Touchline - Summer 2019

Pennsylvania’s Leading Youth Soccer Publication

Summer 2019

We’ve Got Next the USWNT is ready to inspire the next generation

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State Cup & Presidents Cup Champions | Pgs 6-9 2019 Women’s World Cup Bracket | Pg 20 Kelly Smith’s Rise to Fame | Pg 22

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credits Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Volume LViIi | Summer 2019 Touchline is published quarterly Published by: Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer 4070 Butler Pike, Suite 100 Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 Phone: 610-238-9966 Fax: 610-238-9933 E-mail: info@EPYSA.org Website: EPYSA.org Executive Board President – Michael H. Finnegan Past President – Jim Kuntz Vice President, Recreation – Jeff Sommer Vice President, Travel – Fran Burns Treasurer – Warren Beideman Secretary – Melissa Murphy Weber Registrar – Jim Christian State Youth Referee Administrator – Jeff Tener Office Staff Chief Executive Officer – Chris Branscome Chief Operating Officer – Kelly Connor Technical Director – Mike Barr Director of Soccer Development & Performance – Gary Stephenson Director of Competitions – Cody Pearson Director of Marketing & Events – Krissy Woods Director of Membership Services – Marisa J. Pigeon Member Services Manager – Sheila Molyneaux Program Manager – Meridith Crowell Communications Manager – Dillon Friday Grassroots Soccer Manager – JT Dorsey Program Assistant – Julián Rey-Montes Touchline Editor-in-Chief: Chris Branscome Editor: Dillon Friday Printed and designed by A.E. Engine, Inc.

contents 2 From Our Chief Operating Officer: Let’s Continue Growing Women’s Soccer

20-21 2019 Women’s World Cup Bracket

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth 3 Soccer Social Media

24-25 Creating a Pathway: Enon Youth Soccer

22-23 Kelly Smith’s Rise to Fame

4 From Our Vice President, Travel: What Soccer Has Meant to Me

27 Caption Contest

6-7 2019 NCS State Cup Winners

29 Summer Tournaments

8-9 2019 Presidents Cup Winners

30 Medical Advisory Committee: The Female Athlete Triad

10 State Cup Perpetual Trophies: Charlotte Moran, Betty D’Anjolell

26 Honor Roll

32 Kim Maslin Kammerdeiner on Team Building

14 Caitlin Murray, “The National Team”

34 Angelo’s Soccer Corner USWNT Gear Review

15 2019 Women’s World Cup Media Guide

35 Coach Profile: Maira Abreu de Campos

16 Where We’ve Been

36 USWNT By the Numbers

17 Quarterly Calendar

On the Cover: The USWNT readies for France as they look to inspire the next generation of female athletes.

Pg 20-21

Pgs 6-9 Summer Tournaments

Pgs 24-25

Pg 29 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

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From Our

Chief Operating Officer

Let’s Continue to Grow the Women’s Game

Kelly Connor

Chief Operating Officer, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

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The U.S. Women’s National Team has long included and celebrated role models, players who break down barriers and inspire generations of young girls and women.

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s the world prepares for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup this June, I sit and reflect on the evolution of women’s soccer since I was a youth player participating in intramurals for my local club.

Thirteen years before I was born, Title IX was passed. It’s hard to believe today that a law was needed 47 years ago to ensure that women be provided equitable opportunities to participate in sports and other activities. When passed, only 1 in 27 girls participated in sports. Today, every 2 in 5 girls participate.

Women’s soccer alone has grown exponentially. The 2015 Women’s World Cup Final win by the U.S. Women’s National Team was the most watched soccer game—men’s or women’s—in the United States ever.

In addition, Nike believes 2019 could be even bigger for women’s soccer.

“From the time we began working on the Women’s World Cup kits three years ago, we believed 2019 would be a tipping point for women’s football (soccer),” Amy Montagne, VP, GM of Global Categories at Nike, told Forbes. “Right now, we are seeing incredible momentum for women in sport, as athletes lead a movement of health and wellness. We are more committed than ever to using our brand as a catalyst, celebrating athletes, supporting sports and building the best products for women.”

Last year alone, Nike’s women’s business exceeded $6.9 billion, which earned more than the men’s side of Nike’s business. U.S. Soccer has invested heavily into the women’s game, having created most recently the SheBelieves Cup. This event, which has featured games at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester the last few years, is a movement to inspire girls and young women and encourage them to accomplish their goals and dreams, athletic or otherwise.

With all of these incredible statistics, I do wonder when it will be the norm that girls and women believe they can do anything they set their mind to. Whether it is their dream to be a professional women’s soccer player, be one of the only 24 current female CEOs of a Fortune 500 company, or be one of the only 37 current female Athletic Directors of the 351 Division I institutions, female players’ opportunities are now there and attainable. We hope that those opportunities will only continue to grow.

The U.S. Women’s National Team has long included and celebrated role models, players who break down barriers and inspire generations of young girls and women. When receiving recognition after their 2015 World Cup win, it was stated that the team made the phrase “playing like a girl” mean being the best in the world at what you do, striving to always be better, and standing up for what you believe in. The USWNT inspire girls to dream bigger, and equally important, they inspire boys to look at girls differently.

I am excited to see how the 2019 Women’s World Cup impacts the next generation of soccer players, girls and boys alike.

r e c c so tio Cap A S Y EP co

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From Our Vice President of Travel

What Soccer Has Meant To Me

I

started playing soccer at age seven, and as soon as I started dribbling the ball, I fell in love with the sport. It felt carefree but required concentration. Today, when Fran Burns I smell fresh-cut grass, it takes me back to days of Vice President- Travel, playing soccer. When I have a really stressful day at work, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer I wish I had a soccer game to play in and work out the stress. When playing soccer, I lived in the moment, no other thoughts clouded. It was a state of being. are more physical, some are more My first team was the Wissinoming emotional, some are more consistent, Boys Club in Philadelphia, and the club was primarily football, some are smarter, and some have it all.

The list goes on. The understanding cheerleading, baseball, and softball. of how those differences complement Soccer was the sport trying to make each other are what makes a good its way into a football culture, and team. You need to know yourself in girls were not, at the time, even in the club name. There were some the context of the coach (aka the boss), know yourself in context of extraordinary people and coaches the team (aka your coworkers), and who were learning the sport and trying to break into a club. I had a very know yourself as a standalone (know thyself). You need to know the rules of early lesson on strong leadership, the the game (aka laws, policies, corporate adaptations of change, organizational hierarchy, and the goodness of procedures) and the consequences if dedicated volunteers. It just so you break the rules (aka getting fired, happens my dad picked up a mutual demoted, or rewarded). love of the game, making our You learn that practice and bond stronger. preparation are keys to success.

I stayed at Wissinoming for a few You are better when you put the time and dedication into your work. You years and one of those years played become better at soccer and career on the boys team as well as the girls. through practice, reading, study, It felt a little like breaking the glass mentors, and education. Enjoy what ceiling: the game and the sport have you do and when you don’t enjoy it, come so far and has much further hang up the cleats or find another to advance. At an early age, I was team. Work hard and then even harder. exposed to being part of something I carried these lessons from playing that was majority male. This is not soccer into a public sector career meant in a bad way, but it was helpful.

