University of Regina women’s soccer head coach
Bob Maltman announced Thursday that Tayler Firth, Megan Florizone, Molly Glass, Melanie King, Jayde McFee, Zoe Threlfall, and Nicole Westcott have all committed to the Cougars.
Four of the recruits hail from Regina (Firth, Florizone, King, and Westcott), while two come from Prince Albert (Glass and McFee) and one from Calgary (Threlfall).
“As a group, these women bring a level of technical ability and a commitment to excellence that is vital for our program to continue our forward progress,” Maltman said. “We are creating a framework of increased competition for places within the squad, which will lead to a greater degree of consistency in performance during training and an improved level of on-field performance.”
The Cougars will open up their 2010 schedule with a non-conference tournament in Calgary on the Aug. 20 weekend, where they’ll take on Mount Royal College, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and UBC-Okanagan. The U of R kicks off its Canada West schedule with a pair of home matches on Sept. 11 and 12 against Fraser Valley and Victoria.
Here’s a player-by-player look at the incoming class of recruits –
Tayler Firth (Winston Knoll Collegiate)
Position: Forward/midfielder
Hometown: Regina, Sask.
Club: AC Futbol Club, WCP Cosmos
Firth, who played club with the WCP Cosmos and the AC Futbol Club, could be utilized by Maltman as a midfielder or a forward.
“Tayler is a two-footed player with the confidence to attack from the front or through midfield,” Maltman said. “Having observed her development over the past number of years, she has become very confident in 1-v-1 situations, is more composed with the ball at her feet, and can be both a creator and finisher of scoring opportunities.”
Megan Florizone (Dr. Martin LeBoldus HS)
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Regina, Sask.
Club: RE United, WCP Cosmos
Florizone is a midfielder that has been a part of several successful club and high school teams. She won a city championship last year with the LeBoldus Golden Suns and has extensive club experience with both RE United and the WCP Cosmos.
“Megan will have a very bright future within our program,” Maltman said. “She is a midfield player who is technically proficient and very comfortable with the ball. Her vision is a tremendous asset that allows her to make good decisions both on and off the ball.”
Molly Glass (Carlton Comprehensive HS)
Position: Defender
Hometown: Prince Albert, Sask.
Club: Prince Albert Celtic
Glass, who has attended club nationals, been a member of several provincial all-star squads, and earned a spot as a starter on Saskatchewan’s 2009 Canada Summer Games team, is a solid addition to the Cougars. She also won a provincial 3A high school championship last season with the Carlton Crusaders.
“Molly’s commitment is a significant boost for our squad,” Maltman said. “She possesses great pace, is a fierce competitor, and displays good composure with the ball in pressure situations. Her defensive talents and ability to make good decisions makes her an asset at the back or as a defensive midfielder.”
Melanie King (Dr. Martin LeBoldus HS)
Position: Forward
Hometown: Regina, Sask.
Club: RE United, WCP Cosmos
Like Florizone, King won a city championship last season at LeBoldus and played club ball with RE United and the WCP Cosmos. Though she has experience at several positions, Maltman expects to use her up front.
“Melanie will have the opportunity to develop in one or two positions within our program,” Maltman said. “Her role will become more clearly identified once she’s had the opportunity to display her talents at camp.”
Jayde McFee (St. Mary HS)
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Prince Albert, Sask.
Club: Prince Albert Celtic
McFee has a great deal of experience at both the club and provincial levels, including playing with Glass and current Cougars Meagan Cormier and Jessica Meyer at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island.
“I fully expect that Jayde’s style of play will be well suited to our league,” Maltman said. “She is a powerful, two-footed player and a strong challenger for balls along the ground and in the air. She is very coachable and is motivated to play with the consistency demanded at this level.”
Zoe Threlfall (Foothills Composite HS)
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Club: Calgary Chinooks
Originally from England, Threlfall attended Foothills Composite in Calgary and played club soccer with the Calgary Chinooks. She impressed Maltman at the team’s identification camp with her technical skills, composure, and confidence.
“Zoe displayed a high degree of consistency and a good understanding of the game during our camp,” Maltman said. “On the pitch, she displays the competitive intensity we’re looking for, while off the field she is a respectful individual with an excellent attitude toward her studies.”
Nicole Westcott (Campbell Collegiate)
Position: Defender
Hometown: Regina, Sask.
Club: RE United, WCP Cosmos
One of two defenders in this season’s recruiting class, Westcott starred for the Campbell Tartans and played club soccer with RE United and the WCP Cosmos.
“Nicole is a gifted, coachable athlete who has achieved success at both the club and high school level,” Maltman said. “I fully expect her to adjust to the increased pace of play and have a great career with the Cougars.”
2010 University of Regina Women’s Soccer Recruiting Class
F/M Tayler Firth – Regina, Sask. (Winston Knoll Collegiate)
M Megan Florizone – Regina, Sask. (Dr. Martin LeBoldus HS)
D Molly Glass – Prince Albert, Sask. (Carlton Comprehensive HS)
F Melanie King – Regina, Sask. (Dr. Martin LeBoldus HS)
M Jayde McFee – Prince Albert, Sask. (St. Mary HS)
M Zoe Threlfall – Calgary, Alta. (Foothills Composite HS)
D Nicole Westcott – Regina, Sask. (Campbell Collegiate)