PCSL

Kamloops, BC - As the Kamloops Heat gear up for their Pacific Coast Soccer League Womens Reserve League Playoffs, they can look to two members of their side for some insight. Kelli Chamberlain and Shannen Meyer have been there before. Both were members of the Penticton Pinnacles team which won it all in 2007.

"Penticton was a team with really great chemistry. Most of the girls had played together since they were 10," says Meyer when asked to compare that championship team to the side she plays on now. "Dori, Car (Sutclliffe sisters of Kamloops) and myself (from TRU) and Kelli (Chamberlain, who plays for Queens) were accepted right away and we really clicked, especially the starting lineup. Our U-21 Heat team has had many different starting lineups which has made chemistry hard. That is why it has been important to have the veterans from TRU playing with the prospects, to act as leaders on the field."

The Heat go into Saturday's match (6.30 pm July 26th) against the Chilliwack Royal Racing FC as a bit of a favourite. That's because they finished First in the regular season with a 9 and 4 record. They also beat the Royal Road Racing 1-0 in their last meeting, on June 15th. In that match, Jessie Lebert scored the lone goal for Kamloops.

"Chilliwack has two fast strikers. We will have to contain them and our defence will have to play as a unit," Meyer explains as she looks ahead to the semi final. "Our defence has been getting stronger as the girls learn to adjust to the TRU system. Goal scoring opportunities are few so we must put the ball in the net."

Meyer believes that the Heat, eventhough they've struggled to field a team at times this season, have matured a great deal since the start of the season. "Each game has been different depending on who is on the field. We have been averaging about half TRU players each game. It has been good for the coaches to get a chance to see the new prospects for the TRU team in game situations. "

Shannen Meyer

From her backline position, Meyer has scored twice this year and provided a steady influence which is expected of a player who was an All Canadian in the Canadian College Athletic Association. Her play has caught the eye of WolfPack Head Coach Eric Schweizer, who has acted as a consultant with the Heat this year, "Shannen is the only player on our roster that has attended all 13 games that we have played so far.

She has made the U 21 league a priority and has shuffled her work and other commitments so that she could play every weekend. Shannen has carried on where she left off in the fall (2007). She is a dominant figure on the back line. She plays stopper, a position which requires fearless challenges for the ball both on the pitch and in the air; vision; leadership; skill and offensive but especially defensive discipline. Shannen loves the game and it shows when she plays. She excels in head balls, throw ins, set plays and physical presence."

Meyer hopes that a successful weekend will result in another PCSL Women's Championship, something she intends to parlay into a successful Fall season: "I have three goals for the TRU season. First is to win Nationals at TRU as we are hosting them this year! To win Provincials and to be named an All-Canadian for the second year in a row. Anything less would be a disappointment. Every time a TRU player or prospect plays a game, touches a ball or goes for a run with the Heat, we are a little bit closer to achieving our team goals. "