Dalhousie Tigers women’s soccer coach Cindy Tye and women’s track and field coach Rich Lehman are pleased to announce the commitment of Carley Birrell for the 2020-21 season.

Birrell, a native of Hammonds Plains, N.S. is a four-year member of the REX (Regional Exceleration) Program and a multi-year member of the Atlantic Championship winning Team Nova Scotia. She is the current captain of the Halifax County United U17AAA provincial champions, who finished fourth at the national championship in October of last year.  

On the track, she was a member of the Nova Scotia/Nunavut Legion track and field team from 2016-2018 and won a bronze medal as a member of the 4x400m relay team at the Canadian Youth National Championship in 2018. A three-year member of the Charles P. Allen High School track and field team, Birrell was named their MVP in 2018 as well as the school’s cross country MVP in 2018 and 2019.

“I am very excited to be joining both the Tigers women’s soccer and track and field team,” says Birrell. “I am thrilled to have the chance to continue my athletic career as a multi-sport athlete while studying at one of Canada’s top universities. I can’t wait to share the soccer pitch with my older sister, Haley (Birrell)!”

Birrell plans to enroll in the Faculty of Health programs.

“Carley is a product of Halifax County United Soccer Club, Soccer Nova Scotia provincial program, and a former member of our REX (Regional Exceleration) Program,” says Tye. “She is a fullback who has the ability to use her speed and stamina to get involved in our attack. She is a tireless competitor who has balanced a multi-sport schedule with school achieving great success in all areas. We are excited to welcome Carley to the Tigers!”

“Carley is one of the most talented distance runners to ever come out of Nova Scotia,” says Lehman. “She has the second fastest 3000m time ever run at a Nova Scotia high school meet and she's done all of this with very little sport specific training. We're very excited to add her to our young women's roster.”

The Tigers were knocked out in the quarterfinals of the 2019 AUS Championship tournament.