A Maple Ridge soccer keeper is on her way to the NCAA to play on a scholarship.
Allie Turnbull, who is graduating from Maple Ridge Secondary, has signed to play with Indiana State University, which is a Division 1 school in the Missouri Valley Conference.
She hopes to follow in the footsteps of a family friend is one of the great Canadian national team keepers of all time – Maple Ridge’s own Karina LeBlanc. LeBlanc played in three FIFA Women’s World Cups, and was part of the bronze-medal winning team at the 2012 London Olympics. She’s also a good friend of Allie’s mother, Erin Turnbull, and they grew up together.
“Karina is a really big inspiration to me,” Allie said.
The retired pro soccer player, and GM of the Portland Thorns, was a NCAA star for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. She has some words of wisdom for the young keeper.
“She tells me ‘Just worry about yourself, and keeping the ball out of the net,” said Allie.
Turnbull been good at doing that. She started soccer at a young age with West Coast Auto Group FC in her hometown, then jumped to Coquitlam Metro Ford SC, and then the BC Soccer Premier League. Early in her career she played out, but as a teen she found herself specializing and focusing on keeper full time. She loves the position – it gives her a rush to deprive an opponent of a goal with a big save. And she starts plays with her kicks and throws.
A highlight of her career was being chosen for Team BC and competing in the Canada Games as the starting keeper in August in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
“That was really fun, and a very, very selective team – only 18 girls from all of B.C.,” she said.
She chose to attend Indiana State because she will get a good opportunity to get playing time there, and to further develop her game.
“It was the girls, the atmosphere, the coaches – and they really wanted me,” she said.
Turnbull plans to study psychology.