The University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves women’s soccer team has added a tremendous piece to its central midfield, officially announcing the commitment of Terena Jagpal for the 2023 Canada West season.
“It’s exciting. I work so hard to make myself proud. I struggled a lot with self-confidence when I was younger. To get here and prove to myself that I am good; that means a lot.”
Jagpal, a product of North Delta, visited UNBC in the fall, watching a pair of Timberwolves games and getting to the players on the roster. She returned to the Prince George campus in November for an ID camp, training under the watchful eye of coach Neil Sedgwick and alongside her future teammates.
“When I got here, it was very calm and very ‘hey, you’re welcome here.’ The team, when I talked to them, had conversations with them, and watched them in the locker room, it was a welcoming environment. The playstyle and coaching style was a lot of feedback and a lot of positivity. That is my main thing. To see that, it made me feel really good. And, I like the colours!”
The five-foot-ten central midfielder met Sedgwick in the summer of 2022 at a college ID camp on Vancouver Island. The Timberwolves coach was impressed by Jagpal’s approach to the game and to her teammates.
“We are really thrilled Terena has decided to become a Timberwolf. After meeting her, I was immediately impressed with Terena’s conscientiousness and her genuine concern for others. On the pitch, she possessed a strong base, with a hunger to grow. Since that point, we have spent more time communicating about Terena’s role in the program. She wants to continue her development and to contribute to the culture, and we are excited she will do that in green and gold.”
Having spent her youth years training in the North Delta Selects program, Jagpal plays under control, moving the ball with intentionality, and a noticeable will to win every battle for the ball. The 17-year-old knows there will be an adjustment when she makes the jump to the Canada West level, but she is up to the task.
“The speed of play is so much faster. It is exactly what I want. I like to be challenged, to face the challenge, get through it, and look back and know I did that. To play U SPORTS is a big thing.”
Set to graduate from North Delta Secondary in June, Jagpal intends to enroll in UNBC’s arts program, with a focus on English and political science. She will join the Timberwolves for training camp in the summer, and continue a journey playing a sport she has loved since she started when she was five years old.
“I want to get better every day. To get put in a competitive environment and to have that privilege and opportunity is pretty cool.”