Fran Burns, who was elected Vice President as Commissioner of Department of As I moved through my career in of Travel in February, played high school soccer for St. Hubert Catholic High School.

Licenses and Inspections for City of male dominant organizations, I often Philadelphia, Chief Operating Officer thought of playing on the all-boys for School District of Philadelphia, and team. I told myself if I could do it at teaching at Villanova University.

10, then I can do it at 30, 40, and The understanding I ran for election at Eastern so on. of how those differences Pennsylvania Youth Soccer because Playing on a soccer team you complement each other I’ve been on the sidelines as a come to understand the differences are what makes a cheerleader for too long. I’m a player in teammates: some are faster, some good team. at heart and still have something, in a excel in footwork, some have an eye different capacity, to give to the sport. for the field and distribution, some

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State Cup Recaps & Results

2019 State Cup Champions Under-14 Boys

U12 Boys

1776 United FC Centurion 2*, Penn Fusion SA Elite 1 *1776 United won in penalties

U12 Girls

Penn Fusion SA Pre-Academy 4, Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa 0 U13 Boys

FC Europa Elite 2*, Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals Black 1

FC Revolution Rowdies 4, Keystone FC Premier 3 Under-17 Boys

Under-15 Boys

Under-15 Girls

Lehigh Valley United Black 2, HMMS Eagle FC Impact 1

Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa Swarm 1, FC Revolution Dynamo 0 epysa.org

Under-16 Girls

Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals Black 2, YMS United 1

PA Dominion FC 2, Lower Merion SC Invictus 0

U13 Girls

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

Under-14 Girls

*Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa Rage won in penalties

Keystone FC Premier 3, FC Revolution Reds 1

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HMMS Eagle FC United 6, Patriot FC Red 0

Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa Rage 1*, Penn Fusion SA Lehigh Valley 0

*FC Europa won in penalties

Under-16 Boys

Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals Black 1, Lower Merion SC Legacy 0

Under-17 Girls

U17 Boys

Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals Add Their Name To Another Trophy

U17 Girls

LVU Completes The Three-Peat

When the final whistle blew on the U17 Girls State Cup Final, Lehigh Valley United breathed a sigh of relief. The team’s celebration was somewhat muted--in part because they had been here before, mostly because of how grueling this particular triumph was.

LVU secured their third consecutive State Cup title with a 2-1 victory over a very tough HMMS Eagle FC Impact outfit.

“This one was a battle, for sure,” LVU forward Ava Schaller said. “It was special because it was a really hard game.”

The victory was also special for the trophy LVU won. The U17 girls compete for the Charlotte Moran Trophy, named in honor of one Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s pioneers, especially in the women’s game. Charlotte was instrumental in helping the Olympic Development Program (Ava and several of her teammates still compete with Eastern Pennsylvania ODP) become a pipeline of talent for regional, college, and national teams. In many ways, women’s soccer in general owes a lot to Charlotte’s contributions, something that isn’t lost on Ava. Now that she and her teammates are toward the end of their youth careers, they know their impact will be felt by the next generation of players.

“The younger girls train. They want to be us some day,” Ava said. “We want to leave them with the three-peat. We want that to keep on going when we’re gone.”

Two years ago, Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals Black won the inaugural Richard Groff Trophy as U15 Boys State Cup champions. This year, they added their name to the Frank J. Olszewski Trophy as the winners of the U17 Boys age group. The significance of his team’s place on the perpetual trophies is not lost on Ukrainians’ captain Josh Jones.

“It just means a lot to know all the people that came behind us like Frank Olszewski made this possible,” Josh said. “Now we get to have the name of our team on their cups. It means a lot to us.”

The Ukrainians defeated YMS United, 2-1, in a tightly contested final. For much of the second half, they held on as YMS worked for an equalizer. In the end, the Ukrainians held on, finishing atop the age group after a second place showing in 2018.

“It feels great,” Josh said. “It’s a goal of ours every year to win the State Cup. Last year we didn’t get it done, so we found a lot of motivation to finish it off this year.”

U12 Boys

Team Spirit Drives 1776 United To State Cup

The U12 Boys State Cup Final may have been the best of the morning session on May 18. 1776 United Centurion and Penn Fusion Elite were tied at 0-0 during regulation, and at 1-1 after extra time.

When it came time for the spot kicks, the teams were locked there, too.

Each player confidently dispatched his penalty. Just in time, though, Cole Carberry came up with a big stop. On Penn Fusion’s final kick, he dove to his right and parried the ball away.

“I just guessed where the ball was going,” Cole explained. He then immediately started cheering on Liam Mullen, who would take 1776’s key kick. Liam found the left side of the goal.

“It was very nerve-wracking,” Liam said. “There was a lot of pressure because it was the State Cup final. Cole made sure it would all be over.

With him sitting there motivating me, it made it better.”

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Presidents Cup Recaps & Results

2019 Presidents Cup Champions Under-12 Boys

Southern Chester County SA Dragons 3, Penn FC Youth Black 1 Under-12 Girls

Penn Fusion SA Predators 1, Keystone Athletic Grifo Under-13 Boys

Continental FC Dortmund 1, FC Bucks Red Knights 0

Under-15 Boys

Vereinigung Erzgebirge SC Gunners 4, FC Revolutions Sidekicks 1 Under-15 Girls

Under-13 Girls

Valley SC Voodoo 1, Patriot FC Red 0

Under-14 Boys

FCUSA Philadelphia Black 1, FC Ballyhoo Black 0

Penn Fusion SA Lehigh Valley 2, North Union United Wave 1 Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals Red 3, 1776 United FC 0

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Under-14 Girls

Chester Springs United Breakers 4, Manheim Township Elite Sprinters 1

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

epysa.org

Under-16 Boys

Under-16 Girls

Keystone FC Elite 3, Hulmeville SC Hotshots 2 Under-17 Boys

Lionville SC Jaguars 3, Parkland Area SC Red Devils 0 Under-17 Girls

Rage United SC Xtreme 2, Penn Fusion SA Lehigh Valley 0 Under-18 Boys

Lebanon Valley SC 1, Lititz Youth SC Edge 0 Under-18 Girls

Quakertown SC Blue Tigers 1, Penn United Force FC Crew 0

U18 Boys

Lebanon Valley Soccer Club Enjoys Their Moment

U12 Girls

Penn Fusion Starts Off Right

Penn Fusion Soccer Academy had a pretty good day at the cup finals before any games kicked off. The West Chester-based club, along with Penn Fusion Lehigh Valley, placed six teams in the State Cup and Presidents Cup Finals.

On May 18th, Penn Fusion Predators got things going with a 9:00 AM start in the U12 Girls Presidents Cup Final.

The Predators defeated a strong Keyston Athletic Grifo team, 1-0.

“At the younger ages, if we don’t continue to focus on player development throughout the season, when we get to the final game we’ll lose our composure,” Coach Sue Barr said. “I think we focused on development first and winning second.”

