[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333" caption="Laura Smylie (photo contributed by Robert Clark)"]
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Laura Smylie is the third year sweeper with the WolfPack women's soccer team. She is a native of 150 Mile House, BC.
This weekend started off with an early morning bus ride down to North Vancouver to play Capilano for a 1 pm kick-off. I wasn't worried about missing the game until I looked at my watch to see it was 12:05 and we were not in North Van yet. Luckily, we made it to the field with just enough time to get changed, taped and warmed up before the game started.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="374" caption="Starting 11 vs Capilano University"]
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During our warm up, everyone was able to step up and get prepared for the game with what little time we had.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333" caption="Emily Edmundson (Andrew Snucins photo)"]
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The game started with great pace and precision in our passes. The game was going smoothly until our keeper Emily Edmudson found a cat in her net.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333" caption="Courtney Daly (Andrew Snucins photo)"]
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Reluctantly, I picked up the cat, found out it had one eye, then ran to place it off to the side of the field. The game continued and we got our first goal from our outstanding new recruit Courtney Daly 15 minutes into the game. That was the only goal of the first half for both teams.
There was a 2 minute period where our level of play dropped, but quickly, webrought everything back up to our level. The goals came a little easier in the second half, we were able to get 3 more passed the keeper, giving a final score of 4-0 after 90 minutes.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Blair MacKay heads the ball vs Kwantlen (Andrew Snucins photo)"]
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After the game, we took the ferry over to the island to play VIU the next day. VIU was one of them most difficult teams we have played so far. Our first goal was off of a free kick taken by Alanna which was deflected off of Chloe McAuley's leg then was headed in by Blair McKay.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Vanessa Zilkie (photo contributed by Allen Douglas)"]
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Our second goal also came from a defender, Vanessa Zilkie in the 62nd minute with a shot from just outside the 18 yard box and the ball went right in between the keepers legs. The final score of that game was 2-0.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Starting 11 vs VIU"]
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After this weekend, we are still sitting in first place with 15 points with 17 goals in 6 games.
Each week I plan on introducing a first year player through the blog.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333" caption="Olivia Rasmussen (Andrew Snucins photo)"]
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Olivia Rasmussen is a powerful defender from right here in Kamloops. She went to high school at St. Ann's Academy and played youth soccer with KYSA.
Olivia came into training camp prepared and with a great attitude. She continues to work extremely hard at each and every practice, pushing her hrself and her teammates. Olivia is currently taking General Studies and plans finishing her schooling at TRU.
I hope to see everyone at Hillside Stadium this Saturday for our game against UBCO!
Laura Smylie
