Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Dean Cordeiro has cast a wide net across Western Canada as he attempts to restock his roster with top players who fit his ball control playing style.
This time, his search landed in Langley, B.C., where midfielder/forward Hannon Read has been busy honing her talents with the Fraser Valley Soccer Club.
Read will join the MacEwan Griffins women's soccer team for the 2021 Canada West season, Cordeiro announced Tuesday.
"She's a quality footballer who has grown as a player," said the Griffins head coach. "She has a high soccer IQ and can play a bunch of different positions on the pitch.
"I love her success rate connecting passes. She's been playing in the midfield as well as the front three. She's another kid we see fitting our playing style very well."
In 2019, Read was selected to be a part of the B.C. Soccer provincial program, another important step in her development.
"Hannon is very raw with a lot of ability and athleticism," said Cordeiro.
A multi-sport athlete, she's played basketball, volleyball and competed in track and field. But soccer is the focus for the two-time MVP for her high school.
"We look forward to her growing as a player within our program as she learns our system. I love her passion and commitment to the game," said Cordeiro. "She has so much potential; in the time we've been talking to her, she's getting stronger and stronger. We're excited about her addition."
Read is the latest in a growing line of players from outside Alberta to join the Griffins, joining top talents from all of the Prairie provinces on the roster.
"We have a bunch of kids from B.C., all throughout Alberta – with a heavy dose from Calgary – and now we keep adding players from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It's exciting," said Cordeiro. "Obviously, where we're trying to get to is to compete for a national championship and we feel we're on the cusp of that. To continue to strive for that excellence, we need to add the best players, not just from our own local area, but all over Canada, and, in particular, Western Canada.
"We're excited about these additions," he continued of his growing 2021 recruiting class. "We feel like they add to an already talented squad. It really gives us a ton of competition in all various positions, which you need to be successful."