Coach Barr certainly has experience there. She’s been a longtime Eastern Pennsylvania ODP staff coach in addition to working at the club level. The results speak for themselves. Penn Fusion placed teams in both the U12 Girls Presidents Cup Final and the U12 Girls State Cup Final.

“With the younger players, we want to encourage them to take players on, build confidence and not be afraid to make mistakes,” Barr said. And with the whole family, i.e. multiple teams from the same club there, they can gain confidence from the sidelines as well. “We get out here and we get to support each other. It’s great having different levels.”

Reaching the under-18 age group as a team is a special thing: as players get older, some drift in different directions, whether it’s moving on from soccer or changing clubs. That’s not the case with Lebanon Valley Soccer Club. In perhaps the team’s last cup experience at the state level, they came away with a 1-0 victory over Lititz Youth Edge in the U18 Boys Presidents Cup. The win was all the more special given the close-knit nature of the group.

“We’ve been playing, this whole team’s been playing together since U7,” captain Matt Hines said. “We’re all best friends, man. It’s awesome.”

Not only have the players stayed at Lebanon Valley Soccer Club, they all go to Palmyra High School as well.

That kind of chemistry is rare in the ever-changing world of youth soccer, and it means the boys can enjoy a cup final, and a trip to regionals, a little more. They know what works for them, even if it is a tad unconventional.

“We’ll probably get back to practice, probably screw around like normal,” Hines said of Lebanon Valley’s preparation for regionals. “Go swim. Eat some pizza.”

U14 Girls

Chester Springs United Has Come A Long Way in a Short Time

Chester Springs United’s Sam Graybill seemed puzzled trying to come up with an answer--how had a club, born in 2016, advanced to the Presidents Cup final so soon?

“It’s just like, at practice, we bonded the first couple of practices,” Sam said. “And we got better.”

On May 18th, Chester Springs United clinched a spot in the U14 Girls US Youth Soccer Eastern Presidents Cup with a 4-1 win over Manheim Township Elite Sprinters.

“I think since we’re such a new club, it’s something crazy,” Gabi Kobel added. The girls come various Chester County School Districts including Downingtown, Owen J. Roberts and Great Valley. But they have one thing in common that’s led them to their success, according to Gabi: “We all have a drive to win.”

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Pennsylvania Luminaries Paved Way For USWNT

State Cup Perpetual Trophies

When the U.S. Women’s National Team competes for a fourth Women’s World Cup title this summer, they will do so thanks in large part to contributions from dedicated women from the past. Two of those women, Betty D’Anjolell and Charlotte Moran, hailed from Eastern Pennsylvania and helped establish women’s soccer at the local and national level. To celebrate D’Anjolell’s and Moran’s impact on the game, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer renamed the U15 Girls State Cup and U17 Girls State Cup in their honor. Each year’s champion adds to a growing legacy, while the girls learn about the important history of women’s soccer in our state.

“It’s really inspirational,” said Lauren Sullivan, a current member of the 2019 Betty D’Anjolell cup champion, Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa Swarm. “It makes you want to do something like that, and it makes you want to get to where (Betty D’Anjolell) was.”

Past Champions

Betty D’Anjolell Cup (U15 Girls)

B

etty D’Anjolell, a Lansdowne native, was a key figure in establishing women’s soccer both in Pennsylvania and the United States as a whole. D’Anjolell began as a coach and later became president of the Lansdowne Girls Club and took on a leadership role with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. In the early 1980’s, D’Anjolell worked to get women’s soccer accepted by the U.S. Olympic Committee, which led to the creation of the U.S. Women’s National Team. The USWNT played its first match in 1985 and six years later won the inaugural Women’s World Cup. During this time, D’Anjolell served as the national chairperson of the U.S. Youth Soccer Girls Olympic Development Program. In 1995, D’Anjolell became the first female vice president in the history of MLS, when she joined D.C. United as vice president of operations, a role she held until 1998. She was named MLS Executive of the Year in 1997 as D.C. United won its second consecutive MLS Cup.

epysa.org

FC Pennsylvania Strikers

2017

2014

Lehigh Valley United

YMS Premier Xplosion

2019 Betty D’Anjolell Cup champion PSC Coppa Swarm celebrates a goal in the cup final.

tireless advocate for girls soccer, Charlotte Moran was recognized in 2016 with the naming of the U17 Girls Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Charlotte Moran Cup. She was best known for her work with the girl’s side of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) in Region I and US Youth Soccer. Moran served as the Region I Girls ODP Administrator for 12 years and held the same position with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer for 17 years. She also served as the National Chair for four years of the US Youth Soccer Girls ODP Committee. Moran was the executive director of our state association while also chairing the Women’s Committee for U.S. Soccer. In 2014, Moran was inducted into the US Youth Soccer Hall of Fame.

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

2015

2018

(U17 Girls)

A

Lower Merion SC Storm

Keystone FC Premier

Charlotte Moran Cup

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2016

2019

Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa Swarm

Past Champions 2019

Lehigh Valley United Black 2018

1776 United Xtreme 2017

Lower Merion SC Storm 2016

YMS Premier Xplosion 2015

FC Bucks 2014

FC Europa Storm

Q &A

has been so successful because they never give up. That fighting mentality and that attitude of being winners is in everything they do, on and off the field. It hasn’t always come easy for the U.S. women, and there have been setbacks, which I don’t shy away from in my book, but they never let anything knock them down for too long.

with Caitlin Murray, author of “The National Team - The Inside Story of the Women Who Changed Soccer” What’s your own background in soccer? What made you want to cover it?

Like most young girls, I played soccer growing up and it was my main sport throughout school.

But I really fell in love with the game watching the national teams represent the United States on the world stage. The 2011 Women’s World Cup and in particular Abby Wambach’s last-gasp header against Brazil had a big effect on me – the way the women kept fighting and defied the odds again was inspiring.

Can you project what another World Cup win might mean for United States women’s soccer? history with the national team and the book could’ve been triple the length, but I wanted to make sure it moved quickly and was a pageturner, so condensing three decades of history was a challenge.

Who was your favorite interview subject?

I could never pick just one! I spoke to so many former players, coaches and others close to the team that were so insightful or had fascinating anecdotes. I loved hearing stories from Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain about the early days with the team, whether it was funny behind-the-scenes stories from the 1999 Women’s World Cup or the team organizing boycotts so they could earn a living wage. But the players currently on the team were fantastic interviews too – Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd and Becky Sauerbrunn, for instance, all shared great insight about everything from what it was like to win the World Cup in 2015 to what it has been like fighting for equal pay.

What surprised you most when researching your book?

I knew that women’s soccer had come a long way, but I don’t think I fully comprehended it until I interviewed former players and read old news articles about the team. The players made absolutely no money and sacrificed so much to represent their country. The media didn’t pay much attention to the team, and when they did, sometimes the coverage was shockingly offensive and dismissive of female athletes in a way that would never be okay today. These are stories that can’t be swept under the rug though so I’m glad I had the opportunity to cover the early challenges of the team in my book.

“If there’s one theme that permeates, it’s that the U.S. Women’s National Team has been so successful because they never give up.”

What surprised you most in terms of writing?

