Category: Interviews

Allie Long: Players Have “Done Everything We Can”

Posted on by Backline Soccer

Allie Long, as well as every player that took part in Sunday’s record-breaking game at Red Bull Arena, had the same message to US Soccer, the fan and investors. They have held up their end of the bargain and now it’s time for everyone else to do the same.

“Now it’s up to people that have the money to market it,” said Long when speaking about the growth of the women’s game in the United States. “People with money who want to invest need to come up. I feel like we, as players, have done everything we can.”

Long, now in her 10th year as a professional player and 15th as a national team player, has seen the ebbs and flows that come with World Cup victories. Carli Lloyd expressed a similar view citing the rise in attendance four years prior but no investment to retain interest.

Money seems to be prevalent in the men’s game as MLS signed a lucrative deal to bring an expansion team to St. Louis. All of this despite the massive failures of the men’s national team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. On the women’s side the US has raised the top trophy twice in a row and won the competition four times, yet there still lacks an investment to push the game forward.

“We won the World Cup back-to-back,” said Long. “If you’re not coming to games now… We can’t physically give more than what we have on the field. We’re trying to promote it, trying to grow this league. And I’ve been saying, if anyone was inspired by the World Cup, if you’re a kid that wants to play on the women’s national team, the NWSL is crucial for any player that wishes to ever play at that level.”

Whether the investment will follow remains to be seen. Red Bull has been hovering over Sky Blue FC for many years but has yet to either invest in the team or partner on a long term basis. ESPN as well could play a significant role if an expanded TV rights deal is negotiated. 

Long is correct that the players have done everything physically possible to put a marketable product on the field. Now it’s up to the businesses to help them take it to the next level.

Staying on Cloud 9

Posted on by Backline Soccer

Sky Blue FC made headlines in 2018. Everyone was talking about them for the rest of the season, tuning in to their games, tweeting and re-tweeting articles and comments. They were all anyone could talk about.

For all the wrong reasons.

Sky Blue FC, out of Piscataway Township, NJ, has certainly had its ups and down. As the only club still left standing since women’s professional soccer began, it has quite a history. I was fortune enough to interview Jennifer Muller, the current pack leader of Cloud 9 – the supporters’ group for Sky Blue FC. Not an easy task the last two years or so, Jen and other members of Cloud 9 have continued to show up and show out for their club, through the wins, the draws and the losses. Through Sam Kerr’s comments about conditions; through exposes, articles and the tweets. Through players unwilling to play there. Through owner and Governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, promising to make things better. Through Sky Blue FC finally finding its feet and winning games. Cloud 9 is comprised of people who are loyal, want to see success and love this team beyond reproach. Pretty much everything you could ask for from a Supporters Group. 

Muller gave me a little overview of how she became interested in the club and ultimately ended up helping get the club’s SG off the ground officially in 2015.

Like any new SG, it wasn’t a smooth road. “It was pretty hap hazard. We were in the bleachers near the beer garden, and we’re thinking maybe we would be able to get people interested in joining, but it was hard to get off the ground.” A rough beginning saw some light at the end of the tunnel with the 2015 Women’s World Cup. “That first game back, with all the national team players back, there was a huge boost. They sold out that game and were able to get people to move in and it was great.” Muller’s love for Cloud 9 shone through as we discussed her role with the club and how things came about. In 2016, Cloud 9 saw membership numbers go up as people became more and more interested in Sky Blue FC. “New members are typically people who are already soccer fans but are the person in their friends group who likes soccer, so they don’t have anyone to go to games with.”

One of the great things about supporters groups is the instant access to people who are open and friendly and welcoming to anyone who is coming to their first game, 10thgame, or 100thgame. Cloud 9 doesn’t just have NWSL fans; they also have a crossover smattering of MLS fans from the New York Redbulls, New York City FC and even the Philadelphia Union. Because Sky Blue FC is nestled in such a small but unique location, they’re able to get those different types of members, who in turn tell their friends. “It’s a lot of word of mouth, boots on the ground, kind of thing.” Muller tells me when I asked what their marketing looked like. “Social media plays a big role in letting people know about the club.” With 12 games left in the season, Cloud 9 will continue to support their club and do everything they can to attract new fans.

And that starts with letting people know what it’s like to be a part of Cloud 9. I posed a few questions to some members of Cloud 9 about their experience in the group. They provided their answers below.

Danny Kane:

When did you first hear about the club?

1) I started watching women’s soccer a decent amount around the 2012 Olympics, but had no clue who the club teams were. Around 2014/15, Jen Muller started telling me about Sky Blue. I went to my first game after the World Cup (Yurcak is inconvenient as hell for me, so it took a bit to convince me), got season tickets in 2016. On the one hand, it’s great that supporters bring their friends. On the other hand, how the hell can a pro team rely on that? I’ve never seen Sky Blue advertised. Cloud 9 members have brought in a ton of fans, including many new members, but we shouldn’t be the team’s best advertisement.

