Campbell Looks for Comeback at Canyon : High school: After leading county in scoring last season, freshman spent final minutes on sidelines during semifinal defeat.

Kim Campbell’s first high school soccer season ended with a bang and a whimper.

Chasing down a pass and trying to get off a shot in sudden-death overtime of a Division 3-A semifinal game last spring, Campbell, a Canyon High School forward, crashed into Mater Dei goalkeeper Julie Tarnay. Tarnay made the save, and after spending five minutes on her back, Campbell left the field, only to watch Mater Dei score in the second sudden-death period to eliminate Canyon.

That Campbell went down trying to score was a fitting finale to a productive freshman season. Campbell, who twice scored five goals in a game, had 36 goals to lead Orange County.

“She made one of the biggest impacts in girls’ soccer in the county as a freshman,” Canyon Coach John Williams said. “She’s a complete player; she’s not there just to score. I’d say she’s one of the better players around.”

In Canyon’s first game this season, Campbell scored three goals Wednesday in a 5-1 victory over Tustin.

Soccer is a tradition in the Campbell household. Kim’s brother, Randy, was a two-year starter for Canyon. Her father, Mark, plays in a men’s league and helps coach Kim. And her mother, Marlene, also helped coach Kim after she started playing youth soccer at age 6.

Campbell tried playing softball, but soccer was her one constant. Now, like many other area players, she is at it virtually year-round. Campbell earned a spot on the under-16 California touring team, and she hopes to play the sport in college.

“I’ve never been into any other sports,” she said. “I tried cheerleading, but it interfered with soccer and I like soccer better.”

There are worse places for a committed soccer player than Canyon. The area surrounding the Anaheim Hills campus is a haven for youth soccer. This year, 90 girls tried out for about 70 spots on Canyon’s three teams.

Campbell said she was a bit intimidated by the throng of players trying out last year, but she adjusted just as Williams expected.

“I think of myself as a defensive coach,” Williams said. “It’s hard for me to be able to develop a striker, so it was a real pleasant surprise when she came along. She didn’t need developing.”

Williams said he asks Campbell to find an opponent’s weakest link and exploit it. That means she may end up playing in the center or on he left or right wings.

Despite her size--she is 5-feet-5 and 105 pounds--she has a powerful shot, Williams said, and she doesn’t shy away from contact. Campbell, who suffered a deep shin bruise, was on crutches for about two weeks after the Mater Dei game.

“I thought she might end up a little timid because of it, but she hasn’t,” Williams said. “She looks just as strong and powerful as she did before.”

1990 GIRLS’ SOCCER PREVIEW

Top teams: Canyon, Corona del Mar, Dana Hills, Edison, El Toro, Esperanza, La Quinta, Los Alamitos, Mater Dei, Mission Viejo, Sunny Hills, University.

Top players: Shawna Berke (El Toro), Shannan Brown (Sunny Hills), Laura Brun (Los Alamitos), Kim Campbell (Canyon), Nikki Charette (Mission Viejo), Julie Gribble (Canyon), Heidi Gugler (Sunny Hills), Julie Harris (Los Alamitos), Julie Lewczyk (Troy), Sandra Lutsch (Irvine), Lynn Murray (Esperanza), Shana Novegrod (University), Prentice Perkins (Corona del Mar), Alison Salinger (Mater Dei), Jenny Scanlon (Troy), Kathy Shortall (Foothill), Leslie Steinert (El Toro), Stefanie Stucker (La Quinta), Tina Thompson (Canyon), Shelley Tiersbeck (El Modena), Shawn Viloria (El Toro).

Important dates: Dec. 22, South Torrance Tournament championship; Dec. 26, Cerritos Tournament championship; Dec. 29, Ocean View and Foothill tournament championships; Feb. 14, Southern Section playoffs begin.

Notes: Mater Dei, the defending Division 3-A champion, has moved up to Division 4-A and has a new coach, Becki Schelhorse. El Toro, the defending 4-A champion, returns a team that includes the division’s offensive (Viloria) and defensive (Steinert) players of the year.