I’ve covered the U.S. women’s national team for several years now for many outlets, including The Guardian, The New York Times and others – but writing a book is such a different process. There’s a rich

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Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

What do you hope younger readers—youth soccer players, say—get out of your book?

epysa.org

If there’s one theme that permeates throughout the book, it’s that the U.S. Women’s National Team

Repeating in France this summer would be very difficult – it’s only ever happened once – but this current crop of the U.S. women’s national team is as talented as it’s ever been.

The popularity of women’s soccer has been on a steady rise for the past decade, and another back-to-back World Cup win would take that to the next level. It would be a boon for the growth of the sport, and it would inspire many young girls who can be the future of the U.S. national team.

You’ve received a lot of positive feedback from colleagues and folks associated with the history of the USWNT…what was the most meaningful and why?

It’s been really wonderful to get such positive feedback from people in the soccer world about my book.

But honestly, the best feedback I’ve gotten so far was from a father who found my email address from my website listed on the cover of my book. He said his 13-year-old daughter took the book everywhere with her and liked to recite her favorite passages from the book for her family. Young girls playing soccer need roles models like all kids do, and I’m really glad my book has been able to help tell a fuller story of who the women who made the national team what it is today.

The National Team is available from all major book retailers and can be purchased online at Amazon.com and in-store at Barnes & Noble locations throughout the U.S. Additional information can be found at www.USWNT.com

Women’s World Cup Media Guide

What to follow, what to listen to, and what to watch to properly prepare for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup!

What To Follow The Equalizer

| @equalizersoccer

| @equalizer_soccer

“The No. 1 source for women’s soccer in North American since 2009,” according to its twitter bio, The Equalizer has been at the forefront of covering the U.S. Women’s National Team, the NWSL and women’s soccer in general.

Celebrate the site’s 10th year by hitting that follow button.

Jonathan Tannenwald The Philadelphia Inquirer/Philly.com

| @thegoalkeeper

The U.S. Women’s National Team Few teams in sports celebrate their personalities like the official U.S. Women’s National Team account. Whether it’s sharing behind-the-scenes videos, creating teamwide gifs or delivering highlights with a dash of humor, @USWNT provides the perfect game-watching accompaniment for any fan.

Megan Linehan The Athletic

Although he primarily covers the Philadelphia Union, Tannenwald remains one of the go-to sources for all soccer news, in particular women’s soccer news. Whenever the U.S. Women’s National Team comes to Philadelphia, Tannenwald is a fixture at training and at the stadium.

| @USWNT

| @ itsmeglinehan

When The Athletic, a subscription based sports website, added more women’s soccer coverage in 2019, it brought on Linehan to lead the charge, and with good reason. Linehan has worked for the NWSL in addition to covering the U.S. Women’s National Team. She’ll pack loads of information and funny gifs in her luggage to France.

What To Listen To The Equalizer Soccer Podcast Perfect listening for that car ride or long run. Podcasts include interviews, previews, reflections and coverage of all things U.S. Women’s National Team and NWSL.

What To Watch NWSl Games On Yahoo! Sports The best way to support women’s soccer on a larger scale is to follow the National Women’s Soccer League. Luckily, fans can stream every game on the Yahoo!

Sports App. The NWSL continues play through the World Cup, so plan those WoSo double- and triple-headers!

The Mixxed Zone Podcast Hosted by Jen Cooper, one of the true gurus of women’s soccer coverage, the Mixxed Zone is a weekly women’s soccer podcast focusing on NWSL, the U.S. Women’s National Team and CONCACAF. For more great women’s soccer, or WoSo, content, follow Keeper Notes, Jen’s longstanding site devoted to the women’s game.

The ‘99ers Part of ESPN’s Nine for IX documentary series, which commemorated the 40th anniversary of the passing of Title IX, The ‘99ers told the full story of the famous 1999 U.S. Women’s National Team that changed the landscape of women’s soccer forever. Former USWNT midfielder Julie Foudy, a ‘99er herself, produced the film.

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

15

Where We’ve Been

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Program Manager & TOPSoccer Chair Meridith Crowell (kneeling, third from left) represented the state association at the 2019 South & East Regional Symposium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Meridith networked with special education experts, discussed best practices and engaged in on-field activities designed to improve families’ TOPSoccer experience.

In anticipation of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s move to the U.S. Soccer Connect registration system powered by Stack Sports, Director of Membership Services Marisa Pigeon worked with Stack Sports to provide tutorials for the state association’s membership.

From left to right, Demi Olatilo (Lehigh Valley United), Julia Thomson (Philadelphia Soccer Club), Maya Naimoli (FC Bucks) & Cadence Hoke (PA Classics) competed with the US Youth Soccer East Region ODP team in Barcelona in April. Their European adventure was one of many for Eastern Pennsylvania ODP players, who traveled to Scotland, England and Germany in addition to Spain.

16

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

epysa.org

In continuing the state association’s partnership with and support of the Philadelphia International Unity Cup, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer hosted a clinic for the youth of Team Ghana in Northeast Philadelphia. Ghana won the Fair Play Award at the 2018 Unity Cup. The 2019 Unity Cup begins in August.

Quarterly

calendar

June 2019 1

Grassroots 7v7 In-Person | Cheltenham

7-July 7 FIFA Women’s World Cup | France 7-9

East Region ODP Preliminaries | Rider University

14-18 US Youth Soccer Eastern Presidents Cup | Barboursville, WV. 22

Grassroots 4v4 In-Person | Souderton

22-23 East Region ODP Semis & Finals | Kirkwood, DE. 29

Grassroots 7v7/11v11 In-Person | Philadelphia

29

Grassroots 11v11 In-Person | Roslyn

30

Grassroots 9v9/11v11 In-Person | Philadelphia

30

CONCACAF Gold Cup Quarterfinals | Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)

July 2019 June 28-4 US Youth Soccer National Championship East Region Championships | Charleston, WV. 7-11 Resident Camp Session 1 | Bryn Athyn 10-14 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup | Murfreesboro, TN. 14-18 Resident Camp Session 2 | Bryn Athyn 21-25 National C License Course Part I | Bryn Athyn 23-28 US Youth Soccer National Championships | Overland Park, KS.

August 2019 3

Grassroots 11v11 In-Person | Reading

september 2019 1

2019-20 Season Year begins

2

Labor Day, State Office Closed

3 Harrisburg Free Kick Street Soccer, Kipona Festival | Harrisburg 3

Grassroots 7v7 In-Person | Reading

7-8

Fall League Play begins Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

17

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7 Y L JU m

- thlehe 7 E UN s, Be

J

ck

ta S l e e t

S

LVSO

CC

.COM T S E ERF

Group Stage

A Group

LAST 16

France

South Korea

Norway

Nigeria

France South Korea June 7, 3 P.M.

Parc des princes, Paris

Norway Nigeria June 8, 3 P.M.

St Auguste-Delaune, Reims

nigeria

QF

Last 16 | Match 1

June 22, 12:30 P.M.

| Nice Quarterfinal | Match 1

Quar

WORLD CUP FINAL

france norway

Stade de nice, nice

winner match 1

nigeria france June 17, 3 P.M.

