UNBC’s Women’s Soccer team has added a dose of speed and experience, officially announcing the transfer of Sarah Lepine from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology for the 2019-2020 Canada West season.
“I decided to come here because I wanted the opportunity to play soccer at the university level. Neil (Sedgwick) is a really good coach. I feel really good, and the team is so welcoming. It’s a positive environment to grow in, which I am really excited about.”
Lepine is heading into her second year of eligibility, after playing her freshman season with SAIT. The Trojans posted a 12-0 regular-season record, good for tops in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference’s South Division, and earned a silver medal in the ACAC championship. The 19-year-old hopes her experience at the collegiate level helps her transition to the Timberwolves.
“When I was younger, I was with the same team for a really long time. So, going into a new team and learning from other players really helped me a lot. It helps having the support of someone I have played with for a few years now, so it has made the adjustment a lot more comfortable.”
A native of Calgary, Lepine graduated from Crescent Heights High School in 2018. She visited UNBC’s Prince George campus in the spring, and was able to train with Sedgwick. Lepine has kept an eye on the Timberwolves, and is aware of their back-to-back trips to the Canada West playoffs.
“They were really competitive during the season. All their games were really close, so I kept my eye on that. I looked at stats, and watched video of their games to see how they play. I think the difference is going to be how competitive and aggressive it is.”
Standing five-foot-four, the product of the Calgary Blizzards Soccer Club is not the biggest player on the pitch. However, she is quick to close the gap, using impressive burst and footspeed to make contact with the opposition. The Timberwolves play a different style of soccer than any she has played, but she is hopeful to be a positive contributor to the program.
Lepine will enroll in psychology at UNBC, with aspirations to eventually work in sports psychology. She and her Timberwolves teammates will travel for preseason next week, before opening the conference schedule September 5 and 7 in Prince George.
With files from UNBC Athletics
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