Jaspreet Virk kicks off Cougars rookie class
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/01/2022 (1444 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
In the coaching world, you never know who you’ll find online.
Or where you’ll find them. Assiniboine Community College women’s soccer coach Kate Broadhead stumbled upon the Kelowna Women’s Soccer League forum and Jaspreet Virk caught her attention.
Broadhead found some video of the striker online and was impressed — “she was scoring goals left, right and centre” — so she messaged Virk on LinkedIn, usually a work-related social networking site.
The coach was pleased to find out ACC was a great fit for Virk, who is six courses from finishing her chartered professional accountant (CPA) studies.
“If you’re looking for an adventure, we’ve got something for you,” Broadhead said.
Virk is the first recruit for the Cougars’ 2022 women’s soccer rookie class. At 26, she’ll get her first taste of post-secondary soccer in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference.
“Honestly I’m a little scared about the weather there but I’m sure it should be fine,” Virk said with a laugh. “I’m super excited. I’ve never played college-level … I might be a little older than everyone but I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Virk started playing soccer at age six and moved around from defence to wing, and most recently striker.
She didn’t make her high school team but continued with recreational leagues, eventually competing in the Kelowna Women’s Soccer League’s Division 1 and 2.
Virk had coaches encouraging her to play at a higher level. Her younger sister, 10 years her junior, added to her motivation. Virk started coaching her five years ago until the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
“If she looks up to me and if I’m doing better, she’ll want to follow my footsteps maybe,” Virk said of her choice to join the Cougars.
“… I definitely think I’m in my prime now.”
Virk graduated from Okanagan College last year and will likely just need the 2022-23 academic year to complete her program. She feels her versatility will help her make an immediate impact.
“Speed and agility have increased for me, my stamina is so much better than it used to be when I was a younger kid,” Virk said. “Bringing in speed, skills and being older than everybody on the team will help me being a team player and having a good year altogether.”
The Cougars are back in action for an abbreviated futsal season beginning Feb. 6. The ACC women host the first leg of MCAC regular season play while Brandon University will hold the full day of men’s action, featuring five games with each team playing two.
The second match day is Feb. 20, with the women in Niverville and men at CMU. The format is essentially a single round-robin with playoffs in March.
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @thomasmfriesen