(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS women’s soccer team is adding winger/striker Sarah Nason to their recruiting class of 2024.
The 16-year-old, from Winnipeg, has signed a U SPORTS Letter of Intent and will join the REDS ahead of the 2024 Atlantic University Sport season.
“We’re really pleased to have Sarah joining our group,” said REDS’ head coach Jon Crossland. “It’s a bit of a homecoming for her as her father was born in McAdam, so she’s returning to her New Brunswick roots.”
Nason is currently in her Grade 12 year at Winnipeg’s Westgate Mennonite Collegiate, where she captained the Wings girls’ team in 2023.
She’s also spent time in a number of different club programs in recent years, including Premier Winnipeg Phoenix FC, Valour FC, and the E&E Sports Management Travel Team.
“I felt a connection with the team as soon as I practiced with them,” said Nason. “They’re supportive of each other and I feel I can learn a lot from them. The tour of the campus highlighted supports that are available to all students and UNB has the area of study that I’m very interested in.”
“Sarah will be an exciting addition to our program,” said Coach Crossland. “Her favourite thing to do is score goals and she’s had success doing that across many levels thus far. She has a great mentality and speed that will help make her dangerous during her AUS career. She’ll compliment our current attacking players and be a fun player to watch.”
Nason promises to bring an encouraging and supportive approach to being a teammate and says she’ll work hard.
“I’m a goal-scorer but am just as happy to set others up for a goal,” she said. “My one-on-one attacking skills are one of my strengths, as is my speed, which I use to transition quickly from offence to defence.”
Nason says her short-term goals include making a significant contribution to the team and improving her game. Longer-term, she wants to be part of a successful REDS team.
Nason will study Criminology and Criminal Justice, in the Arts faculty, while attending UNB.
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTO: Submitted