Roazhon park, rennes

south korea

B

Group

St Auguste-Delaune, Reims

germany

spain

china

south africa

Germany China June 8, 9 A.M.

Roazhon park, rennes

Spain South Africa June 8, 12 P.M.

Stade oceane, Le Havre

Germany spain

s. Du halnaut, valenciennes

June 12, 12 P.M.

south africa

china spain Stade oceane, Le Havre

June 17, 12 P.M.

south africa germany June 17, 12 P.M.

C

June 27, 3 P.M.

S. De La mosson, Montpellier

Australia

Italy

Brazil

Jamaica

winner Group d

Semifinal | Match 1

3rd Group B, E or F June 23, 11:30 A.M.

| valenciennes

Last 16 | Match 3

June 13, 12 P.M.

winner qF3

winner QF2

winner QF4

winner Group A

St Auguste-Delaune, Reims

Jamaica Australia June 18, 3 P.M.

stade des alpes, Grenoble

Italy brazil June 18, 3 P.M.

s. Du halnaut, valenciennes

July 3, 3 P.M.

June 23, 3 P.M.

| Le Havre Quarterfinal | Match 2

loser SF1

Quar

loser SF2 winner match 3

July 6, 11 A.M.

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

epysa.org

winner m

| nice

winner match 4 June 28, 3 P.M.

winner m | Paris

June 29 valenciennes

Last 16 | Match 4

Runner-UP group B

rennes

reims paris

FRANCE

Winner group F June 24, 12 P.M.

le havre

| Reims

Lyon

grenoble montpellier

20

| Lyon

3rd PLACE GAME

jamaica Italy June 14, 12 P.M.

| Lyon

3rd Group C, D or E

stade des alpes, Grenoble S. De La mosson, Montpellier

Semifinal | Match 2

winner qF1

July 2, 3 P.M.

s. Du halnaut, valenciennes

australia Brazil

| Lyon

July 7, 11 A.M.

brazil jamaica June 9, 9:30 A.M.

June 29,

winner sf2

Last 16 | Match 2

australia italy June 9, 7 A.M.

winner m

winner SF1

| le havre

china

Parc des princes, Paris

June 13, 3 P.M.

Group

winner m

winner match 2

norway

June 17, 3 P.M.

QF

Runner-up Group C

stade des alpes, Grenoble

June 12, 3 P.M.

sF

Champion

Runner-up Group A

south korea

June 12, 9 A.M.

sF

nice

France | June 7- july 7

sF

QF

LAST 16 Last 16 | Match 5

Winner Group C

D

Group

england

scotland

argentina

japan

England Scotland

3rd Group A, B, or F June 25, 12 P.M.

Group Stage

| montepellier

June 9, 12 P.M.

stade de nice, nice

argentina Japan June 10, 12 P.M.

Parc des princes, Paris

Japan scotland

Quarterfinal | Match 3

June 14, 9 A.M.

Roazhon park, rennes

england argentina June 14, 3 P.M.

winner match 5

Stade oceane, Le Havre

japan england June 19, 3 P.M.

June 29, 9 A.M.

June 19, 3 P.M.

| valenciennes Last 16 | Match 6

Winner Group E

Match 2

M.

stade de nice, nice

scotland argentina

winner match 6

E

Group

Parc des princes, Paris

canada

cameroon

new zealand

holland

Canada Cameroon

Runner-up Group D June 25, 3 P.M.

| rennes

Last 16 | Match 7

June 10, 3 p.M.

Roazhon park, rennes

New zealand

holland

June 11, 9 A.M.

Stade oceane, Le Havre

holland cameroon

s. Du halnaut, valenciennes

June 15, 9 A.M.

canada

| Lyon

winner Group b

cameroon

3rd Group A, C, or D June 22, 9 A.M.

new zealand

Parc des princes, Paris

June 15, 3 P.M.

| grenoble

Quarterfinal | Match 4

holland canada June 20, 12 P.M.

F

Group

winner match 7

new zealand Stade oceane, Le Havre

June 20, 12 P.M.

S. De La mosson, Montpellier

chile

sweden

usa

thailand

chile sweden June 11, 12 P.M.

winner match 8 June 29, 12:30 P.M.

Roazhon park, rennes

usa thailand

| Rennes

June 11, 3 P.M.

Last 16 | Match 8

St Auguste-Delaune, Reims

sweden thailand June 16, 9 A.M.

stade de nice, nice

usa chile June 16, 12 P.M.

Runner-up F

June 20, 3 P.M.

runner-up E June 24, 3 P.M.

Parc des princes, Paris

sweden usa Stade oceane, Le Havre

thailand chile | paris

June 20, 3 P.M.

Roazhon park, rennes

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

21

K elly S m i th prof i le

Spotlight:

England Legend Kelly Smith

With the help of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Excellence in Coaching honoree Betty Ann Kempf Townsley, Kelly Smith became a star on the field for Seton Hall and on television for Fox Sports as part of the network’s World Cup coverage.

By Kate Harman

“I didn’t mind all eyes on me on the pitch — that’s where I did my talking.”

Kelly Smith’s decorated career in soccer includes successful stints at Seton Hall University, stops in the WUSA, WPS, Arsenal, the English Women’s National team, and now, as a commentator for Fox Sports.

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Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

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W

here’s Kelly?

The question went around the Seton Hall women’s soccer team’s table in hushed tones during the Big East Conference end of year banquet at the University

of Connecticut.

The year was 1997 and the missing Kelly was Kelly Smith, then in her first year with the Pirates.

But, boy, was it a first year.

The Watford, England native had made quite the impression with her foot skills and offensive prowess — enough so that she was presented with the Newcomer and Offensive Player of the Year awards.

As Smith remembers it, Kate Markgraf — then Kate Sobrero and a member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish — received the Defensive Player of the Year accolade and gave a short speech.

That was Smith’s cue — she’d be up next. Problem was, Smith did not want to get up on stage and say a few words.

“All sets of eyes would be on me, and I was petrified,” Smith remarked.

“I didn’t mind all eyes on me on the pitch — that’s where I did my talking.”

So, where was Kelly? She was in the bathroom.

“I’ll never forget that day,” her then-coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley, who has been at the helm of the West Chester University women’s program for the past 13 years, said. “She was bright red.”

Fast forward to the 2015 Women’s World Cup and Smith was in the Fox Sports studio as an analyst for the broadcast team, breaking down each contest in an insightful and articulate manner.

That summer, Kempf Townsley was in the kitchen when her husband, Ed, told her to come to the TV. “I was laughing and crying at the same time,” Kempf Townsley said, when she first saw Smith on the screen.

Then, the coach immediately sent her former player and assistant an email telling her how proud she was. Proud is a feeling Kempf Townsley has felt quite a lot when it comes to Smith.

The two first met through Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Excellence in Coaching honoree Terry Underkoffler, who had taken his youth team to England. There, he was approached by Smith’s father, who expressed interest in his daughter playing in the states. Underkoffler reached out to Kempf Townsley, who called Smith.

They hit it off.

