By John DeCoste
jdecoste@kingscountynews,ca
A key member of the Valley United Tier 1 soccer program has committed to Acadia University for 2012-13 and beyond.
Axewomen head coach Amit Batra confirmed that Kinsella Noseworthy-Smith of Wolfville has committed to attend Acadia and join the Axewomen this fall.
Kinsella, a graduate of the Nova Scotia provincial elite program, is playing this summer for the Valley United U-18 girls’ Tier 1 team.
An honours graduate of Horton High School, she was also a multiple-year starter for the Griffins D-1 girls’ squad during her high school career. She capped off her senior year by being chosen to represent Horton at the NSSAF Celebration of School Sport.
“We identified Kinsella early as a player we would like to have here at Acadia, and we’re really pleased she is joining us this year,” Batra said.
He described her as “a very composed player, with a great touch that allows her to make quick decisions and see more attacking options. She can find the right pass, or she can take players on herself and is very difficult to handle.”
Batra added, “she is excellent from dead-ball situations, and she likes to shoot and can finish, so she will make our attackers more dangerous as a whole.”
For her part, Noseworthy-Smith is thrilled to be joining her hometown university team.
“I’m both proud and excited to be joining the Axewomen soccer squad,” she said. “I’ve played soccer in the Valley my whole life, and can’t wait to continue it here at home at Acadia.”
Kinsella added that the Acadia coaching staff, and head coach Batra, “had a big impact” on her decision.
“They’ve given me great advice and encouragement that will ultimately improve my game, both on and off the field.”
Noseworthy-Smith will study biology at Acadia, with the goal of becoming a marine biologist.
“The new biology building really attracted my interest,” she added.
Emilie Poirier of Dartmouth has also committed to attend Acadia and play for the Axewomen.
Batra is more than familiar with Poirier, who he coached at both the U-12 and U-16 levels in the Dartmouth United Tier 1 program.
“She has great speed and is a very good technical player, so she can win the ball and then make something positive happen,” he said. “We’re really happy to have her joining the Axewomen this fall.”
Poirier said she had her sights set on Acadia for her undergraduate study for a while.
“For as long as I can remember, what I heard about Acadia was how, as a university, it pushed people to become successful athletes as well as students,” she said.
The Axewomen open their 2012 training camp Aug. 24, and are scheduled to open the regular season at home Sept. 7 against the Moncton Aigles Bleus.
