The Field Hockey team is thrilled to announce the commitment of five recruits for the upcoming 2017 season. The coaching staff has worked hard to continue a strong rebuild of the field hockey program and believe all five of these student-athletes will be strong contributors throughout their Warrior careers.
Miranda Hunter (pictured above), a midfielder, hails from Mississauga, ON, attending Clarkson HS and playing her club field hockey with the GOA Reds. She brings experience from many international tournaments with GOA, OFSAA championships and national championships having most recently served as team captain on U18 Team Ontario in 2016.
"Miranda has the ability to become an integral part of our midfield right from the get go. She is extremely quick and makes smart decisions under pressure. Miranda brings a wealth of leadership experience and we expect she will quickly develop into leadership role within the team."–
Maria Leahy, Head Coach.
On why she chose Waterloo:
"I am extremely excited to become a Waterloo Warrior this fall 2017. Between the Kinesiology co-op program, the Waterloo field hockey team, and the fact that Waterloo is far enough from home but not too far that it is impossible to make weekend visits, I concluded that I found the perfect fit for me. I am eager to start this next chapter of my life and pleased that I have been offered the opportunity to play on their varsity field hockey team."
Carmen Andiel
Making the cross-country trek is
Carmen Andiel, a Victoria, BC native. Carmen was the captain of her high school team, Oak Bay, and will be looking to fill a much-needed hole in the defensive line. She has trained for many years with Krista Thompson who has spent time as a coach in the National program.
"After first being impressed by Carmen's play, we were even more impressed by her after having the opportunity to meet. She is an all-around student-athlete who will look to fill an important role in the backfield. We are extremely pleased to have her commit to the program and can't wait to see all she accomplishes over her time here." –
Maria Leahy, Head Coach.
On why she chose Waterloo:
"I chose Waterloo because its Recreation and Leisure program ranks as one of the best in North America. Waterloo's strong co-op program will also allow me to apply theory to practice as I develop a better understanding of the role of recreation in improving the well-being of people and communities. Athletics and recreation has always been an essential part of my life and I hope to continue developing skills in these areas through my studies and playing field hockey with Waterloo's Warriors."
Kyra Lewis joins the program after developing through and leading the strong Goderich HS team to back-to-back OFSAA appearances in 2015 and 2016. Kyra will look to play a role in the Warrior offense through a midfield/forward position.
"As we look to become more of an offensive threat in the league, Kyra will provide some speed and skill in the midfield and forward lines. Kyra understands the game very well and has great competitiveness and intensity. We believe Kyra will compete for a playing time immediately." –
Maria Leahy, Head Coach.
On why she chose Waterloo:
"I chose Waterloo because of the plethora of academic opportunities I have access too. As well as the incredible ability to play a high level varsity sport at a school that promotes both the importance of education and athletics."
Keavah Clancy
Rounding out the five recruits is a duo of local standouts
, Keavah Clancy from Ayr, ON and
Jessie Burke from Wellesley, ON.
Keavah joins the program after leading Southwood, one of the highest scoring teams in the high school league. Additionally, she has spent many years training with the Guelph Cobras club and played with current Warrior
Larissa McLeod (Cambridge).
"Keavah is an extremely poised player with a strong knowledge of the game evident through her ability to manipulate many situations. We will look to Keavah to join Kyra in providing a strong attack through a midfield/forward role." –
Maria Leahy, Head Coach.
On why she chose Waterloo:
"I chose Waterloo because it was the best option for me. I've played sports my whole life and I could not imagine not playing one in university. After finishing my last high school field hockey season, I knew I wasn't ready to stop playing. The health studies program at UW seems very interesting to me and going there will allow me to live at home."
Jessie Burke
No stranger to the program is
Jessie Burke, sister of
Tara Burke (Baden) who was a member of the 2015/2016 team. Jessie was the leader of a strong defensive unit at Waterloo-Oxford and will be looked to continue being a defensive wall for the Warriors.
"Although Jessie will play primarily a defensive role for us, her speed will allow her to join the attack with ease. We look forward to seeing how Jessie develops after having an extremely positive experience with her sister, Tara."
On why she chose Waterloo:
"I was already interested in University of Waterloo since grade 9, because of their reputation in the mathematics faculty, particularly their actuarial science program. I am looking forward to participating in coop, and experiencing many different job opportunities so I can tailor my academic experience to meet my goals. As well as the academic benefits of UW, the field hockey program made the decision a no brainer. I am truly honoured to have been recruited by UW and can't wait for my dream to come true come September!"