Smith was impressed by her soon-to-be coach’s knowledge of European men’s football — a world Kempf Townsley had immersed

herself in, having grown up in the the United German Hungarians club.

At the time, international players weren’t necessarily making their mark in the American college ranks — and coaches weren’t recruiting them, either. It was a risk for both sides.

“We wanted to be the first to do something special, to get into the NCAA tournament,” Smith said. “She was a good coach, a hard coach. She was tough on players if they didn’t do what she asked — demanding, with a great attention to detail. We enjoyed playing for her.

“Betty Ann is a soccer head,” she continued. “Football was my everything, and it was nice to connect with her on that front. It made me feel at home.”

An All-American, who twice led the country in scoring with the Pirates — and a finalist for the Hermann Trophy — Smith still holds the NCAA record for career points and goals per game with 3.41 and 1.49, respectfully. She scored 76 goals in 51 games for Seton Hall in just three years and eventually had her No. 6 jersey retired, as the group made the conference semifinals twice during her tenure.

“What I liked about Kelly was her mind for the game,” Kempf Townsley said. “Her knowledge about the game comes very natural to her. And she didn’t even realize the speed, how fast she could play and react to things. That is what I think is amazing. She could do things with the ball that I still don’t even see many men do.”

The soccer always came naturally to Smith, who was an offensive wizard with the ball at her feet, as she is largely regarded as the best English women’s player of all-time. She is also considered on the very shortlist of the best women’s players, period, as Megan Rapinoe recently named Smith to her “Mount Rushmore” of women’s soccer, a list that also included Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers, and Marta.

While she may have had a less than auspicious relationship with public speaking early in her career, the former English national and Arsenal standout striker has flourished in her role with Fox Sports, having covered the 2018 Men’s World Cup after her initial experience covering the women’s tournament. Now, she’s back for 2019.

“I don’t feel that confident,” Smith said, of her status as a pundit. “But I am a bit of a perfectionist and I want to be the best at what I do. I still have that mentality with my TV work.

“I watch a lot of games to get as much knowledge as possible,” she added. “I am so passionate about the game

— it’s in my blood. I just find it interesting watching the games to see what is happening, why it is happening.”

What’s happening is a resurgence in the English game internationally, a development Smith is thrilled to see.

After the men captivated the country with a run to the semifinals a year ago, the Lionesses are one of the favorites in France, a sentiment Smith agrees with, especially after seeing their performance in the She Believes Cup. “The women’s game is booming in England,” Smith said. “The exposure, the big brands, the commercial aspect of soccer. That is pleasing to me, even if it is a little too late for my career.

I would have loved to have that but I can still sit back and be proud of what has come after me. Now, the women are full time pros, who are paid decent money to play football and it makes me happy, makes me smile.

“We had to fight for a lot of what these players have now,” she added. “Future generations hopefully will get more — bigger stadiums, bigger crowds — and the women’s game will be sustainable.”

This is what makes Smith tick — talking about soccer.

Talking to young people about soccer, in particular. Now, she travels to schools, tournaments, and other events to try to be the female role model she never had growing up.

“I love it,” Smith said, of these speaking engagements. “You see it, you see you’ve got them when the clips start playing, when they see the goals you’ve scored.

“Then I tell them my story, about my setbacks, and that resonates. I’m human, I’m normal — I’m not some kind of superstar.”

As for that day two decades ago?

“It is just something that comes with age, growing up, going through media training. University, and onward,” Smith said. “Also, through more maturity and my own personal development, I am comfortable now. At that time in my life, it was the worst thing I could do.”

So, where’s Kelly?

Turn on the TV.

I am so passionate about the game - it’s in my blood.

Two Eastern Pennsylvania coaching legends, Terry Underkoffler and Betty Ann Kempf Townsley, helped jumpstart Kelly Smith’s playing career stateside.

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

23

enon youth soccer

Creating A Pathway: Clinic Highlights Enon’s Commitment To Girls Soccer

By Dillon Friday, Communications Manager, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

A

lthough Enon Youth Soccer shares a name and location with the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in the northwest section of Philadelphia, membership at the church is not necessary to participate in soccer. Instead, the club opens its doors to the greater neighborhood.

A few initiatives this past spring have showcased Enon’s commitment to growing girls soccer in the city.

The club hosted a U.S. Soccer 7v7 Grassroots Coaching License Course, run by Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Technical Director Mike Barr, in early April. Then, on May 4, Enon worked with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer, Drexel Women’s Soccer and Philly Girls In Motion to run a clinic for more than 50 girls at the club’s field in Philadelphia.

“It shows (the girls) a pathway, in terms of if they really want to pursue soccer,” Janay Hawthorne, President of Enon Youth Soccer, said. “Even if they don’t want to do it professionally, you can play soccer in college and in colleges they’ve heard of, whether it’s Temple, Drexel or Penn. Also, they get a mentor.

For the younger ones, this is really good experience.”

For several springs now, Drexel Women’s Soccer has supported Philly Girls In Motion (PGIM), which offers sports and fitness programs for girls ages eight to 14 in Philadelphia. Players from the team look forward to giving back to the Philadelphia community through athletics.

They provide examples for the youth players to aspire to, and at an established club like Enon, that’s invaluable.

Among the Dragons Her face and shirt say it running the clinic were several all for this Enon player Eastern Pennsylvania Youth

24

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

epysa.org

Philly Girls In Motion and Enon hope to continue their partnership going forward

Soccer alums. Sophomore Shea Tomlinson, a defender on the team, looked like a natural working with the girls. It certainly helps that she played for her mother her whole life, 2018 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Excellence in Coaching recipient Jen Tomlinson.

“I have seen how (my mom) handles the little girls and how she teaches them soccer, taking it serious while still making it fun,” Shea said. Shea played for Warrington Soccer Club as well as with ODP. “I really try to channel that energy she’s passed onto me and use that to give back to these girls.”

While the clinic offered a community service aspect, it also gave the Drexel student-athletes a needed break from school. With plenty of smiles, high fives and soccer on the turf, they could relax away from the classroom.

“It’s really nice to take a break from all my school work and just hang out with these girls who love the sport and may not be able to play on a club team like I was,” Morgan Rees, who will be going for a fourth consecutive State Cup title with Lower Merion SC Storm this May and June, said.

“They can play out here and have fun.”

Maggie Daeche offered a similar sentiment. She starred with YMS Premier Xplosion, winning the 2016 U17 Girls US Youth Soccer National Championship after finishing second for three years in a row. Now a sophomore, Daeche relished the opportunity to contribute on a smaller stage than the bright lights of the national championships.

“It’s really nice to help (Enon) out,” Daeche said. “I hope of the things we taught the girls will stick with them for the rest of their lives.”

Following a series of exercises—all high-tempo and fun-based—the four dozen or so young players finished the day with some scrimmages and goals.

“I am all about bringing opportunities to girls in areas of the city who haven’t experienced that activity before,” Jillian Green, Executive Director of Philly Girls In Motion, said. “It was great to be able to partner with Enon, which has an amazing sports culture going. It was great to see the engagement, the energy, the excitement.

The hugs at the end were amazing. It was a really fulfilling experience.”

