Kodiaks Saler Ready to Strike

by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips

During the telephone interview, it is evident that Lyndee Saler is excited as the Lethbridge College Kodiaks enter the fray of Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) futsal.

After playing three years on the Kodiaks women's soccer team, it will be the first time that the Lethbridge, Alberta native plays competitive futsal.

"This will be my first actual (futsal) tournament," admits Saler, who is enrolled in Exercise Science. "I played some co-ed recreational futsal two years ago but that is different.

"When we were told by our coach (Mike Racz) that we were going to enter futsal, all the girls were real excited. Our last two years after soccer season we did not do much in the off-season but this year we have been pushed to our limits which is great."

Practicing since early January, the Kodiaks have had a few exhibition games against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women's team.

"We intermingled the teams, so it is fun and they pushed us to a level we have never played at before."

Coached by her father Gary Saler from age's five-to-high school graduation, Lyndee has no regrets in that soccer was a family affair.

"Dad played soccer at the University of Lethbridge," said Saler. "He really pushed me and he helped me develop as a player.

"He stills comes to games and yells at me when I play."

Of the transition from soccer to the indoor pitch, Saler said: "Futsal is a lot faster and more skill-based than outdoor. I find it more difficult with the shorter field and faster tempo. I kind of like, that you can give it your all for a minute or two and then get off and take a minute or two break before you go back on.

"The strategy is a bit different too. You have to know where the other players are at all times and know what to do with the ball before you get it."

 With an 18-player squad, Saler believes the Kodiaks will do well in their futsal debut.

"We know that Medicine Hat (Rattlers) play all year round and are good. We have all of our soccer players on the futsal team now and we have been training hard, so I think we will do well."

A graduate of Catholic Central High School, Saler has been a standout 5-foot-5 midfielder for Kodiaks soccer, with the team qualifying for ACAC provincials her first two years.

During her three years lacing up the cleats, she had played in 27 ACAC regular season games scoring six goals.

Included in that, was the 2015 campaign where she played with a torn meniscus of the right knee.

"I did it in the last week of preseason," recalls Saler. "I should have missed the season but I wanted to play and the doctor gave me the OK to play. It did not make it worse, so I would get out there and play 20 minutes or so and then I would get subbed off, which was frustrating, and I would hobble off.

"At least I knew that I was contributing to the team."

The 2017 ACAC Futsal Championships are scheduled for March 2 - 5, 2017 in Calgary, Alberta and hosted by the Ambrose University Lions.