Soccer X-Women add recruits

July 30, 2008 - X-Women soccer head coach Trevor Reddick is pleased to announce four new additions to the X-Women program for the upcoming season. "All of these players were standouts at their respective high schools and summer clubs," comments Coach Reddick. "I am very confident that each will make major contributions to the X-Women soccer program during their time here at StFX."

Included in the X-Women recruiting class to date is midfielder Dominque Miles, midfield/forward Megan Smykalski, striker Olivia Zannette and winger Julie Griffiths.

Dominique Miles is a center midfielder from Fredericton, NB who played at École Sainte-Anne. Her high school team twice won the provincials title, including their first women’s AAA banner for their school, and she also won five provincials titles with competitive teams from both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. She has participated in national championships on four occasions, was a member of the New Brunswick provincial team for five years and has attended NTC scouting camps. “University in itself is a whole new experience, and following numerous visits on campus I knew StFX was the right choice as my home for the next few years,” comments Miles. “As for the X-Women, I can only hope to contribute as much as I can to the squad, and I am positive that playing on this team will give me many memories over the years.” In addition to her athletic talents, Dominque also received the Governor General Award for the top average in her high school.

Megan Smykalski comes to the X-Women from Thunder Bay, ON and is a center midfielder/forward. A high school honor roll student, she played at St. Patrick High School and also with the Thunder Bay U18 Lakehead Express rep team whose club record was an impressive 13-3-2 this past season. “I am very excited to be heading to a school with such a great reputation,” comments Smykalski. “When I took my first trip to StFX, everyone was so nice, and I am looking forward to the experience of being away from home. I realize that it will be a totally different style of play from what I'm used to, it's so physical, but that is how the game is played, and I can't wait for it. I am looking forward to meeting the team again, becoming a better player and mostly becoming an X-Woman.” Joining Megan and also from Thunder Bay, ON are teammates Olivia Zannette and Julie Griffiths.

Olivia Zannette is a striker from Thunder Bay, ON who was also played at St. Patrick High School and with the Lakehead Express. She was the 2008 St. Patrick Athlete of the Year and the soccer team’s Most Valuable Player, in addition to being an Ontario Scholar award winner and member of the high school honor roll. Says Zannette, “I am so excited about coming to StFX as I have heard nothing but good things about the university. I am even more excited about playing soccer with the X-Women and I hope to be a big contributor to the team. I would love to help out in reaching the league finals and maybe even nationals and I look forward to getting to know the team better, scoring some goals, and having a successful and memorable year with the X-Women.”

Julie Griffiths, a winger from Thunder Bay, ON, was a teammate to Smykalski and Zannette on both the St. Patrick High school team and the Lakehead Express U18 club team. She received the 2008 Claire Fraser Memorial Soccer award at her high school awarded for skill, determination, commitment and leadership, was captain of the Lakehead Express and has been an honor roll student for the past four years. “I am very excited to attend StFX this fall,” comments Griffiths. “I have talked to a lot of people and the school has an excellent reputation and a real close-knit community atmosphere, and I am especially excited to be playing for the X-Women under Coach Reddick. I had the opportunity to meet him and I am impressed with his professionalism and I’m looking forward to working hard and contributing as much as I can to the success of the team.”