Director of Enon Youth Soccer Ross Hamilton echoed that opinion.

“It was wonderful working with Drexel Women’s Soccer, as well as Philly Girls In Motion and the grassroots program at (Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer),” Hamilton said. “It’s really providing us with the resources that we need to uplift our mission.”

“I hope some of the things we taught the girls will stick with them for the rest of their lives.”

A national champion with YMS, Maggie Daeche knows a thing or two about high-fives

HONOR ROLL

A quick rundown of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer players & alums who are doing big things in the game.

Gina Lewandowski Age:

34

Hometown:

coopersburg Team:

Sky Blue FC Youth Clubs:

Southern Lehigh, Eastern Pennsylvania ODP Photo credit: David Ramos/Getty Images

After 12 years playing in Germany, mainly for Bayern Munich, Lehigh Valley native Gina Lewandowski is heading home. It was announced on May 7 that she will join Sky Blue FC of the National Women’s Soccer League. “I am really excited to be coming back to the U.S. and to have the opportunity to play closer to home,” Lewandowski told skybluefc.com. Lewandowski was a stalwart at Bayern Munich. She made 114 appearances for the club, scored 18 goals and won two Bundesliga titles. In 2015, Lewandowski earned her first cap with the U.S. Women’s National Team in a friendly against Brazil.

Michaela “Misa” Kasparcova Age:

15

Hometown:

Collegeville Youth Team:

FCUSA Philadelphia, Eastern Pennsylvania ODP

As the world’s best prepare for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, one Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer player will get the opportunity to compete on her own international stage. Michaela “Misa” Kasparcova, who plays with FCUSA Philadelphia and the U16 Girls Eastern Pennsylvania ODP Team, earned a call up to the Czech Republic U16 National Team for the UEFA Development Tournament in Prague from May 18-25. Misa, who has a Czech father, will compete against Belgium, Ireland and the United States. “The soccer in the U.S. is so prevalent, I’m really excited to be part of the youth national team system in the Czech Republic,” Misa said. “And I hope to inspire more girls to be involved in soccer, so the Czech Republic can be a contender on the international level as well.” Misa previously represented the Czech Republic at the U15 level and hopes to be called into the U17 team later this fall.

26

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

epysa.org

caption contests!

Prior to the publication of each Touchline, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer will host caption contests on social media with funny pictures.

Kids, post your best comments and we’ll select a winner for each picture to receive an Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer goodie bag.

Congratulations to this issue’s winners!

No way!

The ice cream truck just rolled in!

Brady Burt U10 Boys, Panthers United Soccer Association Sharpshooters

Can you do this ballet move and pass the ball at the same time?

Kellen & Kirsten Douglass U8 and 10, Pottstown Soccer Club Pumas

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @EPAYouthSoccer, where we’ll announce the winners.

Best of Luck!

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

27

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T ournament S chedule

Summer 2019 Tournaments Looking for a local tournament to fill out your summer schedule or prepare for the fall season? Check out information on five that are coming in the next few months. To see a full list of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer sanctioned tournaments, and for all information on how to get a tournament sanctioned, visit EPYSA.org/tournaments2019.

19th Annual Fusion FC 3v3

July

The Red Land Soccer Fields in Etters, PA, will host this epic, one-day soccer tournament. The boys will play on Saturday, July 13, the girls on Sunday, July 14. Each team will play three games, with A and B divisions offered based on numbers. + + Dates: July 13-14, 2019 + + Age Groups: U9-U19

+ + Entry Deadline: June 30, 2019 + + Contact: Jessica Derrickson, docfusionfc@gmail.com

Lititz Summer Showcase Open to U9-U19 teams, the Lititz Summer Showcase offers groups a competitive atmosphere in the summer. There will be a college showcase venue for older teams, as well as awards for champions and runners-up. + + Dates: June 27-28, 2019 + + Age Groups: U9-U19

+ + Entry Deadline: July 1, 2019 + + Contact: Wendell Hannaford, lsstournamentdirector@gmail.com

JK Memorial Tournament

August

The JK Memorial Tournament celebrates the passion that Boyertown Soccer Club player Jacob Karnchanaphati, who passed away at the age of 12, had for soccer. The tournament is co-hosted by Boyertown and Valley SC and is open to U9-U15 teams. + + Dates: August 10-11, 2019 + + Age Groups: U9-U15

+ + Entry Deadline: August 1, 2019 + + Contact: Dino Gambone, tournament@boyertownsoccerclub.net

Colleen Reilly Invitational Hosted by Horsham Soccer, the Colleen Reilly Invitational features U8-U19 age groups, in condensed tournament action. Each team is guaranteed three games. + + Dates: August 16-18, 2019 + + Age Groups: U8-U19

+ + Entry Deadline: July 15, 2019 + + Contact: Anton Kuhner, akuhner@horshamsoccer.com

VE Summer Soccer Splash A family-friendly event, the VE Summer Soccer Splash offers teams a great opportunity to prepare for the fall season. The VE club—which features a pool and outdoor patio—will be open to players and parents in between the U8-U12 action. + + Dates: August 24-25, 2019 + + Age Groups: U8-U12

+ + Entry Deadline: August 9, 2019 + + Contact: Christine Kehan, ckehan@verizon.net

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

29

F rom O ur M ed i cal adv i sory comm i ttee

The Female Athlete Triad

By Dr. Sommer Hammoud Dr. Sommer Hammoud is an ABOS Board Certified assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University and specializes in sports related injuries of the knee, shoulder and elbow.

She completed her residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Dr. Hammoud is a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Medical Advisory Committee. She has a special interest in sports-related injuries of the female athlete.

Introduction

Low Energy Availability

T

he female athlete triad refers to the relationship of three interrelated components: energy availability, menstrual function, and bone health.

Each of these components can be seen in athletes with varying levels of severity. In its most severe form it involves low energy availability (with or without disordered eating), amenorrhea (lack of menses), and osteoporosis. Athletes can exhibit one or more of these three components.

Education of athletes, coaches, parents, and health care providers is critical because early diagnosis and intervention are critical to preventing disease progression. The treatment goal in young female athletes with the triad is a natural return of menses and increased bone mineral density.

Female athletes most at risk are those that are competitive athletes and participate in sports that require them to maintain a certain weight or check their weight often. Endurance sports such as distance running, sports that classify athletes by weight class (i.e. martial arts, rowing) and sports that have an aesthetic focus (i.e. figure skating, gymnastics, diving, ballet) can place an athlete at risk for disordered eating as they decrease caloric intake or avoid fatty foods in an effort to improve their performance or scores. Although these athletes may be the highest risk athletes, female athletes from any sport (including soccer) are susceptible.

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Energy availability refers to the balance between dietary caloric intake and the energy expended/calories burned during exercise. When calories burned exceeds the calories consumed from nutritional intake, this is called “low energy availability.� This can occur when an athlete restricts caloric intake or avoids fatty foods or when they over-exercise. In its most severe form, clinical eating disorders can occur such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Menstrual Function

Decreases in caloric intake and excessive exercise/energy expenditure can disrupt the hormonal pathways, thereby disrupting menstrual function, which can manifest as irregular periods or complete loss of periods (amenorrhea). Some female athletes may never even get their first period due to excessive training. Keep in mind that pregnancy and other medical conditions can cause you to miss your period. If you are unsure, it is always best to speak to your doctor.

