Women’s soccer on Saipan going places

In the handful of days since the Northern Mariana Islands Football (Soccer) Association unveiled the Women’s Soccer League, players and organizers have heard plenty of praise about the newest form of fun for the women of the CNMI.

The chairperson of NMIFA’s Women’s League had a number of encouraging words about last weekend’s matches at the Garapan Elementary School soccer pitch, and Brenda Schultz shared her unique perspective as organizer and player.

“I thought the opening week went great. Some of these women who had never played before and came out were amazing. They learned the sport so quickly and so well. It is so exciting watching them grow in the sport. They had never played and now they are threats on the field,” she said.

Even though a number of the players only recently learned the rules, the women seem to have had no problem picking up the finer points of sportsmanship.

“There were still smiles and good jobs despite a little competition. We are really focusing on the fun and recreation of the women’s league. The women love this sport. It’s not uncommon to hear laughing even during practices,” she said.

Schultz added that even with the large showing of players and coaches, there were still more women in the community that wanted to play but were unable to due to prior commitments. She is also hoping to see more of the younger kickers take the field in the future.

“I also know there are a lot of young women in high school that played in elementary that we would love to see out here. Hopefully the younger women get into it so we can keep the league growing. I hope to see the recreational league continue every year on Saipan. It is so much fun, it is so healthy, it’s a great example for our daughters, it isn’t expensive, and doesn’t require very much equipment,” she said.

Even though they have only two games to their credit, the future could be huge for the ladies as organizers have their sights on taking their show on the road for international competitions throughout the region.

“We would love to go to Guam for the women’s tournament and even to American Samoa for the South Pacific Games in 2007. That would be outrageously fun and a wonderful way to represent Saipan. We will have to see what opportunities present themselves,” said Schultz.

While the organizers are looking to the future, Schultz said that suiting up for the Fotten Fiesta brought her back to a simpler time when the only running around she had to do during the day was with her friends in the park.

“I love playing soccer. I felt like a schoolgirl again all suited up in my uniform alongside my friends and teammates. It brought back so many memories from my youth. Once the whistle blew I wasn’t thinking about grocery shopping, what to make for dinner, unfinished work, or any problems—I was thinking about soccer for 40 minutes straight. It was really refreshing and releasing. It made me happy to play the sport I love with my husband and family there beside me,” she said.

She’ll get another trip down memory lane this weekend when all 38 players and five coaches tear off into the full slate of games as each of the teams will play two games on Saturday, April 29, to set the stage for the playoffs and subsequent championship round on May 6.

Every game counts as the teams earn two points for a win, one point for a tie, and gain nothing with a loss. The first tie breaker will be goals scored, and the second is left to fate with a coin flip to determine seed ranking.