The Douglas College Royals are proud to announce the commitments of Preet Thandi and Sneha Sandhu to the 2017-2018 women’s soccer program.

Preet Thandi

5’6” Center Defender

Surrey Pegasus FC

Tamanawis Secondary (Surrey, BC)

                Going into the regular season last year, the Royals had a significant lack of experience in the back. This year with Preet Thandi, the Royals will have a back line that will intimidate the best of the PACWEST’s offenses. Hard working and reliable, the freshman will be coming into the Royals team after several years with the Surrey Pegasus.

                Her developmental coach, Paul Bahia, had this to say about her: “Preet has been a inspiration for the Pegasus 99 girls for the past several years, as their captain and leader. She is a player who leads by example at training and the games, and is able to propel the team to success from the centreback position. Preet is no stranger to hard work and commitment, exemplified as a player, coach and a mentor at Pegasus. We are more than excited to see Preet move on to the next chapter in her life as a Douglas College Royal”.

For head coach Chris Laxton, what sold Preet as a player was her ability to be a two-way player. “Preet is an exciting addition to the Royals family. She is cool and calm under pressure, which is evident in both attacking and defending phases,” Laxton said. “She is a centre-back who likes to be the first line of attack, whether with a pass or a timed run and she can also make a timely tackle when required“.

“Hard work definitely pays off! I am looking forward to becoming a Royal and having this once in a lifetime experience.” – Preet Thandi

Sneha Sandhu

5’6” Midfielder

Surrey Pegasus FC

Princess Margaret Secondary (Surrey, BC)

                Sneha is the second of Surrey Pegasus FC players to make the move to the Royals this offseason. Much like her teammate, she brings a hard-working and competitive attitude. However, what sets her apart from the crowd is her versatility. Able to play and threaten from anywhere on the field, Sneha will be a key depth piece for the Royals.

Technical Director Paul Bahia had nothing but praise for the young midfielder. “Sneha is a versatile, hardworking, and a strong player that joined the Pegasus 99 team this season. From a young age, Sneha always played up a year (Pegasus 98), which is a part of the reason she excels on the athletic and physical side of the game,” Bahia explained. “Sneha is a team player who is a fast learner, coachable, and a great teammate, who will fit in at Douglas College; on the pitch, and in the classroom”.

As expected, her new head coach, Chris Laxton, took the time to highlight Sneha’s versatility. “Sneha is versatile player who will bring several different elements to the program. She has good technical and physical qualities which allows her to play virtually anywhere on the pitch. I'm excited to work with her as she continues her development”.

When addressing the media, Sneha expressed excitement at the prospect of being part of the Royals program. “I am privileged and honored to be joining the Douglas Royals. I couldn't be more excited to start this new chapter in my soccer life and hope to contribute to their future success.”