What made you want to become involved?

2) I support women’s soccer. The 2015 World Cup got me sufficiently hooked I wanted to make as many games as possible. At some point when things went to hell last year, I was loyal to my friends in the section, and especially our players, so I was gonna make it as much as I could, even if it wasn’t fun, which is where I’m at now (though the last 2 games have me a little optimistic)

How has your experience been, being in a Supporters’ Group?

3) The SG is great. We pump each other up, we keep it as fun as we can, and there’s no feeling like leading the support, especially after a tough win. I can’t imagine watching a game anywhere else. 

What is the ABSOLUTE one thing you want people to know/understand about being a Sky Blue fan?

4) It often sucks. Ownership doesn’t care (remember, the progress we made this year brought us back to the status quo that Sam Kerr actively tried to leave). Our field is in the middle of nowhere. We haven’t had a decent chance at playoffs in at least 2 years, and haven’t made playoffs since I’ve been watching. I love our players, and I often love going to games. But it’s a weird feeling to be okay with one of your favorite players leaving, because she’s in a better place. I didn’t renew my season tickets this year, because I don’t trust the ownership. I think Alyse is a huge upgrade over Tony, but I don’t think she was put in a position to succeed. So I go to basically every game, but I don’t trust the team enough to commit to them. And I don’t know exactly what I want. A field with adequate facilities would certainly be a start. The feeling that our organization is as professional as our players (and that our players are treated like world class professionals) would be ideal. When I feel optimistic, it’s always tempered, because I don’t think we’re anywhere near that ideal.

Michelle Fowler, who is one of the new members this season.

When did you first hear about the club?

I’ve been following NWSL since its inception, so I was made aware of Sky Blue through watching NWSL YouTube streams. 

What made you want to become involved?

When former players started speaking out, and articles written, about the conditions players were being subjected to, I saw how much Cloud 9 fought for the players. I admired the commitment of the SG to keep the story at the forefront and demand change. I wanted to be a part of that support, even in some small way. Joining Cloud 9 and showing up was the best way for me to do that. 

How has your experience been, being in a Supporters’ Group?

It’s been an awesome experience, better than I thought it could be.  I was very nervous to go to the first tailgate/game alone. But, I didn’t have to be worried. I was greeted right away by Jen. Several others came over, introduced themselves and made me feel very welcome. It’s a very accepting group and you can just be who you are. Most of all we have FUN, no matter the result on the field. You feel like an active participant when you are singing and chanting and you see the players appreciating it. 

What is the ABSOLUTE one thing you want people to know/understand about being a Sky Blue fan?

Our players come to do battle every game and they do it with a lot less than most other teams in the league. They appreciate every fan in the stands and fight for you. It makes you want to cheer a little harder for them and makes every win just a little sweeter. It’s more than worth the price of admission!

Margaret Ligouri

When did you first hear about the club?

I first heard of Sky Blue and the NWSL one night when I was watching old USWNT videos when I was in college. All of a sudden, I saw a video for a league game, and I did a little digging and saw there was a team that played practically in my backyard. I could see all my favorite players, in person, so close to home. It seemed too good to be true.

What made you want to become involved?

I became involved in supporters groups and with Cloud 9 because I didn’t want to go to games alone and I want to be as involved in supporting the league and the players as I could.

How has your experience been, being in a Supporters’ Group?

I could not have imagined then, what a greater impact being in an SG would have on me. In Cloud 9 I’ve found my soccer family, people who get me and accept me and share my passion for soccer. I came into the WoSo community right around the time I graduated college and being a part of a group like Cloud 9 helped me transition away from college life and not feel so intimidated by suddenly being out in the world, with no idea what to do.

What is the ABSOLUTE one thing you want people to know/understand about being a Sky Blue fan?

The absolute one thing I want people to understand about being a Sky Blue fan, is that we know things suck, we know we’re the butt of a lot of the jokes around the league, but we don’t care. Our club has the richest WoSo history of any club currently in the league, we’ve been around from the very beginning and that’s why we fight so hard for it. Yeah, we want the players to have the environment and support they deserve, and we want to win, but we also want to preserve the legacy of women’s professional soccer in America, and that means doing what we can to keep this club from falling apart. And that’s what it is to be a Sky Blue fan.

Jen Muller, Cloud 9 President

When did you first hear about the club?

My first exposure to the team was in 2008 at a post-Olympics USWNT game at Giants Stadium. That week was the initial allocation for the WPS and Sky Blue acquired Rampone, HAO, and Tasha Kai. I remember Kai wearing a Sky Blue scarf as she signed autographs after the game. I was (embarrassingly) only a casual fan in the WPS days and didn’t really start going to games until 2014.

What made you want to become involved?

