WINDSOR, Ont. - The St. Clair College women's soccer program is proud to announce the addition of four top recruits who will be suiting up for the Saints starting in January.
New head coach Steve Vagnini, who was just hired in late November, did not waste any time in bringing in some top talent for the St. Clair program. Vagnini and assistant coach Gadeer Sobh starting making phone calls the day they were hired. Both coaches are very familiar with female soccer because they have been heavily involved with our local district team, the Eastside Kickers; Vagnini as a coach and Sobh as a player.
All four women will be a part of the indoor soccer team which starts in January. St. Clair just brought indoor soccer back to its list of varsity programs after only taking part for a couple of years back in the late 1990s. Adding indoor soccer will be a huge asset for the Saints to compete with the top soccer programs in the OCAA. Not only will it keep the student athletes together and competing year round, it will also allow St. Clair to give all of its soccer players scholarship in both semesters. For a soccer player that plays on both the outdoor and indoor teams they will now receive $2,500 in athletic scholarship.
The four recruits that have signed on are Katelyn Allen, Gabriella Stratis, Jessica Paglia and Robyn Preston.
Allen played for the Eastside Kickers in the OYSL. She won four WECSAA and four SWOSSA championships with St. Anne's High School. She competed in four OFSAA championships, winning a bronze medal in one of them.
Stratis also played for the Eastside Kickers. She won a WECSAA and SWOSSA championship and competed in OFSAA while at Holy Names.
Paglia also was a member of the Eastside Kickers. She was a member of the Villanova soccer program that was a WESCAA finalist.
Preston, a graduate from St. Joseph's, played four years with the Eastside Kickers. She also competed for four years with the Michigan Gators who were ranked third in the nation for three years straight. Preston also played two seasons for Vardar Michigan. She has been a member of the OYSL Canadian regional program. In 2011 she was an Ontario Cup champion. She played two seasons for the University of Windsor before coming over to St. Clair.
Coach Vagnini is every excited about these additions. "These four women were heavily recruited by us because we were aware of their situation and talent and we knew St. Clair College was the best fit for them. These women are the beginning foundation of a provincial championship team. These young women deserve a great learning atmosphere along with a great soccer program and a hefty scholarship that can almost pay for their entire tuition and St. Clair College is the institution that can make that happen."
Source: St. Clair College