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S辩耻补尘颈蝉丑鈥檚 Melissa Behrner is set to lace up her cleats on greens outside of town next September. Sensing that he might have some spots to fill on his back line, Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women鈥檚 soccer coach Tom McManus鈥檚 search for a听 defensive recruit ended in Squamish.
Last week, McManus and the WolfPack announced that 5-foot-7 defender Melissa Behrner had agreed to join the program as it enters its first CIS season in September.
鈥淚 always considered TRU as an option,鈥� said Behrner, who played this season with the European Football School and the U-18 North Shore Girls Soccer Club Silver Twisters.听 She also played and graduated with the Howe Sound Secondary School Sounders.
鈥淚 wanted to carry on my soccer career throughout university and TRU seemed like the best place to do that,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he final decision, however, was made easier by the fact that I received an entrance scholarship to TRU.鈥�
Behrner plans to take courses aimed at achieving a Bachelor of Science degree at Thompson Rivers. She has a long-term goal of becoming a physiotherapist. She chose TRU over the University of Victoria and the University of British Columbia Okanagan.
鈥淚 believe my biggest strength is my ability to read the game well as a defender,鈥� she said.
Behrner recognizes that with the departure of veterans Laura Smylie (150 Mile House), Vanessa Zilkie (Kelowna), Madison Wells (Ladner) and Megan Baird (Cloverdale)听 that there are a number of positions up for grabs. But she says moving directly into the starting 11 as the team moves to CIS will be a challenge.听听
鈥淚 know this won鈥檛 be easy. It will likely be the greatest challenge of my soccer career,鈥� she said. 鈥淗owever, when I faced challenges in the past, I remained level headed. That allowed me to stay committed and focused. I am positive I can get through this challenge as well if I remain pragmatic and work with dedication and determination.鈥�
McManus scouted her a few times and was impressed with her play at the recent Slurpee Cup in Kamloops in May.听听听
鈥淢elissa is a strong leader on and off the field,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he organizes well, and is very good at winning the ball. Her distribution is excellent.
鈥淚 am sure she will come into training camp fit and ready to compete,鈥� McManus said. 鈥淪he has played for and captains the European Football School. At the Slurpee Cup, she was a dominant player. Saibo Talic (EFC head coach) recommended me to her and Saibo always gives me great information on players.听I am looking forward to having her here at TRU. She is another type of player we need to compete at the CIS level. She knows that she has to come in and fight for a position and is more than willing to do that.鈥�
Talic thinks the world of Behrner.听
鈥淪he travelled every week, some 60 kilometres to practice and only missed if she were sick or injured,鈥� Talic said. 鈥淢elissa is very strong physically. She has a powerful shot, has good skills and can play very many defensive positions including defensive midfielder.鈥�
Sandi Rickman coached Behrner with the North Shore Girls Soccer Club Twisters.听听
鈥淢el is a very strong player with great passion for the game and isn鈥檛 afraid of a tackle or to go in hard to win the ball,鈥� Rickman said. 鈥淪he is a solid player with great vision of the field.鈥�
Rickman said her dedication was evidenced by a 45- to 50-minute commute at least three times a week for practices and games.
The WolfPack opens its training camp in mid-August at Hillside Stadium. Their first home match is Sept. 12 against the defending CIS champions Trinity Western.听
