Sophomore soccer standout Mohammed Tolba on his path to stardom

Fresh off his own Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men’s soccer rookie of the year campaign, Dalhousie star Mohammed Tolba sees a little of himself in this year’s rookies, though he says the team will need more than depth for post-season success.  

Last season’s team showed improvement from the 2023-2024 squad and was a solid team in its own right. Besides going 6-4-2 in the regular season (4-5-3 the previous season), fans of the black and gold saw striker Ben Hashimoto and defender Jack Ellis take a step forward with first-team all-star nods.  

They also got a glimpse into the team’s future with striker Tolba.  

The 5-7 striker from Stellarton, N.S. is no stranger to success on the East Coast. Soccer Nova Scotia awarded Tolba the Youth Performance Player of the Year Award after he scored 18 goals in 18 games in 2023. Tolba has played for the U21 Wanderers development team since he was 17. He says he was uncertain what his role would be as a freshman and wasn’t gunning for rookie of the year. Tolba started 11 out of 12 games, notching three goals, four assists … 

… and one rookie of the year award. 

Dalhousie hadn’t housed the AUS Rookie of the Year award in 13 years before Tolba captured it. 

“I really think all my individual success comes down to the core group we have,” he says. “When things are tough, I rely on them like a family … That’s not something I can say about every team I’ve been on.

“Individual accolades are great, and it’s obviously a great look on a resumé, but the team comes first.”  

This season’s team features rookie midfielders Reese Weatherston and Nathan Lechelt, and striker Kyle Lawford. Tolba had an immediate impact in the AUS — he thinks this batch of rookies could accomplish the same feat. These rookies, alongside a mature returning group, give Tolba confidence that Dalhousie can make a deeper playoff run after losing in the quarterfinals.

At the worst possible time, Dal was plagued with injuries. Keeper Ben Sinclair was coming off a head injury, while Tolba was dealing with ankle issues in Dal’s 2-0 quarterfinal loss to the University of Cape Breton Capers. 

This season’s roster has “insane depth at every position,” according to Tolba. Come playoff time, they’ll likely need to lean on their rookies, especially new players like Saint Mary’s University transfer Woody Bain, a multi-time defensive all-star.

Tolba is confident, but that playoff loss still weighs on his mind. When asked which moment he’ll remember most from his rookie season, he took a beat, letting static crackle over the phone before responding: “Good or bad?” 

The striker doesn’t want to take any chances with Dal’s championship odds, saying that securing a higher regular-season position will be crucial. The team’s fourth-place finish last season saw them play a Capers team that struggled in the standings but had championship experience. Had the Tigers secured a first or second-place finish, the team would’ve been able to skip the quarterfinal.  

Keeping it between the ears 

Tolba puts the team first, but he’s also aiming for another first-team or a second-team AUS men’s soccer all-star award. For the team to succeed, he needs to be all-star calibre.  

2022-2023 AUS rookie of the year Jacob Spizzirri thinks Tolba could be league MVP one day — if Tolba doesn’t let others get in his head.  

Spizzirri says he started his sophomore season feeling the weight of expectation, wondering if he could replicate his rookie campaign. 

“At the start, it didn’t go well, and I was really struggling,” he says. “I kind of thought, maybe last year was a write-off. I guess I got lucky. I think it’s a lot of a mind game.” 

Spizzirri says it’s easy to get lost in the media and your stats, and the 2023 season taught him to keep a level head and stay hungry.  

After a difficult season, Spizzirri says living by that mentality helped him score the game-winning goal in the national championship game. Spizzirri played one more season for the Capers, reaching the AUS championship game before transferring to Queen’s. He’s taking the fall semester online to explore professional soccer opportunities in Europe. 

“I think [Tolba] could be someone who makes a step to the next level one day,” Spizzirri says. “So, for him, I’d say it’s just about maintaining a level head and continuing to work hard each and every day.”  

The Tigers are 3-0-1 this season, as of Sept. 13. They play their next game against Mount Allison University on Sept. 19 at Wickwire Field.

Tolba hasn’t missed a beat, with two goals and two helpers to start his sophomore campaign.