Long before she became the first Canada West All-Star in UNBC Women's Soccer history, Paige Payne was a young athlete from Kitimat with visions of greatness.

What followed was a journey that would help transform UNBC Women's Soccer and establish Payne as the most accomplished offensive player in program history to date.

"It doesn't matter where you're from," said Timberwolves UNBC Women's soccer head coach Neil Sedgwick. "Paige is living proof that if you want it badly enough, you can come from a small community like Kitimat, you can find the right direction and purpose, and you can become a strong Canada West player and more."

Payne's soccer journey began at age five in Timbits Soccer.

"It was really the only sport you could play in Kitimat besides hockey," Payne laughed as she recalled the early days of her soccer passion.

As her passion for the game grew, so too did the sacrifices required to continue developing.

By middle school, she was travelling to Terrace multiple times each week to train, but the commitment paid off.

After moving to Prince George in Grade 11 and joining the Whitecaps Academy program, Payne discovered that she was 'right there' with the province's top players.

"I was always super competitive," she reflected. "Playing in tournaments and realizing maybe I was better than I anticipated in my head made me want to challenge myself even more."

That mindset ultimately led her to UNBC.

Being close to home mattered, but so did the opportunity to help build something.

"Family was super important to me," said Payne. "I knew what my role could be at UNBC and I liked the idea of playing for a smaller program and helping to build it."

Sedgwick still remembers seeing her for the first time.

"I had heard from a few people that there was this good player in Kitimat," he said. "Then when I had a chance to watch her, I could see the special qualities."

At the time, the Timberwolves were still finding their footing within Canada West. Payne arrived in 2016 alongside fellow recruit Mara McCleary, joining a roster that was beginning to establish its identity.

"As history shows, those two recruits contributed to the program immensely," said Sedgwick.

But the early years weren't easy.

UNBC failed to record a victory during Payne's first season, but a foundation for future success was being built – brick by brick and few players embraced that challenge more fully.

Over five seasons, Payne evolved from an energetic young attacker into one of the most dangerous and complete players in Canada West. Her growth was especially evident during her breakout 2018 campaign, when she scored nine goals while earning Canada West Second Team All-Star honours.

The recognition was historic as Payne became the first Canada West All-Star in UNBC Women's Soccer history.

"When Paige arrived she had so much energy," said Sedgwick. "Then in year three she had figured a lot of things out. She slowed down her game, made better decisions and put herself in better positions."

That evolution transformed her into a player capable of impacting matches from anywhere on the field.

"She could play as a striker or as a fullback," said Sedgwick. "She was a player that allowed us to play out of difficult positions because her decision-making was so strong. If we could get the ball to Paige, we knew we'd have time to get into advanced positions."

What made Payne particularly dangerous was her unpredictability.

"She's a footballer," said Sedgwick. "She just loved to play and loved the challenge of whoever was in front of her."

By the time her career concluded, Payne had established herself as the most prolific offensive player in program history, finishing with 21 goals and 30 career regular season points while helping guide the Timberwolves through one of the most important developmental periods in team history.

"There are so many players deserving of recognition," said Sedgwick. "But Paige is incredibly deserving for all that she did and for helping guide the program through a period when we were transitioning into becoming a stronger team capable of getting results."

Few players witnessed Paige Payne's development more closely than fellow 2016 recruit Mara McCleary.

The two entered the Timberwolves program together and quickly formed a friendship that would become one of the defining relationships of their university careers.

"We first met over a text," laughed McCleary. "We were in a similar situation as recruits, and Paige picked me up from the airport. She immediately showed that Northern kindness."

For McCleary, that first impression never changed.

"I was shy, but she was so talkative that it immediately put me at ease," she said. "That's just who she is. If somebody needs help, she's there."

Together, the pair navigated the challenges of balancing ambitious academic goals with the demands of Canada West soccer.

"Paige and I were ambitious with our course loads, but we loved the soccer," said McCleary. "We didn't have a lot of success in the standings right away, but game by game we could see growth."

As the years passed, McCleary watched Payne transform from an energetic young player into one of the conference's most dangerous attackers.

"Paige came in as a really hard worker. You could never deny her work ethic," said McCleary. "In her first year she'd run all over the field because she was so fit and worked so hard. But by year three she understood exactly where she needed to be and that made such a big difference."

The chemistry between the two became one of UNBC's greatest weapons.

"She knew where I'd put the ball and she'd be there," said McCleary. "That connection evolved over time, but it came from a shared drive. We both wanted to improve every day and help the team improve."

For McCleary, Payne's impact extended far beyond goals and assists.

"Even through struggles, she never made it about herself," she said. "The focus was always on how we could get better. That's what made her such a strong teammate."

When Payne returned for a fifth season in 2022 while pursuing graduate studies, she'd get the opportunity to finish what she started back in 2016 alongside McCleary.

After suffering a significant Achilles injury during the pandemic years, McCleary admits Payne's return played a role in her own decision to suit up for Year 5 at UNBC.

"I wasn't sure how things were going to go," said McCleary. "But the fact that Paige was back there too made it feel like a true fifth season."

Payne responded with another remarkable campaign, scoring eight goals and earning her second Canada West Second Team All-Star selection.

"It was hard balancing school and soccer," said Payne. "But I was always going to make it work. I wanted to do well in school and give my full effort to soccer. My passion for both made it happen."

Today, Payne continues to make an impact through her work as a physiotherapist in the Lower Mainland. In recent years she's remaining involved in soccer through League1 BC competition.

The same curiosity and commitment that made her an exceptional soccer player now drives her professional career.

"Physiotherapy couldn't be a better fit for Paige," said Sedgwick. "She's curious about how the body moves, how to improve movement, and how to maximize performance. I knew she'd excel in that field."

While her career has taken her beyond Northern British Columbia, Prince George remains a place she speaks about fondly.

"I loved Prince George," said Payne. "People don't understand how close this community is. You see familiar faces everywhere and people are so kind and supportive. It was a really special environment."

For McCleary, Payne's legacy is about much more than records or accolades.

"She came in with an incredible work ethic, a clear vision for what she wanted to accomplish, and a desire to make everyone around her better," said McCleary. "She embodied what it means to be a Timberwolf."

As the first Canada West All-Star in program history, Payne helped prove that UNBC Women's Soccer could compete with the conference's best.

As a student-athlete, she demonstrated that excellence on the field and in the classroom could go hand in hand.

As a person, she showed that athletes from small northern communities can achieve extraordinary things.

She didn't just score goals. She helped redefine what was possible for UNBC Women's Soccer.