Former VI Wave standout signs with VfL Bochum

Cecilia Way, a 23 year-old forward from Victoria, B.C., recently completed a transfer from SC Sand to VfL Bochum within the German 2. Frauen-Bundesliga.

"With her physical presence and finishing ability, Cecilia will be an asset to our offense. We are delighted that we were able to convince her of our shared path," says Annike Krahn, VfL Women's Football Director.

Way honed her skills with the Vancouver Island Wave, a high-performance youth program affiliate of Pacific FC. Her early talent was evident as she earned selection to the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX program (a Canadian national development pathway) in 2015, highlighting her skills and the strength of Pacific FC’s local development system.

Way would then go on to star for Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario from 2019 to 2022, where she tallied 30 goals and 11 assists over three seasons. In 2021 she helped lead the Queen’s Gaels to an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championship, with the team finishing fifth nationally at the U SPORTS Championship that year. In her final collegiate season, she led Queen’s in scoring with 11 goals (despite missing two games), the second-highest goals total in the conference.

In July 2023, after finishing her university career, Way signed her first professional contract with 1. FSV Mainz 05 in Germany. She made an immediate impact in the 2023-24 season, scoring 23 goals in 21 matches and emerging as the league’s top scorer while helping Mainz win the Regionalliga Südwest title. Way’s goal tally earned her the Golden Boot of the league and propelled Mainz into a promotion playoff where they fell just short of moving up to the 2. Bundesliga.

In summer 2024, Way transferred to SC Sand in the 2. Frauen-Bundesliga. She continued her star form at SC Sand, becoming the club’s leading scorer with 10 goals in 22 appearances across league and cup play in the 2024-25 season. Her attacking prowess made her one of the standout offensive threats in the league and showcased her ability to excel at a higher level of competition.

Way’s signing with VfL Bochum 1848’s women’s team, which competes in Germany’s 2. Frauen-Bundesliga, marks the latest step in her professional journey. This move sees Way continue to compete in Germany’s second tier, further establishing herself in European football and coming full circle as Bochum was the club that earned promotion over Way’s Mainz squad in 2024.

Bochum head coach Kyra Malinowski has long had the attacking player on her radar: "She already demonstrated her goal-scoring ability in the Regionalliga. She also made the transition to the 2. Bundesliga very successfully."

Way’s progression from Vancouver Island to the international stage underscores the role of Pacific FC’s development system in her growth. Vancouver Island Wave, as Pacific’s youth affiliate, provided foundational training and exposure, preparing her for higher levels like U SPORTS and beyond.