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UFV Women’s Soccer Add 8 – Including Valley Talent

Fraser Valley – The University of the Fraser Valley women’s soccer program is pleased to introduce the balance of its 2019 recruiting class, having signed eight more local standouts.

Defenders Alanna Sydenham, Jenna Mele and Calista Ballantine, goalkeepers Brooklyn Ivey and Kareena Sahota, and midfielders Emily White, Halle McCambley and Jessica Fennell will join the UFV squad next fall, joining previously announced recruit Bryana Buttar in the Cascades’ Class of 2019.

The entire class hails from the Fraser Valley – Sydenham and Fennell are from Surrey, McCambley and Sahota are from Maple Ridge, Ivey and Buttar are from Abbotsford, Mele is from Coquitlam, White is from Langley, and Ballantine is from Chilliwack.

Two EA Sports BC Soccer Premier League clubs are represented in the group – Sydenham, Buttar, Ivey, Sahota, White, Fennell and Ballantine are teammates at Surrey United, while Mele and McCambley play for Coquitlam Metro Ford.

“We’re thrilled with this class,” UFV head coach Rob Giesbrecht enthused. “The quantity and the quality of this class is impressive. We’ve brought a few players in who I think are going to contribute immediately, as well as some players who might take a bit of seasoning but down the road can all be exceptional U SPORTS soccer players.

“Having depth in Canada West women’s soccer is so important because of the competitive nature of the league. We look forward to this group increasing the competitive culture in our team. All UFV women’s soccer team members know that regardless of whether they’re an incoming first year or a returning fifth year, they will have to battle for their desired role.”

Alanna Sydenham

5’5” defender, Surrey B.C.

Surrey United

Panorama Ridge Secondary

Sydenham had a highly decorated youth soccer career, winning BCSPL titles with Surrey United in 2017 and 2018, and helping her squad to a ninth-place finish at the national championships in October. She also helped her Panorama Ridge Thunder win a B.C. AAA high school title in 2017, and she earned athlete of the year honours at school from grades 8 through 11. Sydenham participated in the 2016 BC Summer Games, helping the Fraser River zone squad to a fifth-place finish.

“Alanna is a versatile player,” Giesbrecht said. “We believe she can succeed in a number of positions. She’s progressed her game over the past few years and possesses a competitive mentality and athletic qualities to excel in U SPORTS women’s soccer.”

“I chose UFV because I felt it was a great fit for me academically and soccer-wise,” Sydenham said. “I’m super-excited to start this journey over the next five years.”

Jenna Mele

5’1” defender, Coquitlam B.C.

Coquitlam Metro Ford

Dr. Charles Best Secondary

Among the highlights of Mele’s outstanding youth soccer career was helping her Coquitlam Metro Ford squad to a BCSPL championship at the U14 level. She has also been part of Team B.C. from U14 through U18.

“Jenna is a dynamic outside back,” Giesbrecht said. “She defends very well, and she can get forward to join the attack. We’re thrilled she’s joining our program. She’s been successful as a youth player, and we’re looking forward to her continuing that success at the university level.”

“At the end of the day, I really liked the university,” Mele said, breaking down her decision to sign with UFV. “I like all the girls on the team, and alongside soccer, they have a great criminal justice program here that I’m excited to take. I want to improve myself as a player during my time here, and help the team as much as I can.”

Brooklyn Ivey

5’10” goalkeeper, Abbotsford B.C.

Surrey United

Robert Bateman Secondary

Ivey has been a Team B.C. fixture from the U13 level to the present. On the club scene, she was part of the Fraser Valley Premier squad which went to the BCSPL finals in 2014 and 2016 before moving over to Surrey United for its run to the provincial crown this past season.

“Brooklyn has potential to be a fantastic goalkeeper for our program,” Giesbrecht said. “She possesses the physical qualities succeed at this level. She’s had a very good youth career, and she has the potential to be a fantastic keeper for us.”

“I’ve been really close to UFV from the beginning,” Ivey said. “Rob has always been at our practices since we were young, and I’ve known him for a long time. The soccer program is good, and I’m going into criminology, which is also a very good program. I’m really excited to start here at UFV with my friends.”

Emily White

5’10” midfielder, Langley B.C.

