Nicola Golen (born November 29, 2003) is a Canadian soccer player who plays for Ottawa Rapid FC in the Northern Super League.
.jpg) Golen in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | November 29, 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Ottawa Rapid FC | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Royal York FC | |||
| NDC Ontario | |||
| North Toronto Nitros | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2024 | Harvard Crimson | 42 | (3) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019 | DeRo United FC | 10 | (1) |
| 2022–2024 | North Toronto Nitros | 23 | (1) |
| 2024 | → North Toronto Nitros B | 1 | (0) |
| 2025– | Ottawa Rapid FC | 20 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of October 17, 2025 | |||
Early life
editGolen played youth soccer with Royal York FC, NDC Ontario, and the North Toronto Nitros and played for Team Ontario from 2017 to 2019.[1][2]
College career
editIn 2021, Golen began attending Harvard University, where she played for the women's soccer team.[1] On September 2, 2022, she scored her first collegiate goal in a 4-0 victory over the UNC Greensboro Spartans.[3]
Club career
editIn 2019, Golen played with DeRo United FC in League1 Ontario.[4]
In 2022, she began playing with the North Toronto Nitros in League1 Ontario.
In 2025, she signed with Northern Super League club Ottawa Rapid FC.[5] On May 25, 2025, after having been away from the club due to completing her university exams, she made her debut for the team, in a substitute appearance against Montreal Roses FC.[6] On June 21, 2025, she scored her first goal in a 3-1 victory over Calgary Wild FC.[7] Golen was substituted on for the beginning of the second half and provided an assist to DB Pridham as the Rapid lost 2-1 against Vancouver Rise FC in the first leg of the semifinal in the inaugural NSL playoffs on November 4, 2025.[8] On January 6, 2026, it was announced that she had signed a contract extension to keep her with the Rapid through 2026.[9] Speaking about Golen remaining with the Rapid, the club's technical director Kristina Kiss said “She’s exceptionally creative on the ball and she’s a great teammate to boot. We’re just beginning to scratch the surface of her potential, and we are very happy to have her back for 2026.”[10] Golen scored in a 3-1 loss against Halifax Tides FC on April 25, 2026, the Rapid's opening game of the 2026 season.[11]
International career
editIn 2019, Golen was called up to a camp with the Canada U17.[2]
In January 2022, she was called up to a camp with the Canada U20.[12]
Career statistics
edit- As of November 9, 2025[13]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| DeRo United FC | 2019[4] | League1 Ontario | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | 10 | 1 | |||
| North Toronto Nitros | 2022[14] | League1 Ontario | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2023[15] | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 1 | ||||
| 2024[16] | League1 Ontario Premier | 11 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 14 | 1 | |||
| Total | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 27 | 2 | ||
| North Toronto Nitros B | 2024[16] | League2 Ontario | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Ottawa Rapid FC | 2025 | Northern Super League | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 54 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 60 | 4 | ||
References
edit- 1 2 "Nicola Golen Harvard profile". Harvard Crimson.
- 1 2 "Canada Soccer announces squad for Women's National U-17 Team Camp in Mexico". Ontario Soccer Association. November 25, 2019.
- ↑ "Women's Soccer Takes Down UNCG, 4-0". Harvard Crimson. September 2, 2022.
- 1 2 "Nicola Golen 2019 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ↑ @ottrapidfc (March 12, 2025). "Ottawa Rapid FC adds Nicola Golen" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ↑ "May 25: Ottawa Rapid FC vs Montreal Roses". Ottawa Rapid FC. May 26, 2025.
- ↑ "June 21: Ottawa Rapid FC vs Calgary Wild FC". Ottawa Rapid FC. June 23, 2025.
- ↑ Almond, Corey (November 5, 2025). "Abdu rises to the occasion with two-goal performance for Vancouver in NSL playoff win over Ottawa". Away From The Numbers. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. January 6, 2026. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Nicola Golen Extends Through 2026". Ottawa Rapid FC. February 2, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Rhodes, Vallerand score second-half goals to earn Halifax NSL season-opening win". The Canadian Press. April 25, 2026. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Women's Soccer's Golen Added to Canada U20 January Camp". Harvard Crimson. January 13, 2022.
- ↑ Nicola Golen at Soccerway
- ↑ "Nicola Golen 2022 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ↑ "Nicola Golen 2023 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- 1 2 "Nicola Golen L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
External links
edit- Nicola Golen at Soccerway
- Nicola Golen at Canada Soccer