Was this the first organized girls soccer game in the FSM?

On Saturday morning March 6 a girls’  soccer game was played between St Cecilia girls and Xavier High School (XHS) girls at Andersen Field, in Weno Island, Chuuk State.  This may have been the first organized league soccer game ever played between two girls teams. If not the first, it certainly was one of the very few organized league games ever played by females in the FSM.

Head referee Tadashi Miyagi blew the whistle. The game began cautiously as the two inexperienced teams carefully moved the ball. This is not unusual in games where girls play and compete for the first time. Not being given opportunities, being told all their lives that they can’t do it because they are girls, means they are often shy and concerned that their play may be viewed humorously and not taken seriously.

However, slowly and steadily the pace and intensity of the game picked up. Then suddenly St. Cecilia scored a surprising goal. The spectators erupted in cheers and the Cecilia players jumped up and down and yelled excitedly. First goal!

The first half continued with spirited play with the teams vying for an advantage. Because of their newness to the game, the players had difficulty sustaining an offensive attack, but they tried again and again, never giving up.

Finally the Xavier girls brought the ball down and with several good passes scored to tie the game, thereby ending the first half. It was hot and the players retired to the sidelines to rehydrate and get instructions from the coach.

The second half saw more heated but even play, with no team able to gain an advantage. Then again suddenly the Cecilia girls had scored another goal to take a 2 to 1 lead. Again, there was loud cheering by those watching and screams of delight by the green Cecilia players and their JVI coach.

Now the game was in its closing minutes and the Xavier girls pressed the attack, trying as best they could to tie the game. Then a good pass was made to an open Xavier player on the left side of the field.  Without hesitating she kicked a strong and solid shot that headed directly for the left side of the goal.

The Cecilia goalie, standing a bit right of center was a long way from that shot, and everyone watching knew this shot would go in and tie the score. But then, in what can only be described as a miraculous effort, the goalie was running to the ball. She reached out her right hand and, as though she was had played that position all her life, grasped the ball in her right hand and pulled it to her chest.

For a brief moment in time we were shocked and unable to speak. Did this really happen? Did this inexperienced young girl actually make a stop saving, amazing, all-star, never-to-be-forgotten, highlight real, FANtastic defensive save?

YES! Yes she did? And then the crowd erupted in cheers, yelling and arm waving. What an AMAZING defensive stop. My God, it was simply beautiful!

A few minutes later the final whistle blew to end the game. We watched as the girls of St. Cecilia School ran together, hugged one another, laughed and spoke excitedly. Those of us on the sidelines were smiling too, because this girls game, if not the very first girls soccer game, certainly one of the very few, offered everything a person could want in a competition.

But there is one final and important note. Just when you were thinking to yourself, it couldn’t get any better than this, it did… After giving the girls their private time together, some of us went over to congratulate the coach. And here is the truly beautiful part:

She said, “The girls ran up to her excitedly, cheering their effort and asked me, ‘WHO WON?’”

The answer is, “We all won!”  We all had that warm feeling in our stomach as we realized we had been treated to something very special. We all felt a little bit better for having been there and watched as young women competed in the true spirit of sports: “For the love of the game.”

Congratulations to the girls of St. Cecilia School and Xavier High School for one of the most enjoyable and satisfying sports events ever.