Bone Health

Deficits in nutrition and hormonal disruption can both have a negative impact on bone health. Poor bone health manifests as an increased risk/incidence of stress fractures and can lead to the early development of osteoporosis (loss of bone density causing weakening of the bones). Moreover, stress fractures can lead to prolonged periods out of training and competition.

conclusion The female athlete triad can result in potentially serious medical conditions affecting many young female athletes. Prevention and early recognition are paramount. Treatment is most effective when a multidisciplinary approach is applied, with a priority on adequate nutrition and natural resumption of menses.

C oach i ng educat i on

World Cup Champion Kim Maslin Kammerdeiner On Team-Building After winning a national championship with George Mason University, Rutledge, PA, native Kim Maslin (back row, third from right) played her way onto the U.S. Women’s National Team as a goalkeeper.

She was part of the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup winning squad and later became a standout coach.

Below, Kim outlines her thought process and creating and maintaining positive, engaging environments for her players.

Creating Team Chemistry

At any age or level of play it is my opinion that a successful team has one basic component: team chemistry. Every player should have a role and that role should be understood by coaches, parents and players. I feel as though it’s the coaches’ responsibility to create the “family” environment and try to treat everyone as a valued and important member of the team. If coaches are only willing to give praise or attention to the starters and treat the others as insignificant, the rest of the team and parents will see the behavior and will follow in unison, which can ruin teams.

Maintaining A Positive Training Environment

Stressors like competition within the team or against another team can make or break players. I try to build in days where the practice is fun, with hidden fitness, team-building and skill-training games. As the game days approach, I need to focus on skills and competition. It’s critical that I have the players compete and push each other. I may separate the players who are able to handle more pressure from the ones who may not be ready to compete at that level. If the players are close to reaching the next level, then I push them to the higher level. If the players trust me and we have a positive relationship, then they will respond well and buy into what I am trying to teach them. If they don’t trust me then they will question everything I am trying to teach them.

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Maintaining A Positive Game Environment

In a game situation, the players will be positive if they understand their role on the team. If they are a starter, know and perform their job well, then they stay on the field. If they are unable to perform their job on the field that day, then they are pulled off the field, and I go over their role again and put them back on the field. For the non-starters, I try to give them playing time as much as I can, and I keep them plugged into the games by keeping a good line of communications. If there are days when non-starters can start, then I try to play them as much as possible.

Keeping A Team Engaged

If I have a team that is struggling to stay engaged, I need to change up my approach with the entire team. It’s easier to adjust for the entire team versus a few players. If the whole team is struggling, then I need to change up my sessions and regroup. It is possible that my sessions are either over their heads and too challenging or they are not challenging enough. It’s important to communicate with the players and ask them what they feel they are struggling with.

Stand & be counted Join the team to bring the 2026 FiFa World cup™ to philadelphia!

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer is proud to be part of the host committee working to bring the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ to Philadelphia.

Want to help the movement? Head to Philadelphia2026.com and sign up today!

Presented By

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COACH PROFILE Maíra Abreu de Campos

Hailing from the São Gonçalo municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Maíra Abreu de Campos has brought a South American flair to her coaching. She serves as an assistant coach for the Cairn University Women’s Soccer Team and the U14 North Girls Eastern Pennsylvania ODP Team. We caught up with Maíra, who is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, to discuss women’s soccer and much more.

Why study Organizational Leadership?

I want to be a coach. Most of the classes I do is like team development, different personalities, different leadership styles, so it helps a lot.

What have you learned that’s surprised you?

I think more about myself and dealing with people. A lot of the time you know people are different, but you treat them the same. So there, I learned how to treat different people in a way that gets the best out of them.

Best advice you’ve received?

Just be 100 percent in what you’re doing.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in soccer?

Never give up, even if it does not look great.

Who’s your role model?

Both my parents. Mario and Mira.

How can we support Latin American women’s soccer?

The two aspects are the support from society—soccer is also a female sport. Girls can also play soccer. Then it’s the incentive of the leagues and youth sports with money. Because we don’t have that.

Bringing sports clinics and more people to make it an incentive to help players get more excited about playing.

Advice for girls preparing to play in a new environment or new country?

Be open-minded and be disciplined.

Favorite Brazilian meal?

Brazilian barbeque

Favorite part about coaching?

The relationships with my players. Being able to invest in them as players and people.

How does Brazil do at the World Cup?

We are going to be champs.

We’ll be singing Freddy Mercury at the end. We are the champs.

Ideal day?

Going to Ipanema Beach, playing beach soccer and going skim boarding

Portuguese phrase that we should know?

Gol de placa – Pele scored a goal and the people were narrating they said that and it became a thing.

Favorite Book?

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Favorite Movie?

Facing The Giants

Favorite TV show?

Chuck

Favorite player?

Julie Ertz

Dream five-a-side team?

Pelé, Carli Lloyd, Marta, Messi, me

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer

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the united states women’s national team

Megan

by the numbers

Rapinoe

101

Number of international goals forward Alex Morgan has to her name, a feat only six other American’s have accomplished. She’s the fourth fastest player to reach the 100-goal mark behind Abby Wambach, Michelle Akers, and Mia Hamm.

80 21

Average number of international caps per player on the roster, which has combined for a total of 94 Women’s World Cup appearances.

The number of former US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program players in the squad, a list that includes Carli Lloyd, Ali Krieger, Kelley O’Hara, Becky Sauerbrunn, Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe among others.

20

Age of the youngest player on the roster, Tierna Davidson. Mallory Pugh turned 21 on April 29.

Morgan Brian was the youngest player on the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Team at age 22. Just under half the roster (11 players) are in their 30s and 12 are in their 20s.

16 11

Players on the roster that have represented USA in a FIFA Women’s World Cup at the U-17 level, U-20 level, or both.

Alex

Morgan

Players that will be experience their first time on a USWNT roster at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Adrianna Franch, Abby Dahlkemper, Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Allie Long, Samantha Mewis, Jessica McDonald, and Mallory Pugh are all making their first Women’s World Cup appearances.

Carli

Lloyd

7

The number of matches it will take to win the tournament, including four in the knockout rounds, up from six matches it took to win the Women’s World Cups for all the previous tournaments from 1991-2011.

4

The number of World Cups Carli Lloyd has been a part of as the most experienced player on the squad. She’s appeared in 18 World Cup matches and is one of six rostered players to own double-figure World Cup cap numbers alongside Ali Krieger (13), Alex Morgan (12), Megan Rapinoe (12), and Tobin Heath (10).

3

The number of World Cup titles the USWNT has won since the inception of the Women’s World Cup in 1991. The Americans hoisted the trophy in 1991, 1999, and 2015. Germany (2003, 2007), Japan (2011), and Norway (1995) are the other three countries who have claimed victory in the international tournament.

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oe

JULIE ERTZ