Isabel Parkin will never be the most intimidating player on a soccer field.
“I’m 4-foot-8 — on a good day,” grinned Parkin, a Bangor High School junior who weighs in at between 90 and 95 pounds.
But the center back hasn’t let her lack of size prevent her from being a valuable contributor. Parkin anchors the back line for the No. 4 Rams (10-4-1), who play at No. 1 Camden Hills (15-0) at 3 p.m. Friday in a Class A North semifinal.
Her tenacity, work ethic and soccer IQ help her compensate for any size deficiency.
“When she walked in her freshman year, everybody told me she was too small,” Bangor coach Joe Johnson said.
“But she hasn’t come off the field since,” he added. “She is faster than she looks, and she’s tough as nails. She is a [karate] black belt, so it’s hard to get her off her feet.”
Parkin acknowledged that her martial arts background has been beneficial on the pitch.
“It made my legs a lot stronger. It has helped a lot. I can kick the ball [with authority],” Parkin said.
“She’s so quick and she’s really aggressive. And she’s fearless,” Camden Hills coach Meredith Messer said.
Parkin said she had to prove herself from day one at Bangor High.
“It took awhile for them to understand I could stick up for myself,” said Parkin, who has been a consistent performer for the Rams, helping them reach the Class A North finals her first two seasons.
“[I have] learned how to position myself so I don’t get crushed,” said Parkin, whose confidence has grown.
“Having somebody back there you can really trust and rely on means everything,” Bangor senior holding midfielder Bella Varisco said.
But it wasn’t always this way. Parkin got off to a shaky soccer start at age 3.
“I cried the whole time,” she said.
She gave it another whirl two years later and has played ever since.
Parkin has become a leader in the back, though she admits she needs to do more in that department.
“She is the powerhouse of our defense,” Bangor senior attacking midfielder Libby Spekhardt said. “Don’t underestimate her size. If you do, you’re going to get beat.”
Follow BDN Maine Sports on Facebook for the latest in Maine high school and college sports.