I went to a few games in the 2014 season and noticed there wasn’t much of a supporters’ presence. I met Melissa Correa, who was basically carrying the torch for Cloud 9, at the WC Qualifiers in Philly and asked if she wanted help in getting the club off the ground as a proper SG. I tried to bring in some of the things I learned being a board member for the Empire Supporters Club (RBNY SG) and this whole thing has snowballed from there. 

How has your experience been, being in a Supporters’ Group?

Being a part of Cloud 9 and watching it grow over the past few years is something very special for me. When I was first introduced to supporter culture it changed my life. Seeing that happen for people in Cloud 9 warms my heart. 

What is the ABSOLUTE one thing you want people to know/understand about being a Sky Blue fan?

It’s not always easy being a fan of Sky Blue. Between having a less than optimal record, a less than professional stadium, and owners who still have not convinced us that they are willing or able to raise this team out of the depths of this league, it can get draining. But, no matter how bad things are on or off the field, at the end of the day we are here for the players. They leave it all on the field every game until the final whistle. We do our best to do the same for them in the stands.

What more could you ask from a Supporters Group who continue to show up, game after game, loss after loss, and remain beyond proud of their club and their players. As fans, it’s easy to switch allegiances and root for clubs who consistently win. But for members of Cloud 9, it’s not about the records or what people think about them; it’s about the players and showing them that their Supporters’ Group will always be there to love and support them, even when everyone else has written them off. After all, every cloud has a silver lining. 

Under the Radar: Reddy for Change

Posted on by RJ Allen

In the last six months there has been a lot written about Sky Blue FC. About the lack of proper facilities. About the mass of players wanting trades. About the foibles of ownership and the front office.

Though there is one person who has been largely left off the hook in all of this. A person who, by some accounts, may be as responsible as anyone for the downfall of the team.

Head coach Denise Reddy.

Over the last few months I have spoken with a number of sources connected to Sky Blue, most of whom requested to remain anonymous, for fear of retaliation. That includes several previous members of the Sky Blue’s staff as well as one person still with direct knowledge of the team. Each provided an independent account of how things reached their current state, and each identified Reddy as a significant source of concern.

That may be surprising to some. After all, for the past year, so much of the focus has been trained on the team’s general manager, Tony Novo, as well as the owners Phil Murphy and Steven Temares. Given the obvious issues at the higher levels of management, we’ve grown accustomed to buck-passing and a general lack of leadership. So much so that Reddy has seemingly been protected by the idea that all the dysfunction is coming from the higher levels.

But, I have been told by someone with direct knowledge, this is mistaken. The main reason Sam Kerr and other players are no longer with Sky Blue FC isn’t the lack of showers or other necessary upgrades to the facilities. It’s because of Denise Reddy.

Speaking directly of Kerr it was made clear that “she didn’t want to come back because of Denise [Reddy].”

And it’s not just Sam Kerr. If that was the only problem, maybe Reddy could still have build around other players. But I was told directly that Kelley O’Hara, Nikki Stanton, Leah Galton, Janine Beckie, Shea Groom, Katie Johnson, Amanda Frisbie, Christina Gibbons, Daphne and Rachel Corboz all refused to suit up while Reddy was the coach. And that doesn’t even cover the mass exit of the coaching staff over the last year due to Reddy helming the ship.

Everyone I spoke to to said that issues with Reddy created a difficult environment on top of the problems with the off-field work environment. Common issues were a “hard time communicating” with the head coach and how her style “made it very difficult for players to understand what their role was on the team and to understand if she took them out of the game, why.”

In nearly any other professional sport, a head coach amassing a record of 1 win, 17 losses and 6 draws over a 24 game season would be a virtual guaranteed sacking. Yet there have been hardly any calls for a new head coach in New Jersey. No introspection about game plan, tactics, or style, presumably because everyone’s eyes are constantly being draw away from the the mess on the field to the off-field garbage dump.

And maybe that’s where our attention should be trained. But there are enough problems here to pass the blame pretty widely around.

Going into the 2019 season, the team will likely be without both of their first round draft picks in Haley Mace and Julia Ashley. They will still be playing at Rutgers with the same missing accommodations that have been so relentlessly detailed. Their own supporter’s group is actively working on Twitter challenge the club to turn things around.

At what point does this all become performance art instead of a soccer team? At what point do the owners take responsibility, make the changes that are necessary by firing Novo and Reddy and replacing them with staff that will be able to do more within the confines of the club’s limited resources? And if they can’t do it, at what point do they acknowledge that this is a lost cause? At what point do even more players decide it’s simply not worth it?

I don’t have the answer but I hope they do figure it out before 2020 comes. If they can’t, they may end up in the trash bin of former NWSL teams.

At the time of this posting Sky Blue FC has not returned our request for comment.

