PCSL

HEAT KICK OFF THREE GAME HOMESTAND WITH MATCH VS SEMIAHMOO

June 26, 2009 - By Larry Read

Kamloops, BC — It’s bottom vs top as the Kamloops Heat entertain the Semiahmoo FC in Pacific Coast Soccer League Women’s Reserve division action this weekend at Hillside Stadium. The first place team in the loop, Kamloops (9-1) entertain Semiahmoo (1-6) Sunday afternoon (June 28). Kick off is 12:30 pm.

“We’ve given the girls certain goals they have to achieve in the game,” says Heat head coach Tom McManus, who will get the luxury of coaching his side in person in game action. He has had to miss a number of games due to commitments with the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association, where he is head coach. “In any sport, you must stay focused because even the last place team can come up and knock you off because they have nothing to lose. Every Opponent will be tough and I don’t care where they are in the standings,” he added.

The Heat have been getting solid showings from almost their entire line up. Each weekend, the club—made up primarily of Thompson Rivers University WolfPack players and prospects, has had someone step up and take a lead role. Last weekend (June 20-21), it was forward Cassie Drummond and midfielders Bronwyn Crawford, Blair MacKay and Abbey McAuley: all members of the WolfPack.

“The biggest thing this says to me,” states McManus “is that we are a TEAM. It’s nice to see we don’t have to rely on one player to score our goals or dominate our midfield. We are a team and the players work hard for each other.”

The Heat have four matches left: three on their home pitch. Some might think the schedule maker has put things in their favour going into the post season.

“I believe we have to keep playing smart and disciplined,” McManus explains. “There is no one player bigger than the team and I believe our players have proven that this year so far. I am sure they will continue to do it. We’ll be ready but not looking too far ahead.”

With the playoffs close at hand, some teams might consider ‘whittling down’ their players time on the field. Not for the Heat. “Because we are a team, everyone is important, “ he says. “The chemistry of our team is excellent right now and I don’t want to change at all. Every player knows that she is fighting for her position at every training session and in every game. That is very healthy.”

Kamloops has had to go with rotating goal keepers this season. Shannen Meyer (TRU, Kamloops, BC), an All-Canadian at center defender, has had to do the job for most of the year. “Shannen has done a great job for us in goal and she has shown herself to be a true team player by stepping up and doing this for us,” he says. “We are looking at having a goal keeper play for us this weekend and then for the rest of the year. Having her in the field will give us even more strength on the backline.”

After Sunday’s game, the Heat entertain Penticton (July 4) and the North Shore Girls Soccer Club (July 11) before closing things out in Chilliwack (July 19). The PCSL post season will be held the July 25-26th weekend in Kelowna.