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Press Release

Monday, March 20, 2017

Claire Smith and Catherine Dupuis join the Aigles Bleues soccer team


Catherine Dupuis with coach Mehyar Zekaroui.
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Mehyar Zekaroui, coach of the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues soccer team, is pleased to announce that Claire Smith, of Moncton, and Catherine Dupuis, of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, will join the team’s roster for the next academic year of Atlantic University Sport (AUS) soccer.

Smith, 18, is a grade 12 student at Harrison Trimble High School. She has been playing soccer since the age of 12 was part of the team that won its’ first provincial championship in Trojans’ history, last fall.

“I can study biology and live at home in Moncton,” said Smith, who is a striker. “It was incredible to win the provincial title. There are no words to describe the feeling. I’ve already played with some Aigles Bleues members and really liked working with them on provincial teams.”

Smith is a member of Soccer New Brunswick’s South Academy, a place she really appreciates for learning. “Without the Academy, I would not be as smart on the field,” she said. “I’ve played with good players, which challenged me to improve. I want to help the team be competitive, create plays and score for my team.” Smith is 5’3” and relies on her technique and knowledge for outplaying her opponents. She has played with provincial teams for five years as well as with Codiac Soccer teams.

Dupuis, 20, attended Cégep in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu for two years and is registered in the bachelor of sport, tourism and leisure management program. She has played soccer since the age of eight. “A friend who attends the Moncton campus talked to me about the Université de Moncton,” she says. “I came to visit and was interested right away. The facilities, staff and campus sold me.”

Dupuis, who plays striker or right full-back, is looking forward to August. “My strength is my determination on the field. I want to help the team to up their game and be part of the playoffs. I’ve always been around soccer and I love it. I’m drawn to it. I played with my Cégep team and on Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu teams. I love scoring goals, deking players, dodging and kicking with precision. The Aigles have a good structured team. That’s very attractive.” Dupuis has friends who play university soccer in Quebec and says she is ready to don her blue and gold uniform. She is 5’7”.

Coach Mehyar Zekaroui is very happy to acquire the two players. “I’m pleased with the arrival of these forwards and I am anxious to start work on the field,” Zekaroui says. “Catherine Dupuis is a first-rate player with a lot of experience at the elite level in Quebec. She has very interesting technical and physical qualities which allow her to work as an offensive forward or mid fielder. She was a cornerstone of the teams for which she played. Her arrival will bring us confidence and quality in offensive play.”

“Claire Smith is a young player with great potential,” the coach said. “She has played primarily as a striker and lateral. Her sense of competition in practices, as well as in games, has allowed her to evolve and progress throughout the years. She has stood out very well with her reaction speed, her combativeness and her creativity in matches.”


Autres photos (haute résolution)

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