A Sociological View on Selling Women’s Soccer: A Conversation with Dr. Rachel Allison

Posted on by RJ Allen

Most of the media that cover women’s sports have made themselves experts in the field – and often times using expert feels a bit dicy – through years of following the teams and players. We get there by writing about the on-the-field play and the off-the-field drama of whatever is going on.

But let’s face it. Most of us, when you come right down to it, are not experts in gender studies or sports in any sort of academic sense. There are a surprising number of lawyers in the women’s soccer media ranks, a lot of former players, a few academics from other areas. But most of us come to the media from a place of passion to fill a gap we see.

That’s where Dr. Rachel Allison enters the picture. Dr. Allison recently wrote a book called Kicking Center: Gender and the Selling of Women’s Professional Soccer that addresses a lot of issues that have faced women’s soccer. She is what many of us would call a honest-to-goodness expert in what a lot of the women’s soccer media writes about. In 2014 she received a PhD in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Currently she is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and affiliate of Gender Studies at Mississippi State University.

“I typically teach undergraduate and graduate classes in research methods, sociology of sport, and sociology of gender and sexuality,” Dr. Allison explained when I asked her about her work at Mississippi State University.

I was lucky enough to be able to speak with Dr. Allison and ask some questions about why she decided on this topic and why she went in some of the directions she did.

The story of why this book was written is one that most women’s soccer fans can get behind. Dr. Allison was, like so many in women’s soccer, a fan of the 1999 team and all that was born out of their World Cup winning side.

Like most of us that cover or write about women’s soccer at all, there is a confluence of the personal and professional love for this game and those who play it.

“I came to this topic for both personal and academic reasons. Personally, I grew up playing soccer and continued through college. I love the sport and it has been a big part of my life and my own physical and social development. I’m also the right age (34) to remember events like the 1996 Olympics, 1999 Women’s World Cup, and birth of the WUSA – as a fan, of course. My students call me old! But I have very clear memories of watching the Women’s World Cup and feeling so excited to see women playing my favorite sport on TV. It would have been hard at the time to avoid seeing clips or images from the ’99 championship! I knew about the WUSA, although I lived too far from any team at the time to attend a game. And when that league folded in 2003, I was leaving home for college. It was a huge disappointment to me that at the time it was becoming more possible for me to travel to a game as I became more independent, it wasn’t an option anymore.”

“In graduate school, I did a lot of research on women’s sports and I realized that multiple other women’s pro sports leagues had failed through the 1990’s and 2000’s. While the WUSA’s story was, of course, unique, it was also part of a pattern. And there just wasn’t much research that looked at that pattern. A lot of scholars have examined the experiences or identities of women athletes, but not so much the operations of the teams or the leagues that they play for. My personal and academic interests came together with WPS in 2009. I was in Chicago for graduate school and bought a season ticket right away for that first season. I enjoyed the games enormously (Megan Rapinoe was still brunette!) but was also aware of a lot of the struggles to gain fans, sponsorships, etc. the league faced early on. Over time, I became convinced that better understanding women’s soccer could shed light on both the challenges and opportunities for women in professional sport in the U.S.”

“I wanted to write this book to present a sociological analysis of the development and operation of women’s pro soccer, with the goal of understanding how the landscape in pro sports has changed for women in some ways and yet remained the same in others. It’s an academic book, but I hope that others can and will read it!”

The book opens with the 1999 World Cup. A place that is alive in most of our minds even if we somehow weren’t glued to the TV that day almost 20 years ago.

“I start with 1999 for a few reasons,” Dr. Allison explained, “for one, it’s an event that many people remember, even if they don’t typically follow women’s soccer or know much about it. So it’s a familiar place to start. And it’s also interesting for exactly that reason, that lots of people who recognize the players from that tournament or the now-iconic image of Chastain don’t know much else about women’s soccer. That tournament really did capture national attention in a way that has had lasting impact on our culture and that brought people “in” who hadn’t closely followed soccer before. I think this is a case of the right group at the right time with the right buy in. These women were an easy sell – they were attractive, talented, charismatic, and had clear group chemistry. 1999 marked two decades of incredible growth in girls’ and women’s sports participation, especially in soccer, and especially among affluent and predominantly white girls. Companies like Adidas and Nike perceived that women were a somewhat untapped market and had increasingly used women athletes in their advertisements and commercials. The idealized body for women had shifted away from thinness and towards athleticism. And there was buy in from corporate and media organizations that made this tournament available to watch, and in its timing, the tournament did not directly compete against other highly popular sports events.”

“The success of this tournament, like other Women’s World Cup and Olympic tournaments, fundamentally challenges the idea that there is little interest in women’s sports in the U.S. One of my arguments in the book is that interest and buy in are a two-way street: investors often want to see a quantifiable ROI to their investment, but we can’t always fully know this in advance, in part because an ROI requires that investment in the first place! Support from sponsors and media give women’s leagues legitimacy and make them available for fans. When there is buy in, even in a climate of uncertainty like that around the 1999 Women’s World Cup, interest often follows.”