Surrey United

D.W. Poppy Secondary

White was a key part of the Surrey United squad which won the BCSPL title this year and took ninth at nationals. Prior to that, she played for Fraser Valley Premier, helping the squad advance to the provincial finals at the U14 and U16 levels. She also earned team MVP honours with her school soccer team at D.W. Poppy in 2016 and 2017.

“Emily is a wide attacking player who has the potential to play in a variety of attacking positions,” Giesbrecht said. “We like her competitiveness and her ability to add to our attack. Emily will add depth to our team and with some hard work on adjusting to the physical demands of U SPORTS women’s soccer, she has the potential to be an exceptional player for us.”

“I chose UFV because of the soccer program and its excellent academics,” said White, who will pursue a General Studies degree. “I like the small class sizes – I find it easier to learn that way. And it’s close to home, and I love being with my family.”

Halle McCambley

5’6” midfielder, Maple Ridge B.C.

Coquitlam Metro Ford

Thomas Haney Secondary

McCambley began her BCSPL career with Fraser Valley Premier, helping the team to the provincial final at the U14 and U16 levels before moving over to Coquitlam Metro Ford. In 2016, she earned an all-star nod at the Vancouver Whitecaps Showcase.

“Halle is a hard-working central midfield player, and I think her work rate and soccer intelligence will help her at the university level,” Giesbrecht said. “We look forward to her transitioning into our team, and with her inspiring work rate we are confident that she will make the physical progress necessary to develop into a contributing player.”

“UFV is an amazing school with a great team that I am honoured to be a part of,” McCambley said. “I want to help the team as much as I can, and win championships. And UFV’s got a great nursing program that I’m really excited to hopefully be a part of. And in practicing with the team, they’re all amazing girls and I’m excited to get started.”

Jessica Fennell

5’2” midfielder, Surrey B.C.

Surrey United

North Surrey Secondary

Fennell played Metro soccer, winning a pair of provincial titles before moving up to the BCSPL level with Surrey United this past season and joining their run to the B.C. crown and the national championship berth. She also earned athlete of the year awards at North Surrey Secondary in her Grade 9 and Grade 11 years.

“Jess is a skillful, wide attacking player who has a about her and an ability to impact the game with creating chances for herself and others,” Giesbrecht said. “We look forward to seeing her in our program and adding to our attack.”

“I can still live at home, and I like the small class sizes at UFV,” said Fennell, who will pursue a kinesiology degree. “I know it’s a good soccer program, and I’m excited to play for them. I want to really help the team and make a big impact.”

Kareena Sahota

5’7” goalkeeper, Maple Ridge B.C.

Surrey United

Westview Secondary

Sahota won a pair of provincial titles this season. She won a Metro championship with Port Coquitlam, and also joined Surrey United for its run to the BCSPL crown. She’s experienced success at the regional level, helping the Fraser Valley zone squad win gold at the 2016 BC Summer Games.

“Kareena has really come on in her last few years of youth soccer,” Giesbrecht said. “We like her potential to continue her development with our program, and see how far she can take her game. She’s a very good shot-stopper, and we’re thrilled she’s joining us.”

“I found that UFV had great academics and great athletics as well,” said Sahota, who will pursue a criminal justice degree at UFV. “That was big for me, and it’s close to home. I want to win a championship during my time here, and build bonds with the team.”

Calista Ballantine

5’5” defender, Chilliwack B.C.

Surrey United

Sardis Secondary

Giesbrecht will have to wait a year to add Ballantine to the Cascades’ game-day lineup – she’ll redshirt the 2019-20 season following ACL surgery.

Prior to joining Surrey United, she played for Fraser Valley Premier, where she helped her team to a pair of provincial finals and earned team MVP honours in the championship game in 2016. On the school soccer scene, she played alongside current Cascades Meghan Rose and Mackenzie Silbernagel at Sardis Secondary, helping the Falcons to a fourth-place finish at AAA provincials in 2017.

“Calista is a dynamic defensive player,” Giesbrecht said. “We could see her succeeding centrally or as an outside back as well. She’s tough in the tackle, and she competes hard. We look forward to seeing her through her recovery process and playing for us down the road.”

“I know they have a really good soccer program, because I know a couple girls who play here,” noted Ballantine, who plans to enroll in the Bachelor of Science program with an eye on moving on to med school eventually. “It’s close to home which I like, and I also like the small class sizes. I want to make a positive impact on the team, and do well.”

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