Womenâ??s soccer program welcomes five new additions for 2012-13
August 24, 2012
The UNB Varsity Reds women’s soccer program is pleased to welcome five new faces for 2012-2013: Hayley Gates, Bridgewater, NS; Lucy Parkin, Sheffied, UK; Laura McNicolas, Doncaster, UK; Olivia Noonan, Kars, Ontario; and Jill Fox, Fredericton.
Hayley Gates joins the Varsity Reds from South Shore United, who were upset in the final of the Nova Scotia Soccer League semi-finals after a first place finish in the regular season. Gates, was a member SNS’s provincial programs throughout her youth and hails from the same hometown as Varsity Reds coaches Jon and Joe Crossland.
“I chose UNB because when I went to visit everyone was so welcoming and accommodating. Since I am from a small town I liked how the university had the same feel. I knew immediately it was the place I would enjoy attending not only for the solid academic programs but the athletic program as well,” said Gates.
Head Coach Jon Crossland is looking forward to having Hayley on campus and suiting up this fall. “She brings a strong work ethic, good soccer background, and can play across our backline. Hayley has been an elite soccer player in Nova Scotia, which produces many CIS female student athletes. It is also great to recruit a girl from our (Jon and assistant coach Joe) hometown where the soccer has been rejuvenated with a full time technical director and an indoor facility. Joe and I grew up watching Hayley’s mom play soccer, so it’s neat to have the opportunity to coach Hayley years later.”
Lucy Parkin and Laura McNicholas join the Varsity Reds from Balby Carr Academy, a soccer academy that has placed players in CIS and NCAA Schools. Both girls turned down NCAA schools in the US, to attend UNB.
Parkin chose UNB, “because it offered more to me as a person, the university and the facilities looked amazing, and the coach was very professional and seemed very interested in making me a part of the university.”
I can't wait to be a part of a new upcoming football team, doing well in studies and being a part of the team becoming successful,” continued Parkin.
“Lucy will be a nice complement to our returning attacking players,” said Crossland. “We will look for her to step into the center of midfield to be a distributor. She reads the game well, and her ability to make a quality first pass to start the attack will be an asset to us.”
McNicholas is also looking forward to joining the V-Reds squad and while both she and Parkin had offers from other schools she said that she is, “looking forward to help the team become a bigger success.”
Crossland is pleased to have McNicholas in the back field, “Laura possess a great read of the game, and has great instincts for defending. She is vocal and could turn into a leader of our back line quickly.”
Noonan joins UNB fresh off a third place finish at the North American Super Y League Championships with the Ottawa Fury. She will battle returning players for time in the midfield, her preferred position being on the wing.
“I had the opportunity to see Olivia play in Mississauga in May, and her worth ethic and perseverance were outstanding. Olivia plays a simple yet effective game that you appreciate as a coach and teammate,” said Crossland.
Fredericton native Jill Fox becomes the second generation of Fox’s to suit up for the V-Reds. Jill’s sister Jena competed for both the women’s soccer and volleyball teams during her time at UNB. Fox is an FDSA product that has recently returned to action after a bout of mononucleosis. Fox trained last winter with the UNB club team, which will aid her moving into her first university training camp.
“Training with the club in the winter should allow Jill to settle into the speed of play and AUS game quicker. I look forward to seeing Jill battle for a spot in our back line during training camp, and her progress throughout training camp and into the season,” said Crossland.
The women’s soccer team is on the road in exhibition play against the University of Maine at Fort Kent on August 28th and then they host a tournament at the BMO Centre the following weekend as they host McGill, UQTR and UPEI. The Varsity Reds will play McGill on Friday, August 31st at 6 pm and on Sunday will square off against UQTR at 2:00 pm.
Regular season play for both the men’s and women’s teams begins at home on Friday, August 7th when the Mount Allison Mounties are in town with a 5pm start for the women while the men go at 7:15pm.
Hayley Gates joins the Varsity Reds from South Shore United, who were upset in the final of the Nova Scotia Soccer League semi-finals after a first place finish in the regular season. Gates, was a member SNS’s provincial programs throughout her youth and hails from the same hometown as Varsity Reds coaches Jon and Joe Crossland.
“I chose UNB because when I went to visit everyone was so welcoming and accommodating. Since I am from a small town I liked how the university had the same feel. I knew immediately it was the place I would enjoy attending not only for the solid academic programs but the athletic program as well,” said Gates.
Head Coach Jon Crossland is looking forward to having Hayley on campus and suiting up this fall. “She brings a strong work ethic, good soccer background, and can play across our backline. Hayley has been an elite soccer player in Nova Scotia, which produces many CIS female student athletes. It is also great to recruit a girl from our (Jon and assistant coach Joe) hometown where the soccer has been rejuvenated with a full time technical director and an indoor facility. Joe and I grew up watching Hayley’s mom play soccer, so it’s neat to have the opportunity to coach Hayley years later.”
Lucy Parkin and Laura McNicholas join the Varsity Reds from Balby Carr Academy, a soccer academy that has placed players in CIS and NCAA Schools. Both girls turned down NCAA schools in the US, to attend UNB.
Parkin chose UNB, “because it offered more to me as a person, the university and the facilities looked amazing, and the coach was very professional and seemed very interested in making me a part of the university.”
I can't wait to be a part of a new upcoming football team, doing well in studies and being a part of the team becoming successful,” continued Parkin.
“Lucy will be a nice complement to our returning attacking players,” said Crossland. “We will look for her to step into the center of midfield to be a distributor. She reads the game well, and her ability to make a quality first pass to start the attack will be an asset to us.”
McNicholas is also looking forward to joining the V-Reds squad and while both she and Parkin had offers from other schools she said that she is, “looking forward to help the team become a bigger success.”
Crossland is pleased to have McNicholas in the back field, “Laura possess a great read of the game, and has great instincts for defending. She is vocal and could turn into a leader of our back line quickly.”
Noonan joins UNB fresh off a third place finish at the North American Super Y League Championships with the Ottawa Fury. She will battle returning players for time in the midfield, her preferred position being on the wing.
“I had the opportunity to see Olivia play in Mississauga in May, and her worth ethic and perseverance were outstanding. Olivia plays a simple yet effective game that you appreciate as a coach and teammate,” said Crossland.
Fredericton native Jill Fox becomes the second generation of Fox’s to suit up for the V-Reds. Jill’s sister Jena competed for both the women’s soccer and volleyball teams during her time at UNB. Fox is an FDSA product that has recently returned to action after a bout of mononucleosis. Fox trained last winter with the UNB club team, which will aid her moving into her first university training camp.
“Training with the club in the winter should allow Jill to settle into the speed of play and AUS game quicker. I look forward to seeing Jill battle for a spot in our back line during training camp, and her progress throughout training camp and into the season,” said Crossland.
The women’s soccer team is on the road in exhibition play against the University of Maine at Fort Kent on August 28th and then they host a tournament at the BMO Centre the following weekend as they host McGill, UQTR and UPEI. The Varsity Reds will play McGill on Friday, August 31st at 6 pm and on Sunday will square off against UQTR at 2:00 pm.
Regular season play for both the men’s and women’s teams begins at home on Friday, August 7th when the Mount Allison Mounties are in town with a 5pm start for the women while the men go at 7:15pm.