When the topic shifted to what the WPS/NWSL has done well, Dr. Allison was quick to point out one major area of benefit.

“On the positive side, women’s pro soccer adopted social media early and did a great job using it to communicate with fans. This probably seems completely commonsense now, but I studied WPS in a slightly earlier era in the social media landscape, and this has allowed me to appreciate just how quick they were to get on Facebook and Twitter and how impactful social media has been, especially without being on TV. One of the results has been the creation of really vibrant and active social media fan and follower communities.”

We do often take for granted how much social media has been a boon for women’s soccer and the teams to market themselves. From the days before the internet was a thing most of us spent our time on to the days of six hours a day on Twitter, things have changed and women’s soccer has been great at using this tool to market.

Dr. Allison noted another less ethereal benefit. “I also think that women’s pro soccer changed quickly over time towards the greater acceptance of lesbian and gay sexualities and this has been a positive change. In large part, this change mirrors trends towards greater acceptance in U.S. society more generally.”

Though it seems from fans to amateur writers to PhDs the one thing we can all agree on is sometimes the leagues just don’t know who to market to.

“On a more ambivalent note, I think that women’s pro soccer has historically defined their “market” as soccer-playing girls and their parents.” Dr. Allison noted. “And while there are good reasons to go after these fans, there are also good reasons to go after other groups of fans, and these groups, particularly adult fans without kids, sometimes feel less welcomed when game day spaces are set up entirely for kids. One of the things I find in the book is that while families with soccer playing kids may be interested in women’s pro soccer, they are also not the most consistent in their fandom, often pulled in multiple directions by other of their kids’ activities and sometimes just burned out on soccer altogether.”

Women’s soccer has had an interesting journey since the early days of the internet and how it has been marketed. People like Dr. Allison and books like Kicking Center: Gender and the Selling of Women’s Professional Soccer help to remind us of where we’ve come from and how to make the future a little easier to sell. 

Kicking Center: Gender and the Selling of Women’s Professional Soccer is now available on Amazon and where other books are sold. 

Semifinal Preview: North Carolina Courage host Chicago Red Stars … in Portland

Posted on by RJ Allen

On Saturday, the Portland Thorns defeated the Seattle Reign to advance to their second consecutive NWSL Final. The defending NWSL Champions now await the winner of tonight’s contest between the Chicago Red Stars and the North Carolina Courage.

If Chicago advances, it will be the first time Rory Dames gets his team to the championship match. If the North Carolina Courage win, it will be the third consecutive season Paul Riley leads his team (Western New York, 2016 & North Carolina, 2017) all the way to the title game. These two teams have history, so Tuesday night in Portland is guaranteed to be fireworks!

Setting the scene

Last year, Dames and his squad  figured out Riley and the Courage in all three of head-to-heads.  This season, the teams played to a pair of draws, with a Courage win sandwiched between. Of course, the history of the series matters little in a winner or go home semifinal, especially since the back-to-back shield winners will not have home field advantage.

Tonight’s match was originally scheduled for Sunday at Sahlen Stadium in Cary, North Carolina. However, the threat of Hurricane Florence forced a venue change. Both teams will face-off for a spot in the final in Portland, home of the defending champs, and the site of their 2-1 victory over Seattle on Saturday.

Sam Kerr & Company

If Chicago intends to advance, it will need a huge game from Australian striker and two-time Golden Boot winner, Sam Kerr. Of the 38 goals this season, Kerr has scored 16.  The next highest total belongs to Alyssa Mautz (five), followed by Yuki Nagasato (Four).  No other Chicago player has scored more than two goals on the season. Defensively, the Red Stars have let up 28 goals this season. Starting keeper Alyssa Naeher has seven clean sheets in 22 starts with Chicago.

There is no getting around the fact that Kerr is the main target—for Chicago to feed and North Carolina to stop. Despite having no NWSL playoff experience, she is up to the task. “I think as forward we kind of struggle with … if you don’t score you don’t have a good game.  I’ve tried to learn over the last few years that it’s not necessarily the case.” Her skill and ignorance to the pang of defeat in the past several years may work to her teams advantage.  Yet, so too may the vivid memory of the past. 

Veterans like Naeher and defender Julie Ertz carry in spades. Both remember the sting of the 89th minute goal by Denise O’Sullivan which deflected off Ertz and beyond the react of her teammate for club and country.

The year before, Francisca Ordega broke a 1-1 draw in the 11th minute to send the Washington Spirit to the final against the Western New York Flash (now the NC Courage).  Western NY went on to win the final in penalty kicks.  For 10 players on the North Carolina roster, this is their third-straight finals appearance, adding crucial playoff experience to an already dominant team. 

