You can't call it an 'off season' for the head coach of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women's soccer team.   Mark Pennington has been busy scouring the country looking for recruits to improve his team.
Pennington and the WolfPack are ready to announce their first four recruits for 2020-21.  They come from as far away as Montana, Ontario, Alberta and the Lower Mainland of BC.
Here is a run down of the team's first recruits for the upcoming season:
 
Chloe Nadeau
5'3"  Center Midfield
Flathead High School, Big Fork, Montana
International Business
Chloe committed to the WolfPack program in September. She believes that her strengths are her aggressiveness, her motivation and bringing the best out of her teammates. Chloe admits there will be an adjustment going from Montana high school ("AA" league)and state rep programs (she plays on a regional team and a state team) to U SPORTS.  She feels she will be able to excel in 'pressure situations' and Chloe looks forward to getting involved in the WolfPack's community initiatives and being a role model for younger players.   Chloe was a multi sport athlete who was involved in track, Nordic ski racing and swimming . She is coming off a knee injury and should be ready for training camp.
Coach Pennington says, "Chloe is the first international player that the program has brought in and I am confident Chloe will have a great USPORT career. She is a technical box to box midfielder that has great vision and can pick out a pass. I am certain Chloe will contribute to the growth of the program both on and off the field and I am excited to work with her."
 
 
Raiya Rumo
5'6" Center Back
Eastdale CVI, Courtice, Ontario
Nursing
Raiya committed to the WolfPack after a visit to Kamloops in late August.  Her club team, the Oshawa Kicks went undefeated in 2019 in the CSL U17 Girls league.  She said her visit to Thompson Rivers and Kamloops resulted in her 'automatically becoming obsessed with the school, the team, the culture and the overall beauty of the campus'. She adds she enjoyed the intensity and communication of the team.  Practicing with them showed me the teams determination and strengths. That really impressed me," she said.  She adds, "It feels amazing to be apart of a rebuilding team. I am so excited to be playing for Mark and see the new aspects he brings. I am looking forward to seeing the team evolve into better players in the future. I am 'over the moon' excited and happy to become a WolfPack player. I can't wait."
 
Coach Pennington says, "Raiya is an awesome recruit for our program and I believe she has the ability, drive and hunger to be a top player at the USPORT level. She is a quick, dynamic and impactful player that also reads the game very well – I think we are fortunate to have Raiya joining us as I know there were several other big schools very interested in her, so the fact she chose to cross the country and come to us speaks a lot about her character, her commitment and her belief in this program. "
 
Gurneet Dhaliwal
5'6"  Wing/Attacking Midfield
Tamanawis Secondary, Surrey, BC
Respiratory Therapy
Gurneet joins the WolfPack after playing four years at the University of Fraser Valley. "I was looking at other schools in Western Canada but Thompson Rivers was the most appealing to me," she said.  Gurneet played against Coach Pennington's teams throughout her youth career (Surrey United) and was coached by him briefly at a Whitecaps camp.  She believes her strengths are that she is technically sound and versatile in her ability to play and adds she wants to set an example as an older recruit.
Coach Pennington says, "Gurneet's USPORT career speaks for itself! She is a very talented player with pace, bite and a deadly left-foot. She already has experience at this level and I am familiar with from her UFV days. I am confident that she will come in and be an impact on the field as well as a mentor to some of our younger players in the squad. We are fortunate that Gurneet has chosen to continue her education here and help move our program in the direction we are now going."
 
Hawan Abdissa
5'6"  Midfield/Wing
All Saints High School, Calgary, AB
Arts
Hawan played club soccer for WFC 17. She chose TRU because of the campus size, Hillside Stadium and the Tournament Capital Centre.  The Technical Director at the Calgary Foothills soccer club recommended this program to her.  She believes the biggest adjustment that she will have to make is the physicality because she is actually coming to University as a 17 year old.  Hawan believes that her strengths as a player are her technical ability and decision making while attacking.

Coach Pennington says, ""I am really excited to have Hawi join our WolfPack family. Hawi is an impactful forward that has the ability to get up and down the wing. She comes to us from a very good Calgary Foothills Soccer program and she possess a great passion for the game and a high soccer IQ. I am looking forward to working with her in the coming season and seeing her grow from strength to strength."
 
The WolfPack will be announcing more recruits in the coming weeks.