.

Renee Watson: The glue that holds it together

Watson brings it all together for Canada and MSU. Her versatility is her strength as she acts as the pivot not only between attack and defense, but between a home in Canada and a home in East Lansing.

Watson has been at MSU since her freshman year, her arrival coinciding with Beerworth’s transfer from New Mexico State.

"It’s been super nice having Kayla and Noelle join," Watson said. "I’ve been friends with Kayla since high school, we went to high school together, played on Canada teams together. Same with Noelle, we got put on Canada teams together."

She may have even played a role in their decisions to come to MSU, saying she encouraged them both to tour when she heard Henning was committing and Briggs was transferring. 

Their connection on the field is evident. When Watson has the ball, it often ends up right in Briggs' path and sends her on her way to goal. Likewise, when Henning distributes the ball, it often finds Watson easily. 

"Now, getting to have that connection to keep playing with them is great. We have the same ideas, and we just know each other so well that we go so well together," Watson said. "Our first few practices together, everyone was like, 'Oh my gosh you guys play so well together, you all know exactly where you’re gonna be!' I’ve played with them for the past five or six years. You learn who they are as players on and off the field."

While this on-field chemistry is as natural as their friendship, it wasn’t without work – it was the product of years of bonding. 

"Me, Kayla and Noelle went to a U17 World Cup together and that was super fun. We became closer as friends in that tournament because we’re away for a month and we’re in India. It was a whole new experience for everyone, the long travel days and being stuck together just really brings you closer together." Watson said. "Noelle and I were roommates, she got to see me in my weakest moments when I was food poisoned and dying, but she stuck through it. Thank you, Noelle, for not complaining, because that was horrible."

Watson said playing with the national team was a memorable and meaningful experience, calling it "a great honor" to represent her country at both the U-17 and U-20 World Cups alongside her best friends.

Representing their nation has taken Watson, Briggs and Henning all over the world, from India to Colombia. It’s even given Watson the experience to get to know her home country better due to the extensive trips all over Canada.

"I’ve gotten to see a lot of the world through a soccer field. It’s an experience that not many people get to have. I’m very grateful that I’ve had the chance to go see so many different places," Watson said. "Now that I’m here, I’ve been all over the states, too."

Hosler said Watson is a key player for his team, praising her creativity, vision and versatility in both midfield and at left back.

This has come with great reward this season. Watson has elevated her game, and it's not a coincidence that it's with her compatriots. They have all brought each other’s skills to the next level. 

"I just want to be the best player I can be, whatever happens," Watson said. "I’d love to keep playing for the national team, but at the end of the day, I’m just here to have as much fun as I can and help Michigan State do as well as we can. Hopefully we can win a trophy this year or next."

Sofia Beerworth: A steady presence and a piece of home

While Sofia Beerworth may not have come up through the Canadian national team set up, her influence for the Spartans is undeniable.

"[Beerworth] has that ability to be a lockdown 1v1 defender at outside back," Hosler said. "When she’s at the top of her game, she’s an elite attacking player from that position. She can take people on; she can provide delivery and service. She’s a really dangerous and creative player in that space."

Beerworth’s transfer to MSU brought her closer to home and into a welcoming environment.

"It opened my eyes," she said. "There’s a sense of community here, the campus is amazing, and it’s closer to home, so it offered everything that I was looking for. It’s nice to have our little community, like they know cultural stuff. It’s also just nice to have a little piece of home with me even though I’m abroad."

That community feels especially close with her fellow Canadians. She even gets rides home with Watson, although she is from Montreal while the others all come from the Toronto area.

Beerworth is also grateful for what soccer, especially the MSU program, has given her.

"It definitely teaches you a lot of life lessons; discipline, commitment – all those skills that you’ll eventually apply in your career whether that's soccer or a professional job," said Beerworth.

Looking ahead, she’s interested in Canada’s new professional league, the Northern Super League.

---

For these four Canadian Women, the bond they began building back home has now taken them all over the country and the world – and Michigan State women’s soccer is benefiting from it.