Nevertheless, Dames and his squad are ready to turn the pages of history in their favor. “You want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,” Red Stars head coach told the media last week. “North Carolina is the tip of the sword. So we’re excited to see what we can do against them.”

The Greatest NWSL Team Ever?

Sure, the above could be a statement, but will anything short of a title diminish the legacy of this North Carolina team? No NWSL team has had a better record, ever! At 17-1-6 this season, the Courage hold the league record in wins, fewest losses, most points (57), lowest goals against average (.71), and largest goal differential (+36).

Where Chicago has one out-of-this-world offensive threat in Kerr, the Courage have multiple scorers. To begin, 2016 Golden Boot winner Lynn Williams has 14 goals and 5 assists for North Carolina in 21 games played. She and Jessica McDonald, the team leader in assists (8) are known as the “Twin Towers”.  They stand at 5’7″ and 6’0″, respectively and offer a perfect balance of speed, size, and physicality to keep defenders on their toes.

The smaller but equally as dangerous (Tiny Terrors?) Debinha and Crystal Dunn each have eight goals for the Courage this season. At 5’2″ and 5’1″, respectively, the pair are devilishly fast and powerful. The formula has worked for the Courage as of late, but will be enough to bring home the second title in three years?

Well, first there is Chicago. Defensively, the Courage roster contains the league leader in minutes played (Abby Erceg) and assists (Jessica McDonald). The Courage also have four players and head coach Paul Riley  nominated for end-of-season awards.  The Courage will however be without the services of MVP Candidate McCall Zerbroni, who suffered a broken elbow while with the U.S National Team.

Unfortunately, injuries are nothing new for North Carolina this season. Between injuries and national team duties, the Courage have manipulated their starting XI multiple times. No doubt, they are hoping the growing pains from earlier in the season will allow them to take the uncertainties of the postseason in stride. “We’ve been pretty consistent I think what’s important for us. We haven’t really had a downturn during the season where we’ve been struggling and lost our form,” said Riley on last week’s media call. 

“Due to that, I think we like our chances.”

You can catch the second semifinals game between the North Carolina Courage and the Chicago Red Stars live on ESPNews at 9:00 p.m ET.

 

Interviews with Emma: Angela Salem

Posted on by RJ Allen

Emma Bayer is an 11-year-old who does a recurring interview series for Backline Soccer. You can find more out about how Emma got into soccer here.

I first met Angie when she played for the Atlanta Beat in 2011. Prior to that she was with Sky Blue FC and a season in Finland. Since then: the WNY Flash, Australia league, Washington Spirit, Boston Breakers and now the Portland Thorns!

Birthdate:  

7/24/1988

Nickname from teammates:  

Ang

Hometown:

Akron, OH

Age started playing:  

Four

College/major:

Francis Marion University/Psychology

Career aspirations after soccer:  

Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Why did you pick your particular uniform #:

I have always been number 6 or 26 but both those numbers were unavailable for the first time ever for Portland so I chose 36 to keep the 6 in it

Pregame meal:

Avocado Toast with Eggs

Workout music :

Anything Hip Hop

Favorite cartoon character :

Scooby Doo

Fave movie:

Blow

Fave actress:

Sandra Bullock

Mentor (in soccer or life):

Marty Beall, my college coach

Fave charity/cause:

MZ Emmers

Life motto:  

Never Give Up

Superstitions:

Only on game days; I have to wear a head band.

Pets:

None but I eventually want a pitbull

If you were going on Amazing Race, which teammate would you want as a partner, and why?

Katherine Reynolds because she’s the ultimate competitor and closest friend.

Kim DeCesare making good on a long-held goal with Elon Women’s Soccer

Posted on by RJ Allen

Kim DeCesare wrote her retirement letter while awaiting a plane to North Carolina and her first college coaching job. Since landing, she’s made peace with her past and now embraces the future.

“I thought, I want to write something that people can use to help them reflect on their own experiences and kind of reassure myself at the same time,” she told Backline Soccer during a phone interview last week. “Even though my professional career wasn’t the best and wasn’t the most successful that it still was an important part of my life. I also feel like I‘ve learned so much … I learned a lot about myself, soccer, and the world really​.”

For 20 years, Kim DeCesare has identified as a soccer player. The beautiful game of football has taken her from Long Island to North Carolina, around the world, and back again. On June 14, DeCesare was named assistant coach of the  Elon University Women’s Soccer program, just 40 miles west of Duke University where she played college soccer.

In the piece for Women’s Soccer Zone, DeCesare beautifully discussed  understanding to appreciate a career plagued by injury and perhaps void of the traditional success and accolades of a professional athlete.

“I am not here looking for sympathy or pity.  This is an opportunity for whoever is reading to know that careers, which are not entirely packed with countless minutes, prestigious awards and multiple championships, should still be recognized as successful.  It is all about how you define achievement and what you decide to learn from it.  I consider myself lucky to have the ability to move on from things quickly and see the bigger picture.  Let’s be honest, you don’t learn as many lessons from the easy, happy and positive experiences, as you do from the shitty ones.”

