WHITECAPS STANDOUT KOVACS SIGNS WITH SPARTANS

Vanessa Kovacs

WOMEN’S SOCCER (ANNOUNCEMENT)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2011
RECRUIT SIGNING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHITECAPS STANDOUT KOVACS SIGNS WITH SPARTANS

LANGLEY, British Columbia – Trinity Western University women’s soccer head coach Graham Roxburgh announced Tuesday afternoon that Vancouver Whitecaps U18 squad and Canadian U20 National Team defender/midfielder Vanessa Kovacs will be joining the three time national champion Spartans for the fall 2011 season.

TWU’s Roxburgh is excited to have the 5-foot-5 Canadian U17 World Cup team member donning the Spartan colours next fall.

"I believe that we have added a fantastic person and player to our program today. Vanessa has the ability to make a significant impact on our squad both in the immediate future as well as years to come. She has the qualities that make her an exceptional player and I am very impressed with who she is as a person,” said Roxburgh. Her ability and level have resulted in her being selected to represent Canada over the last year and she has demonstrated a versatility that will present great options to our squad in terms of where she can play. She works tirelessly, is strong in the tackle, has great pace and is technically very good.”

The native of North Delta has also been a member of Canada’s U17 and U20 team as well at the BC Provincial team for the past four seasons.

“Her experience at the U 17 World Cup this past fall and being amongst some of the best talent across Canada for her age will add great value to our team going forward and we are all so excited that she has committed her future to TWU.  Both off and on the field, Vanessa is an excellent addition to Spartan Soccer and program we are striving to grow here," added Roxburgh.

The Burnsview secondary student, who will begin her TWU education in the general studies program with the possibility of studying Business in the future, commented on joining the Spartans.  “I wanted a small university environment where everyone knows you, like my high school and also I did not want to leave home, my family is way too important to me, to just leave behind.  And looking at the past and how Trinity has played, I knew I had to be a part of their successful team.”

When Kovacs joins the Spartans it won’t take her long to get acquainted with the rest of the squad as she will be joining fellow Whitecaps prospects (U18) team members and current Spartans Natalie Boyd, Jennifer Castillo, Jenna Di Nunzio, Tessa Meyer, Alicia Tesan and Nikki Wright, .

“I am also looking forward to getting to play with a few of my old teammates again,” added Kovacs.

In addition to her play with the Whitecaps, Kovacs has represented Canada in eight caps over the last year including matches with Ireland, Ghana, Korea and Chile.

After an upset loss in the Canada West semi-final the Spartans, who finished second in CW last season and who have been ranked in the CIS top ten for 33 of the last 38, including 22 straight weeks, since September 2007, are looking to regain their form that saw them win back-to-back CIS championships in 2008 and 2009.

About TWU:

Trinity Western University, located in Langley, B.C., is a not-for-profit Christian liberal arts university enrolling over 4,000 students this year. With a broad based, liberal arts and sciences curriculum, the University offers undergraduate degrees in 41 major areas of study ranging from business, education and computer science to biology and nursing, and 17 other graduate degrees including counselling psychology, theology and administrative leadership. For more information, visit TWU's Official Athletics site at gospartans.ca.

About Canadian Interuniversity Sport:

Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Fifty-two universities, 10,000 student-athletes and 550 coaches vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. The CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, and 32 World University Championships. For further information, visit www.universitysport.ca.

About CWUAA:

"Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), winning at least 10 CIS national titles every year since 1997-98. Comprised of 13 schools, from Manitoba to B.C., the CWUAA produces numerous major award winners and Academic All-Canadian student-athletes each year, with many going on to athletic success around the globe in events such as the Olympics or Universiade Games."

-TW-

Last Updated: 2011-02-08
Author: Scott Stewart