Bolstering the back-line
UPEI adds Roselyn Kushko to roster for fall season
“I am looking forward to learning from my new teammates and building something special on the field.” Roselyn Kushko
The UPEI Panthers women’s soccer team has added a player from Ontario as it looks to fill some vacancies on its back-line.
Roselyn Kushko is a fivefoot-eight, 150-pound versatile player with a strong soccer IQ, which helps her anticipate how plays will unfold and thwart oncoming attacks.
“I am a hard-working, technical player and can play multiple positions in the back,” she said. “I want to show that I can meet the challenge of playing at the university level, but also contribute to the team’s ability to win.”
The Panthers went 3-9-0 during the 2019 Atlantic University Sport regular season and missed the playoffs in the 10-team conference. UPEI hasn’t been to the six-squad post-season tournament since 2014.
“I am looking forward to learning from my new teammates and building something special on the field,” Kushko said.
The Panthers will have a different look on the backline this year with the graduation of Danielle Younker and Jenn Balderston, who were pillars for the program for five years and are also cousins.
Lewis Page, the longtime men’s coach, has taken the reins of the women’s program after Glen Miller served in the role for a season.
Kushko, a Russell, Ont., native who turns 18 in September, played for Ottawa South United and the Nepean Hotspurs.
“Roselyn is a great athlete who will compete for a position in the back-line,” Page said. “She is good in the air and strong in tackling. Panther fans will enjoy watching her battle.”