Back to something familiar

It is not unusual for players to shift to coaching once they hang up the boots. However, it’s not as common to coach, train, and referee as a pre-teen. DeCesare enrolled in a referee course at age 11. “It was a six-week referee course. It was three hours a night for a couple of nights a week.”

She served as a referee for two years before becoming a personal trainer.  “Around 13 of 14 years old, I started coaching little kids. I remember I would ride my bike to my neighbor’s house, pick her up on my bike, ride to the park and trainer her for an hour and earn $5-$10.”

By her first two college seasons at Duke University, DeCesare knew she wanted to coach at the college level, “By my freshman or sophomore year of college, I was like, ‘I want to be a college coach. I want to be a coach at Duke.'” As she begins her first year with Elon, DeCesare has much to learn. Yet, starting a second soccer career one county over from Duke must feel pretty good.

He latest international stop was in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven. She moved in hopes of reviving an injury-plagued career but again was sidelined with a broken leg. It was during the time DeCesare circled back to some WoSo news she had heard in passing. “I heard that Elon was getting a new women’s soccer coaching staff,  but I remember not even thinking about it [much]. Then [around the time] I broke my leg … I thought maybe I should see what the update is with that.” By then, Elon had already announced their new head coach Neil Payne and assistant coach Paul Babba. 

“I made a phone call to my college coach and asked, ‘Do you know the coach they just hired at Elon … are they already done with their staff?” As fate would have it, Duke head coach Robbie Church was set to meet with coach Payne for lunch the week DeCesare reached out. Introductions and conversations moved from there.
Straight from the Netherlands, DeCesare traveled to Alamance County, North Carolina. However, most of her time thus far has been spent recruiting, most recently in California. 

Female coaches in women’s soccer

While out west, she was shocked to be in the company of other female coaches. DeCesare is aware of the stereotypes and biases that come with being a woman in this profession. “I think it’s a tricky situation, being a female coach,” she told Backline. “I don’t think [female coaches] are as well received as men.”  DeCesare added she hopes not fall into the stereotypes of women in coaching. Stereotypes are just one potential burden female coaches face.
In a piece for SB Nation, Stephanie Yang outlines the current gender gap in soccer. While the participation of girls and women continues to rise, female coaches have declined since Title IX. ” Soccer is growing, but not for everyone, and that’s a problem,” writes Yang.  “The ugly truth of the beautiful game is that bias, cultural expectation, and lack of opportunity keep it out of the hands of women who want to help it flourish.” All the more reason DeCesare was eager to take the opportunity at Elon. “I knew I had to go for it,” she remarked.
Six years in professional soccer may mean shaking off the rust when it comes to office tasks. “I’ve been joking with my friends that like I have to learn excel (laughs). That kind of stuff is a little bit of a learning curve for me.” On the pitch, neither DeCesare nor her colleagues lack confidence or familiarity with the game. Collectively, the  Elon staff has over 31 years of soccer knowledge—not counting Kim, or the collective playing experience of Payne and Babba.   

Laying the foundation

Fresh off writing her own realizations about her soccer career, DeCesare is in position to inspire the next generation of players in soccer and beyond. As for her, mastering the interplay between the social, tactical, and physical well enough to coach is the next challenge. Her role at Elon is to facilitate the learning of the players and act as somewhat of a liaison between lessons taught on the pitch and the practical use of soccer skills elsewhere in life. “I think that’s important as well. That it not just be about soccer, or school, or a social life. I want to inspire them to believe they can become a better soccer player every day.”
DeCesare also emphasized— a good-natured but deliberate manner— she wants to win.
The Phoenix posted a 9-6-4 record in 2017, but struggled in CAA Conference play (2-4-3). The team opens the season August 7 versus former SoCon rival Furman. DeCesare returns to Durham to face her alma mater on August 26.

Interviews with Emma: Brittany Ratcliffe

Posted on by RJ Allen

Emma Bayer is an 11-year-old who does a recurring interview series for Backline Soccer. You can find more out about how Emma got into soccer here.

Brittany was a second round pick of the Boston Breakers in 2016. She is now a member of the Utah Royals.

Birthdate: February 7, 1994

Nickname from teammates: Britt, B-Rat

Hometown: Franklin Township, New Jersey

Age started playing: 4 years old

College/major: University of Virginia and I majored in Media Studies

Career aspirations after soccer: I am still unsure about what I want to do after soccer but I really enjoy talking to people and sports/fitness so maybe something in the business world that involves both.

Why did you pick your particular uniform #:  Growing up my favorite number was #13 and when I got to college someone already had it so I changed to #11.  When I got to the NWSL neither of those numbers were available, but I like double digit numbers and #25 was available and it just seemed right!

