For the Nipissing Lakers women’s soccer team, it has already been a strong off-season, as they have taken steps to improve their roster with another strong signing.
The Lakers have gone back to where they have had success in the past, adding Megan Clarke, a native of Thunder Bay, Ontario – sister of current defender Renee Clarke.
Clarke will join the program as a central midfielder after graduating from the Lakehead Express Soccer Club and St. Patrick’s High School in Thunder Bay.
“I'm extremely excited to be joining the Nipissing Lakers Women's Soccer program. Soccer has always been a huge part of my life and I cannot wait to take it to the next level,” she said.
The 17-year-old will be enrolling in the concurrent education program at Nipissing when school begins in September.
Clarke feels her strengths are ball control and making a strong pass to spring the team’s offence.
“I consider myself to be very strong on the ball; I am a play maker and I’m super competitive,” she said.
Lakers head coach David Bitonti said Clarke will add another dimension to his lineup and is looking forward to adding a player of her skill to the program.
“Megan is impossible not to notice on the field and she makes the game easier for her teammates. She possesses a solid soccer IQ and her competitive nature and determined attitude will have a positive impact on our team,” Bitonti said.
Clarke explained that there are several reasons she decided to attend Nipissing and join the soccer program and it’s hard to determine what stands out as the biggest reason.
The combination of academics and athletics, the small campus and school size all played a factor for Clarke, who will join her sister Renee on the team – another reason that Nipissing was so appealing.
“My biggest reason for joining Nipissing is the not only their education program, but the welcoming feeling I got when I first visited and met the team. Moving away is going to be a big step in my life and Nipissing really gave me a "home" kind of feeling,” she explained.
“I have been playing soccer with my sister for many years with my home town soccer club and I cannot wait to be playing with her again in university. We work together really well on the field and she has always been a role model for me.”
Bitonti said the fact that he knows the family helped in the decision, knowing the type of player, but maybe more importantly, the type of person Clarke is.
The combination of knowing the Clarkes and her skill-level make this a positive signing for the program and continues to add to a solid lineup.
“Megan will provide creativity, composure and control in the middle of the field for us. She understands the game in terms of transitioning from defending to attacking and vice versa. Megan will likely see time somewhere in the midfield and we will count on her not only to tackle and win balls for us but also to be a catalyst in our attack.”
Knowing the compete level, strength and physicality are going to pick up at the OUA/CIS level, Clarke is fully prepared to put in the time off the field in order to be better on it.
She is ready to embrace the next chapter of her career and is excited about what the future holds for her as a member of the Lakers.
“I expect the 2016 season to be a great one. I have watched the girls on the team play before and they are a very talented group,” she explained. “For myself, I hope I can fit right in and really try to make an impact.”
“As a coaching staff we have been diligent, patient, and thorough with our recruiting plan. The addition of Megan Clarke, who we have courted since 2012, speaks to our determination of improving our program,” Bitonti said.
“It’s one thing to add a great talent, but we want to pair that with exceptional students and people. We are very happy with how well this recruiting class is evolving early in the off-season. It is very exciting.”
