A knee injury sidelined Isaac Koch last season but the West Kelowna soccer star has come back with a vengeance this year playing for the University of Victoria.
The former Mt. Boucherie Secondary star was named the 2019 Canada West Player of the Year in late October after tallying 17 points in the season and leading the Vikes to the Canada West playoffs.
Koch and UVic were bumped out in the semi-finals, but the season害羞草研究所檚 success was not lost in the shuffle.
害羞草研究所淭his time last year, I was eight days away from surgery, we were still wondering if I was even going to play this year,害羞草研究所� said Koch.
害羞草研究所淚t feels awesome to come back and to be able to contribute like this.害羞草研究所�
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Now with his fourth year of university eligibility completed and a potential step ahead of him towards playing in the new Canadian Premier League (CPL), Koch is weighing the options of where the sport he loves will take him next.
Koch could chose to return to UVic for his fifth and final year or he could see if his name is called at the upcoming CPL draft, which will select nearly 15 Usports athletes for invitation to Canadian pro team training camps.
Koch害羞草研究所檚 recently-won Player of the Year award puts him among the top five players of the 2019 class.
Despite the seemingly tough choices ahead of the soccer star, the uncertainty hasn害羞草研究所檛 been phasing.
害羞草研究所淚f soccer is going to happen, it will happen,害羞草研究所� said Koch.
害羞草研究所淭hat year I took off because of injury made me realize how much soccer means to me, but it also made me realize that there害羞草研究所檚 more to life than soccer and I don害羞草研究所檛 need to worry about what害羞草研究所檚 next.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭his past year was a lot of fun not having to worry about my injuries and I害羞草研究所檓 excited to see what the opportunities will be like.害羞草研究所�
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With nine goals and eight assists this year, Koch害羞草研究所檚 end of season awards also included being named to the Usports All-Canadian First-Team as a first-time captain for the Vikes.
Like a true and confident athlete, Koch feels like he has the ability to put up almost 20 points every season.
That UVic semi-finals loss in the playoffs has lit a fire under Koch as he prepares for the next steps, be them in the CPL or Usports.
害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 feel like I accomplished enough and I want to bring UVic to Nationals,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淩egardless of what happens, I害羞草研究所檒l want to play my fifth year with Victoria and captain the team again and be a leader to our good, young players.害羞草研究所�
An invitation to a CPL pre-season camp, which could come draft day on Nov. 11, could change where the aspiring pro will be playing.
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Be it the Canadian Premier League or another year at the University of Victoria, Koch has realized that his future within the game is owed to his local roots.
害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be here now if it wasn害羞草研究所檛 for Okanagan programs and the Penticton PCSL team when I was in Grade 12,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淭hat made the jump from youth soccer to university not as big a step as I owe a lot of my soccer to playing and being in the Okanagan.害羞草研究所�
The CPL, Canada害羞草研究所檚 top league system, is chalk full of former Usports players.
Players that Koch has played against and if his name is called on Nov. 11, he害羞草研究所檚 confident that he can make the jump.
害羞草研究所淜ind of cool seeing players I害羞草研究所檝e played against at that level,害羞草研究所� Koch said.
害羞草研究所淚f they can do it, so can I.害羞草研究所�
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