Pregame meal: Depending on what time the game is depends on what I eat.  If we have an afternoon game, I’ll eat oatmeal w/ banana and peanut butter for breakfast and if it’s a later game, I will usually have a turkey sandwich for lunch.  And drink LOTS of water!

Workout music:  My taste in music depends on the day.  Some days I like fun upbeat pop music, country music, or oldies from the 70s & 80s.

Favorite cartoon character:  Ariel from The Little Mermaid

Fave movie: Disney’s Hercules.  Ive watched it so many times I could probably quote the whole movie!  But I also like Miracle and Invincible.

Fave actress:  Blake Lively

Hidden talent:  I dont think I have any hidden talents but one time I ate 10 doughnuts in 10 minutes

Mentor (in soccer or life): My mom and dad, they’re the best role models I could ever ask for

Fave charity/cause:  I love animals, so anything that helps domestic animals, wild/sea animals, or endangered animals.  I also enjoy volunteering for charities like the Special Olympics that help with mental/physical disabilities.

Life motto: It’s not how many times you get knocked down that matters, it’s how many times you get back up.

Superstitions:  I dont have any superstitions, but every game I wear an orange ribbon in my hair.

Pets:  I have a bunch of different animals!  Cat, Rooster, Chickens, Ducks, Bird

If you were going on Amazing Race, which teammate would you want as a partner, and why?  Hmm thats a tough question! I dont know if I could pick just one teammate but I think if I could bring my whole team it would be very funny to watch.

Interviews with Emma: Elizabeth Eddy

Posted on by RJ Allen

Emma Bayer is an 11-year-old who does a recurring interview series for Backline Soccer. You can find more out about how Emma got into soccer here.

Birthdate: 9-13-91

Nickname from teammates: Liz

Hometown: Newport Beach, Ca

Age started playing: 5

College/major: Business and Communication 

Career aspirations after soccer: Entrepreneur 

Why did you pick your particular uniform #: 4 is my favorite number 

Pregame meal: Anything, I don’t like to be in a position to have to have anything 

Workout music: Music giving Jesus glory and most other music ie Chainsmokers or Shawn Mendes and lots more 

Favorite cartoon character: Pocahontas

Fave movie: Remember the Titans, The Swiss Family Robinson and Sound of Music 

Fave actress: Meryl Streep

Hidden talent: Drone Accident Survivor 

Mentor (in soccer or life): My Dad 

Fave charity/cause: Life Rolls On 

Life motto: John 10:10 Jesus says ‘I came not that you might have life, but life to the full.’

Superstitions: None 

Pets: Family Dog: Sadie, Australian Border Collie 

If you were going on Amazing Race, which teammate would you want as a partner, and why?  Merry Speck because in the Drone Accident she was timely and helpful. 

Interview with Emma: Taylor Comeau

Posted on by RJ Allen

Emma Bayer is an 11-year-old who does a recurring interview series for Backline Soccer. You can find more out about how Emma got into soccer here.

Taylor Comeau is in her fourth NWSL season. She started with the Portland Thorns and has been with the Chicago Red Stars the past three seasons.

Birthdate: 7/21/93

Nickname from teammates: More like chants: comeback Comeau or Tay haha

Hometown: Los Gatos, California

Age started playing: 4 years old started running around with a ball

College/major: American Studies emphasis on consumerism

Career aspirations after soccer: I am really into nutrition! Have taken some classes on nutrition and loved it.

Why did you pick your particular uniform #: I did not choose my number, but number 7 was my oldest brother’s football number. He was pretty good.

Pregame meal: Depends on the time of the game. The earlier game usually eggs, oatmeal, and pressed juice with beets. The later game usually smoothies and sushi. Always have some matcha before the games.

Workout music: Ranges from Kygo, Drake, to Cardi B.

Favorite cartoon character: This is tough. I like Tina from Bob’s Burgers.

Fave movie: I recently watched the Lion King and remembered how great it was. I can’t say I have a favorite.

Fave actress: I like Rachel McAdams or Kristen Wig.

Hidden talent: I really enjoy music so I have taken piano and singing lessons. Not talented yet! I also enjoy dancing.

Mentor (in soccer or life): My parents have always pushed me to do well. They’ve always supported me too.

Fave charity/cause: Any cause of mental illness or cancer. I also have psoriasis so I enjoy people who try to bring awareness to these issues that people have.

Life motto: Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Superstitions: I have a superstition of nail polish. Very strange but I stick to certain colors.

Pets: I love dogs. I have an Irish setter named Bailey. Also, a cat named Oscar, who basically acts like a dog.

If you were going on Amazing Race, which teammate would you want as a partner, and why? I don’t know if I can choose one! Stef is smart and strong. Sofia is also very strong and smart. Julie is good at everything so maybe her.

If you had your own reality show, what would it be called? Today with Taylor. Haha