Beth Skeard turned flush in the face when she was asked how she felt about meeting one of her idols in Halifax.
The 14-year-old Corner Brook female soccer player, a member of the Western Wolves U15 female team in the provincial league, was one of 100 female soccer players in the 14-16 age group in Atlantic Canada selected to attend a Soccer Canada clinic in Halifax last week.
The guest instructor just happened to be her favourite soccer player Kadeisha Buchanan — a talented defender for Canada’s national women’s soccer team.
Her first kick of the ball coming nine years ago, Skeard is a big fan of Canada’s national women’s team, familiar with who is who on the roster as she followed the team for the past seasons.
The clinic was designed for budding players who were eager to increase their performance and hone their skills both on and off the turf. The clinic, which provided Skeard with some on-on-one time with Buchanan where she learned some new tricks and got a better understanding of what it takes to be a strong defender, proved to be a great experience for the only girl from this province selected for the clinic.
“Oh my God, there are no words to describe it. It was amazing,” Skeard said.
Skeard knows she was afforded a great experience and she appreciates being one of the girls chosen to go.
Being able to rub shoulders with her idol was an inspirational moment for a young girl who now finds herself more motivated to embrace the game she loves.
“She inspired me. It makes you want to push to be the best you can be,” she said.
Meeting one of her favourite players and learning how to be a better player is an experience she figures will stick with her for a long time.
It’s a safe bet the smile will stick around for a little longer.
