OSHAWA, Ont. – Ontario Tech Ridgebacks women's soccer alumna Nicole Zajac is continuing her professional career with GKS Katowice, members of Poland's top professional women's soccer league, Ekstraliga.
 
She had previously played for KKS Czarni Sosnowiec and Medyk Konin, also members of the Ekstraliga.
 
"My contract was up with my previous team and I had the option to extend my contract with Czarni Sosnowiec, but chose not to," she said. "I heard GKS Katowice was looking for a left defender and contacted the coach saying I was interested in joining the team."
 
Zajac also had a connection to GKS Katowice, having been played with their coach, Karolina Koch, at the 2015 Summer Universiade in Gwangju, South Korea with the Poland national team.
 
"I was not satisfied with my previous club at all. I knew I needed to change clubs," she said. "Games between Czarni Sosnowiec and GKS Katowice are derby games. These games are always special and very competitive. After the derby games I saw potential and passion in GKS Katowice. This new team is much more professional than my previous club and I was welcomed positively."
 
With Ontario Tech, she played five seasons of OUA soccer during her university career. Starting in 2013-14, she quickly became a regular on the pitch with 14 appearances. She went on to finish with 15 goals in 62 regular season appearances. As a member of the Ridgebacks, she was also part of the 2016 championship team.
 
Her goal with her new team is to help them medal in the Ekstraliga.
 
"We finished in fourth place last season so naturally a personal goal is to help this team get a medal this year," she said. "I've managed to collect four medals out of the five seasons that I've played in Poland. Undoubtedly, another personal goal is to score a goal and beat Czarni Sosnowiec in the derby."