Wildcats soccer is more than just games
By: Kyle Moylan
Following the New Jersey Wildcats’ most recent home game at Mercer County Community College, Janine and Rochelle Willis offered up a pretty good mirror image of each other.
Neither Janine or Rochelle, twins from Canada that will soon be entering their senior years at Princeton University and playing defense for the school’s women’s soccer team, seemed very anxious to leave the field.
The Wildcats won a 7-0 exhibition over the Washington Freedom that night. This win didn’t even count among the Wildcats’ perfect 12-0 record in the W-League (a part of the larger United Soccer League). There was a much bigger picture, though.
Each of the Willis sisters was surrounded by a dozen or so young girls, looking for an autograph, high-five, hug or just a hello.
According to the Willis sisters, this wasn’t part of the job. This was their payment.
"We get some expense money, but no one in the league gets paid," noted Rochelle, who had scored a goal in the win.
Rochelle looked down at another little girl, signed her ball and smiled. "Well, we do get some hugs."
Added Janine, "This is great. What more could you ask for? It’s like the best summer you can have."
Adding to the summer fun, with the Linvilles serving as their host family (remember their big paychecks), is the fact that Rochelle and Janine also get to play with and against some of the best women’s soccer players in the world.
The two started in the league, playing for the Toronto Inferno from 2000-2002 and with the Boston Renegades last year. This year has been a lot different, though.
When the WUSA, the top women’s league in the world, lost its financial backing after last season, there was suddenly a couple hundred fantastic players looking for somewhere to compete.
The Wildcats have a somewhat revolving roster as their players occasionally have to meet other commitments including playing in festivals for the WUSA as it tries to get back and running but its team is almost a who’s who of women’s soccer.
Anne Makinen, Kelly Smith, Beth McNamara, Marinette Pichon and Bonnie Young all came over from the WUSA. Makinen (Finland), Pichon (France), Smith (England), Heather O’Reilly (United States), Dolores Deasley (Ireland), Becky Wachsberger (Ireland) and Tasha St. Louis (Trinidad & Tobago) are all part of their country’s national teams.
"The talent is so great, it can’t help but make you better," Janine noted. "We’re playing with two of the best players in the world (Smith and Pichon). If I’m defending against them in practice, it’ll bring up my game."
Maura Gallagher, a midfielder who will be a junior at Princeton University this fall, is also overwhelmed by the talent of her teammates.
"These are the pioneers of women’s soccer," noted Gallagher, who also has the privilege to sign dozens of autographs and pose for photos after every game. "This league is definitely at a higher level this year, but it’s not just here. It (girls’ soccer) gets more serious every year. My little sister is 12 and she’s playing at such a level, it’s awesome."
The league had some drop in talent recently as several women left to join up with their national squads in preparation for the Greece Olympics. Smith, one of the top draft picks when the WUSA started in 2001, had her leg broken in a recent match as well. No one will ever cry for a team with Marinette Pichon on its roster, though.
Pichon scored two goals and an assist in the win over the Washington Freedom. Being an exhibition game, those goals do not officially count. Nor does the goals she scored for the Philadelphia Charge in a recent soccer festival. She does have 17 goals and five assists in eight official W-League games this year, though.
If those statistics sound ridiculously good for a professional soccer leagues, that’s only because they are.
Pichon was the MVP of the WUSA while playing for the Philadelphia Charge in 2002 and even had a bobblehead made in her likeness. She has scored 67 goals in 84 appearances for France’s National team. She scored both of France’s goals as the team went 1-1-1 at the last World Cup.
"I’m lucky, I guess," said Pichon. "Maybe I have a feeling (for where the ball will be). I just work hard and love to play.
"When it comes time to quit, it’ll be hard. But it’s not time yet."
The Wildcats regular season schedule offers up trips to New York, Washington D.C. and South Jersey. Pichon travels the world, however, in search of games, though. If women’s soccer is ever going to catch as a professional sport, Pichon knows where the games will be, though.
"For women’s soccer, it’s much bigger here (the United States)," Pichon said. "It’s fun being here. I wish (the WUSA makes a comeback). I have my fingers crossed."
So do the Willis twins.
"I would love to play in that league," Janine said. "That would be a great opportunity for women’s soccer. It would be great for all these little girls."
The Wildcats have little girls in their soccer uniforms at every game. Before the start of every game, they walk out onto the field, hand-in-hand, with the women. The girls then work the sidelines at the games, chasing the balls out of bounds and making sure the flow of play is never interrupted. In return, the Wildcats are trying to do the same thing for the little girls.
"It’s not just enough to play, you have to show these little girls that there is something to look forward to, to strive for," Janine said.
Janine then grabbed another pen, signed another autograph and held on to that same smile.
About 15 feet away, Rochelle did the same. It was never lost on either of the Willis sisters or any woman in the league that they were part of something bigger than them. Rochelle and Janine were just enjoying the ride.
Rochelle took another soccer ball and sharpie in hand. She signed the ball and was thanked with about her 100th hug of the night.
"There’s definitely a lot of hope for women’s soccer in the future," Rochelle said. "Looking at these little girls, I know there is a lot of hope."
NOTES: The Wildcats were scheduled to face the New Jersey Lady Stallions at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 22 at DePaul High School. The Wildcats will be at Mercer County Community for the regular season finale Sunday at 2 p.m. against the New York Magic.
The playoffs will be hosted by the Ottawa Fury Soccer Club August 7-8. Ottawa and the champions of the East, Central and West divisions will face off in a Final Four format.