Kamloops, BC - Its crunch time for the Kamloops Heat U-21 Women's Soccer team. They enter the Pacific Coast Soccer League Reserve Division Playoffs in their first year. Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Womens Head Coach Eric Schweizer has acted as a consultant with the Heat, because many of his current and former players are members of the club.

"We are healthy and we have performed well over most of the season." Says Schweizer. "The addition of some veteran players like Sandra Redford, Kelsi Butner and others has been very helpful as they settle the team down and use patience in the build up of attacks. Unfortunately Sandra is not available for the coming playdowns. But I think the younger players have improved game by game and I feel confident that we will be in the thick of things this weekend."

The Heat will open things up Saturday (July 26) at 630pm when they face Chilliwack. Schweizer doesn't like to single out individuals but says some players have stood out among others on a club which battled injury and low numbers to record a 9 and 4 record in their inaugural season. "I think Kelli Chamberlain (midfield/defense) has really played well in the last half dozen games. Madelaine Reid and Chloe McAuley have also contributed very nicely lately."

He adds that it will ll take a team effort from all eleven starters in order to capture the championship: "The goal is to win the championship. That requires two wins. Who the opposition is does not really matter. We have beaten each of the final four once and lost to each of them once. Whoever can put two good games together will win - in my opinion."

Win or lose, Schweizer is hoping the Heat players take the lessons they've learned this season to heart as he begins preparation for the 2008 BC College Athletic Association Season. As an added bonus, TRU will be hosting the Canadian College Athletic Association Championships in November, Schweizer's WolfPack get an automatic berth.