Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Taking a pass that's knifed through traffic, Hannah Harper turns and slots it inside the right post.
The video of her scoring her first semi-pro goal for the St. Albert Impact last summer is even more impressive when you consider she was only in Grade 11 at the time, playing against women.
Set to graduate from Vimy Ridge high school into the university ranks this fall, Harper is expected to make an immediate impact for a Griffins women's soccer team that's less than two years removed from a U SPORTS national championship.
"Surrounding her with the best on best that we have, I think she's going to be a handful in her first year in Canada West," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro, who also coaches Harper on the Impact, who are now playing League One this summer.
"She had a ton of different offers and we're ecstatic she decided to stay home and play for the hometown Griffins. She's a special talent, an amazing person and will help enhance an already impressive attack. Hannah is going to be a great fit with the team."
Hannah Harper has a strong resume of high-level experiences (Courtesy, Hannah Harper).
A product of the St. Albert Impact 2005 program, Harper was also part of the Whitecaps Edmonton Girls Elite REX Prospects program (2021-22) and the Canada Soccer EXCEL program (2019-20).
In 2022, she was on Team Alberta for the Canada Summer Games with current Griffin Amelia Russo and a handful of other members of the Griffins' 2023 recruiting class, including previously announced recruit Bryn Mortensen.
Harper was also on Team Alberta at the U13 and U14 levels (2017-19) and has several other noteworthy items on her resume, including participating in the Whitecaps FC Youth Combine (2022), Game of Distinction at the SX Cup (2022), the Whitecaps High Potential Player Combine (2019) and a Game of Distinction at the Whitecaps Youth Combine (2019).
"She's a dynamic attacking player who has a nose for goal," said Cordeiro. "She can beat people on the dribble, she's a clutch finisher. Her ability to go at players 1v1 is next level and we're very excited Hannah chose to be a Griffin."
