Memorial's women's soccer team is proudly announcing the first pair of commitments of their 2024 recruiting class. Luci Thoms and Ellie Power, both forwards who have developed through the NL soccer landscape, will join their hometown Sea-Hawks as the next step in their pursuit of athletic and academic excellence.
Luci Thoms is a dynamic and tenacious winger who is known to show up on the scoresheet, but also brings a physical element to her game. The Gonzaga High School student has risen through the province's youth soccer ranks with the NLSA provincial teams and Whitecaps Academy Center, as well as the St. John's Soccer Club. In 2023 she played a key role in leading her club team to a provincial crown and 4th place finish at the Under 17 National club championships.
Coach Mike Power revealed "in addition to her attacking abilities, we also love Luci's grit and determination. She is scared of no one, and you need a little bit of edge to be successful in the AUS."
On her decision to choose Memorial, Thoms said "When looking at other schools and teams, nothing compared to the positive environment at Memorial University and the welcoming culture within the Sea-Hawks soccer team." She also noted that she is "hoping to bring a level of intensity and pace to the team, as well as a positive and encouraging attitude for my new teammates." Thoms will study Kinesiology at Memorial.
Ellie Power is an extremely pacey striker and has a knack for scoring goals. Most often deployed as a central striker, Ellie is a handful for any central defender. Coach Power noted "I had the opportunity to work with Ellie during the last Canada Games cycle. She was a 2-year under ager, but you never would have guessed that based on some of the performances she produced for that team." He continued that "we saw a glimpse of Ellie's future potential at that time, and we're excited about her further development in our environment."
Power has also been a member of the NLSA provincial teams and Whitecaps Academy Center programs, the St. John's Soccer Club, and represented NL at the 2022 Canada Summer Games. She has accumulated countless youth soccer goals and scoring titles along the way, and will now look to make the jump to the AUS level. Looking forward to her future in the program Ellie noted "the Sea-Hawks are a strong team, and are always improving. I've had the privilege of playing alongside some of the players in the past, and I can definitely say that I want to learn from their high level of skill and experience." Ellie will also pursue a degree in Kinesiology following her spring graduation from Gonzaga High School.
"Overall, the recruitment of Luci and Ellie were no brainers for our program" said Coach Power. "Both are top tier students, both are quality players, and both are hard workers that will fit well into our team culture and identity. I am really excited to see how their careers blossom over the next 4-5 years."
Memorial's 2023 AUS season conclucded with a semi-final defeat to the eventual champion St. FX X-Women.
