REDS Open Training Camp 2021
(FREDERICTON, NB) Excitement, anticipation, nervousness, relief and more. Friday’s opening of training camp for the UNB REDS women’s soccer team was full of feeling.
Veteran student-athletes, new recruits, walk-on hopefuls, coaches and team staff gathered for meetings and fitness testing today, the first step in the REDS preparation for the 2021 Atlantic University Sport season.
“We’re going to start this return of varsity sport, return of university sport at UNB here today with this group of people,” head coach Jon Crossland told the group. “We should be proud that we’re the first ones to wear the jerseys again and get back out on the field and show the work and everything you’ve done over the past 16-plus months to get ready for the return to AUS soccer.”
Soccer, like every other university sport in Canada fell victim to the pandemic last year. The entire 2020 season was cancelled out of concern for the safety of all involved.
The REDS were able to train in 2020, but did not play a game.
That makes the opening of 2021’s training camp a big deal.
“The girls are excited, after a year without this, we’re eager to see what we can do,” said veteran striker Madison Goertz. “It’s almost like we’re starting a new team. It’s exciting.”
After Friday’s team meetings and fitness testing sessions, the REDS’ first session on the turf comes Saturday.
UNB plays its first pre-season game on September 1st, and the REDS go on the road to open their AUS season, at Dalhousie, on September 11th.