Pinnacles stars taking game to new level

By Emanuel Sequeira - Penticton Western News - May 11, 2008

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Mary Kampman

A love for soccer has taken Mary Kampman and Haley Burns of the U21 Penticton Pinnacles to another level.

Kampman’s attitude and determination helped her earn a roster spot as a walk-on with the Queen’s University Golden Gaels in the Ontario University Athletics region in Canadian Interuniversity Sport.

A few years ago Kampman didn’t find her game until it was too late and missed out on earning a spot on Pinnacles coach Ray Hintz’s provincial team. While he had to cut her, Hintz encouraged Kampman to stick with the sport. The incident motivated her to become one of the most improved players on the Pinnacles and Hintz praised her work ethic and attitude towards the game and her peers.

“That’s what makes her go far,” said Hintz. “Her skill level has improved so much.”

The Pinnacles coach said competing in the CIS level has increased her abilities.

“You can just see it when she came back the last two weeks,” said Hintz. “She’s patient on the ball, her first touch is right there and how she reads the game now.”

“I think I have more confidence on the ball, more speed with the ball, probably a little tougher,” she explained, adding that compared to the PCSL, she competed against stronger, faster women in more intense games. “It was an incredible learning experience. I learned a lot, not only about soccer — like in the game and how to play it right — but also how much I really enjoy it. I feel like I’m a lot more passionate about the game because of playing at Queen’s.”

Because she wanted to solidify herself on the Golden Gaels roster, she played nine games at midfield, outside mid and the striker position.

“I played where they needed me,” said Kampman, who is studying general arts and will major in geography. “I’m hoping that next year, the coaches have mentioned this, that if I work hard this off-season I will have a more permanent position. I hope to have a larger role on the team.”

Entering her second season with the Pinnacles, Kampman wants to gain more confidence with the ball, taking on players, and improve her first touch.

Kampman’s teammate Burns is also focussing on ball control because of the need to dish it off quicker and play at a faster pace as she joins the Northern State University Wolves in South Dakota.

“It’s really exciting,” said, Burns, who visited the campus before spring break. “It’s definitely a different atmosphere down there. They’re a friendly team and have welcomed me quite nicely.”

Burns, who was a member of the championship Pinnacles, feels the pace of the game in the PCSL will help her make the adjustment to National Collegiate Athletic Association Soccer Division II play.

“I know that the training camp is three practices a day for a month so that will definitely be eat, sleep and breathe soccer,” said Burns, who enters her second season with the Pinnacles. “I’m ready for

the challenge.”

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Pinnacles stars taking game to new level

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