NEELY IS A UKC BLUE DEVIL!
CAPERS Academy graduate Neely Pheifer has become the FIFTH player from the club's U17AAA Girls to win a Varsity soccer slot after she committed to ACAA big guns UKC Blue Devils.
Pride of New Waterford Neely smiled: "I chose Kings for the great soccer program offered and the close knit community of a small college as well as its alignment with my academic goals.
"Becoming a Blue Devil means so much to me."
Neely is a Soccer Cape Breton veteran and starred for the CAPERS in the Soccer Nova Scotia League last season as Mitch Hanna's side reached the NSSL Cup Final and the Provincial Final Four.
She joins team-mates Ava MacDonald (CBU CAPERS), Alyse Tierney (Acadia Axewomen), Sadie Delorey (UNB Reds) and another UKC Blue Devils signing Melia Roberts in moving on to continue her soccer career at Varsity level.
Outgoing King's coach Gary Carter said: "We are very happy to be adding Neely and Melia to the Blue Devils squad for the upcoming 2026 season. There have been some quality players coming out of Cape Breton and I think Melia and Neely will have an impact on our program for years to come.
"Melia and Neely are very focused both academically and athletically which is something we look for in potential recruits. Having had the chance to watch footage, I had some great conversations with both players plus being able to connect with CAPERS Technical Director Iain King for additional feedback really helped in the process.
"I am hoping this is a first step in the relationship with the Capers Academy to bring more of the up and coming kids to the King's program in the future."
Regional Director of Soccer Development Iain King said: "We are very proud of the number of players from our special U17AAA Girls group who will be playing in the AUS and the ACAA in the Fall of 2026.
"That's five commitments now with more to come and it is a testimony of the hard work of the girls and their coaches Mitch Hanna and Damien Barry who created a top class environment for them to grow as soccer players.
"We have worked very hard to build our network of contacts with coaches throughout USPORTS and tell them the story of how these girls train through technical sessions, strength and conditioning and mental performance.
"Every one of those 17s Girls bought into the new process, they have been a magnificent example to all of the young female players in Academy."
