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By Larry Read TRU WolfPack

WolfPack women's soccer

WolfPack go back to the future with latest recruit

Jun 25, 2019 | 7:29 AM

KAMLOOPS, BC—The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s soccer program has added some experience and some offense with the announcement of their latest recruit. Head coach Mark Pennington and the ‘Pack are pleased to welcome back Taylor Miller of Kamloops, BC to the program.

Miller, a graduate of Westsyde Secondary has played four years of university soccer-all with the WolfPack.

“Word got around that I got into TRU for Education, “the 5’9” forward/midfielder said. “ Mark started contacting me. It all went so fast. My friends were all texting me encouraging me. It has been a whirlwind but I am super excited.”

Miller joined Thompson Rivers and played the final two years of their time in the PACWEST and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Conference (2011-13), where they won two straight provincial titles. She was also with the ‘Pack during their first two seasons in Canada West (2014-16) where she dressed for 26 matches, starting in 25 of them, scoring four goals and two assists and having 58 shots on goal during that two year period.

She is looking forward to not only being a role model with the WolfPack as one of the team’s three fifth year players (Natalie Verdiel-Powell River, BC and Marisa Mendonca-Penticton, BC being the others). But getting back into the highest level of Canadian University soccer and working with Coach Pennington. “He is a great coach. Already getting into the technical and tactical sides of the game with us. I think that is great. The girls seem super into it. I am really excited.”

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“I look forward to being in a leadership role, “she adds. “ I have always had mentors to look up to like Alanna Bekkering and Bronwyn (Crawford). I am excited how I can take on this role.”

Both Bekkering and Crawford have joined the TRU program as assistant coaches. Miller says it will be a somewhat surreal experience working with them in that role. “They are both very knowledgeable people. I look forward to what they have to say. I know that they will tell me what I am doing right and wrong. It will be good.”

Miller has been playing in the Kamloops Women’s Soccer league the past few seasons. “ It is obviously not the same caliber but I have been trying to keep in shape. I am also still training with my long time trainer Crosby Dorais. I always like to keep fit so hopefully my being away for a bit won’t be too much of an issue when the season starts.”

She is very excited to be a part of the ‘new chapter’ of TRU women’s soccer under Pennington. “It is overwhelming. I am still trying to comprehend the amount of school I have to take in along with training and playing every day. It will be different not being able to work once the season starts. I love to work. It will be tough but I’ll handle it.”

“I think she will add a lot to the group,” says Pennington about his latest recruit. “I remember her from when she played here previously. She has a skill set which we need. She will come in with that experience and what I like to call a ‘little bit of swagger’. She won’t be intimidated. She has a bit of pace and a bit of bite that will really help us. Obviously, the players will be looking up to her as a leader and potential mentor. We have some young strikers in the group that I think could really benefit from training and playing alongside Taylor. I am really excited to have her back and playing again for the WolfPack.”

Miller adds, “I am excited to meet all the girls and see how things all work out.”

Other committed newcomers for the WolfPack women’s soccer program this year are, Mae Hobenshield (5’8” keeper, Port Coquitlam, BC-BC Christian Academy/TSS Black-Grey), Rylee Mugridge (5’6”, midfield, Maple Ridge, BC-Thomas Haney Secondary/Surrey United), Daniella Falsetta (5’2”, midfield, Kamloops, BC-South Kamloops Secondary/TOFC), and Solaine Sasakamoose (5’5”, forward, Burnaby, BC-Burnaby North Secondary/Coquitlam Metro Ford).

THROW INS—Miller has goals of being a secondary school PE teacher and says one of her role models is former University College of the Cariboo (now TRU) men’s basketball player and current Westsyde Secondary teacher Ryan Porter. “Mr Porter and Ms Newman (Dionne) at Westsyde were always there for the students and always willing to help outside of their classrooms. That is something I aspire to be.”

“Education has always been a goal of mine since high school,” she says. “ To pursue it is super exciting. I have always loved being around children. I didn’t take the most direct route into Education because I didn’t know what degree I wanted to pursue first (she graduated from UBCO in Kelowna, BC in Human Kinetics in 2016-17).”