Soccer moms kickin’ at Fort Niagara

by Wendy Swearington
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, June 16, 2007

The Real Soccer Moms, shown at a recent session at Fort Niagara State Park.

If your idea of a soccer mom is a woman minivan-ing her children around from practices to games and back again, think again. There’s a new team in town: The Real Soccer Moms.

Cofounders Beth Howe and Kelly Burnham, both experienced players, started the team to give women in the area an opportunity to play the beautiful game. After all, why should the kids have all the fun? The team is comprised of moms aged 30 and older and is run in conjunction with the Niagara Pioneer Soccer League.

Players range in experience from those with no prior soccer experience, to just kicking the ball in the backyard with the kids, to having played in college. The Real Soccer Moms, now in its second season, play every Wednesday night starting at 7 p.m. at Youngstown’s Fort Niagara State Park, Field No. 6. It is open to all ability levels and talent is distributed evenly.

This season started on May 16 and will continue all summer. It’s never too late to join.

“In Connecticut I used to play in a women’s soccer league with over 200 women, from their mid-20s to mid-50s. It was a way to get out of the house once a week, get some exercise, and meet new people. I was surprised that Lewiston or Niagara County did not have anything like this,” said Howe. “Last summer we started with about eight women, and our husbands stood in as goalies, referees, and cheerleaders. This season we are more than 25-women strong, and are still looking to expand. The women are great and are from all ability levels, so the more experienced ones help out those new to the game.”

Burnham grew up playing soccer and played with the Welland Canadian Women’s Soccer League. “Husbands and kids always have activities like golf, baseball, or hockey, but the moms never seem to take time for themselves. This was a way for us to have some ‘me’ time in a beautiful setting,” she said. “We are competitive but absolutely are doing this for stress relief, not to add stress. Perhaps next year we will play some games with a Women’s Canadian league.”

Soccer Moms started off small, and hopes to grow into its own league like the 10-team house league of Niagara Pioneer Soccer.

Interested people should contact: Beth Howe at buffalohowe@roadrunner.com or call 278-1034, or Kelly Burnham, at kinderkelly@roadrunner.com. Or just show up at Field 6 (below the sledding hill) at Fort Niagara State Park on Wednesday nights.