Copa Coyotes look to get a kick this fall

The call is out for women of Maricopa who want to play a little soccer this fall.

Maricopa will be fielding a team for the second year in the Arizona Women’s Soccer League (AWSL), home to 25-plus soccer teams. The league is comprised of women who range in age from 18 to 65 with skill levels from novice to more advanced.

Sarah Avila, who is helping to recruit local women to the team, said a friend of hers decided she wanted to try and get a team of moms together to play for the league. “We ended up having a team of all women – not just moms,” Avila said.

The team came together last year after recruiting through word of mouth, area MOM’s Club forums, the inmaricopa.com forum, flyers around town and more. “We got a really good response from interested people,” Avila said. “The ironic part is that after we got the ball rolling, my friend didn’t end up playing because she went back to school, and I didn’t end up playing because I got pregnant with baby number three. I’m so looking forward to playing this fall.”

Avila said she tried to keep up with the team during last season as her sister played on the squad. “I can say that we definitely weren’t the best team in our division; we are definitely in the building stages,” Avila said. “The main obstacle is getting people to commit to the entire season.”

Avila indicated the team needs 11 players on its roster to submit a team to the league, with a maximum of 25 players total. The team’s name is the Copa Coyotes.

Games are played on Sundays (times vary) in Tempe, with the first contest taking place Sept. 23. There are 16 games during the entire season (eight in the first half and eight in the second half). There are four divisions in the league – A, B, C and D. “We would be playing in the D Division, which is the least competitive,” Avila noted.

Registration is $75 per person for the entire season and needs to be paid up front.

“If you are interested in joining, don’t hesitate, just do it,” Avila said. “Soccer is such a fun sport. No experience is necessary to join, just your desire to learn and have fun.”

For more information, visit www.azwomenssoccer.org.