Hope Solo holds clinic for young keepers

Columbia Falls High School senior Kira Kamrud admitted she would be sore after attending the Hope Solo Goalkeeper Clinic at the Flathead Soccer Camp fields on March 24.

“They worked us hard,” she said. “It was the first time I trained outside since the fall season.”

Kamrud was one of 38 keepers who paid $50 for the two-hour clinic taught by Hope Solo, the U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper. Thirty-two players pre-registered and six more showed up for the clinic for boys and girls ages 12-18.

“Today was a very good day,” Kamrud said. “Very fun, super inspirational.”

Kamrud completed her prep soccer season last fall by helping the Wildkats advance to the Class A state championship match. A two-year starter who earned all-conference honors twice, Kamrud was named all-state her senior year and voted the Wildkats’ MVP.

“A lot of the stuff I’ve heard before, but it was definitely cool hearing it from Hope,” she said.

Kamrud said Solo spoke for about 45 minutes at the high school, answering questions from O’Brien Byrd, of the Flathead Rapids Soccer Club, and the audience.

“One of the quotes during the talk at the high school was that goalkeepers don’t win games — they save games,” Kamrud said. “I never really heard that before. I know goalkeepers make plays to help the game out, but it was really cool hearing that.”

Kamrud finished the clinic by having her picture taken with Solo and getting her keeper jersey and a picture autographed. She’ll be playing with the U18 Flathead Rapids this spring. In the fall, she’ll play soccer at Corban University, an NAIA school in Salem, Ore. She’ll be on an academic and athletic scholarships and plans to major in health science.

“I’m very excited about college,” she said. “Four months until I leave.”