PCSL

Kamloops, BC — The Kamloops Heat put the capper on their most successful Pacific Coast Soccer League Season to date this weekend. The Heat will close the Women’s Reserve League regular campaign on the road, visiting Exhibition Park in Chilliwack to play the Chilliwack FC.

Kamloops enters the weekend with first place in the PCSL Women’s Reserve League locked up. The Heat (11-1-1) have found the back of the net 14 times in their last three outings. Chilliwack is (1-8-2). They have struggled losing four of their last five matches including a 3-2 decision last weekend (July 11) to Semiahmoo S.C.. The two teams last met May 23 rd at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops. The Heat won that match 4-0.

“I am actually very surprised that they have lost that many games as they are a quality team,” says Heat and Thompson Rivers University WolfPack head coach Tom McManus. “ I don't think that we will be over confident after the way we have played the last couple of weeks.”.

Although the Heat have 4 wins and a tie in their last five outings, the coaching staff hasn’t been thrilled with inconsistent efforts in a tie against Penticton and last weekend (July 11) in a 5-4 win over North Shore Girls Soccer Club. To their defence, last weekend saw four regulars missing from the Kamloops line-up and they have been playing ‘rotating’ keepers the entire season.

“This game will be one that we must control and get back all of the good things that we have been doing,” says McManus. “Chilliwack has nothing to lose so they can come out and go at us with no real fear. My fear is that the players don't pick their game back up to the level that is required to be champions. They have to remember that the selection for the following week will depend on performance this week as well as training.”

The Heat will be missing one of their top offensive weapons. Forward Kelli Chamberlain of Queens University is nursing a sore ankle. She enters the final weekend of the PCSL season leading the league with 12 goals.

With the Challenge Cup coming up next week, some coaches would be tempted to shorten the bench. McManus isn’t one of those: “there won't be a dilemma as we are going to set the standard and those who work hard in training will be the ones who get to play.”

He does believe that closing out the season on the road is an advantage as the Heat prepares for the League Championship. “It seems in this league, as I stated above an away game is never a good thing as you can play one team on the road and you play the same team away and it is almost a completely different team. I think that it can be good for the girls to get together and regroup as a unit so I am hoping that they can all make it for the game. “

McManus is confident of success this weekend and come playoff time with his Heat squad—most of whom will be exchanging their uniforms for that of the WolfPack come late August. “I am very proud of the players for what they have done in the season. As I have stated before, to me, the team who wins the league are the true champions as they had to go through 14 games in order to be number one and we have done that. Congratulations to all of the players and staff.”