A Fraser Valley Premier product is making the jump up north to start her collegiate soccer career later this fall and completes the void of a critical position on UNBC’s women’s team.
Hanna Stark is set to be the fourth goalkeeper in green and gold for the 2020-21 Canada West season, the second one to sign in 10 days with the Prince George post-secondary.
Hailing from Maple Ridge, Stark understands she may not get a lot of playing time as she and Alyson Raper will be rookies to fourth-years Madison Doyle and Brooke Molby, but wants to soak in the UNBC culture.
“I chose the Timberwolves because of the unity and family community within the team,” she explained in a team release.
“Everyone on the team has made me feel so welcome, and it is a great environment to be in. I got to train with the prospects, but also with some of the girls on the team. What stood out to me was how hard-working everyone was. They were willing to help. Again, making me and all the prospects feel welcome. It was a solid environment and I wanted to keep pursuing that.”
“We knew succession planning with goalkeepers was on the horizon, with both Brooke and Madi graduating soon,” said T-Wolves’ head coach Neil Sedgwick about his situation in the cage position as both Doyle and Molby were key components to the women reaching their third-straight conference-playoff appearance.
“To have two quality individuals like Alyson and Hannah join us this year will give us more time to work with them, and for Brooke and Madi to mentor them over the next couple of years.”
Stark stands at five-foot-nine and is described to move ‘fluidly’ while attacking the ball.
She’s also a former member of B.C.’s provincial ball hockey team, adding that protecting nets has been her nature since Grade 4.
“I would describe myself as a player who will always be there to backup and support my defenders in front of me. As a goalkeeper, it is really important to be assertive and aggressive in the box. Take control in the 18. I take control of that, and I am there for my defenders.”
The soon-to-be Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary graduate will be pursuing biomedical studies at UNBC in hopes of becoming a physiotherapist.
