The Heat Women’s soccer team is pleased to announce the signing of Lana Finley for the 2011 season. Lana, a 5’6’’ utility player, attended the team’s March ID camp where she impressed head coach Claire Paterson with her versatility in a number of positions.
“She came out to [the ID Camp] and did very well as a defender,” coach Paterson said of Lana, “but when I pushed her forward as a striker that is when she really stood out.”
Lana played with the Kelowna United Soccer organization and won the Provincial Championships in 2003, she has also been a member of the WYSA and KWSL. She currently plays for the U21 Kelowna United reserve team in the Pacific Coast Soccer League. In 2010 Lana was the recipient of the Defensive MVP for the U21 Kelowna United PCSL team.
Coach Paterson has spearheaded a remarkable turnaround for the women’s soccer program at UBC in just three seasons. The turnaround has included two straight appearances at the Provincial Championships as well as a the programs first ever provincial medal, has expressed her excitement to add another strong talent to an ever improving team. “Lana is another great addition to our program as she is very comfortable and confident in various positions,” coach Paterson said. “She has very good speed and vision on the field and is a composed finisher in the 18 yard box.”
Lana, a 2008 graduate from Mount Boucherie, will be transferring from Okanagan College and will continue her studies in Human Kinetics this fall at UBC’s Okanagan campus. “I chose to attend UBCO because it is a great university to continue my studies in the Human Kinetics program,” she said. “I chose the Heat because I have seen the team develop and become very successful over the past [few] seasons. The team is already talented and I am eager to join and hopefully develop my game as much as possible from Claire [Paterson] and the coaching staff.”
Claire Paterson has supplemented her roster with a trio of local talents; Lana Finley joins two other Central Okanagan recruits, Michelle Smith and Kirsten Dodds. The only new recruit so far for Paterson from outside the Valley is Taylor Venuti, a full back from Langley.
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