Mischler Inks WPS Contract
July 08, 2011 11:12 AM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Former West Virginia women’s soccer player Megan Mischler has been a soccer fan for as long as she can remember. So, it should come as no surprise that she’s been deeply ingrained in this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.
Despite the U.S. Women’s National Team’s disappointing loss to Sweden earlier this week, Mischler remains committed to cheering on her country in a quarterfinal match with Brazil this Sunday. However, there is some extra motivation behind her applause.
Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), now in its third season as the top-flight women’s pro league, knew it had to maneuver around the World Cup. The league understood the likelihood of losing a few marquee players and coaches for a portion of the regular season.
Personnel departures across the league meant opportunity for players like Mischler, now in her first season with the Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL).
“I received a call Tuesday night from (associate head coach) Lisa Cole who is serving as our head coach with Tony DiCicco gone at the World Cup with broadcasting duties,” said Mischler. “She explained the situation and said they were offering a short-term player contract for the game this weekend. It was all very exciting.”
The phone call caught Mischler off guard, perhaps more concerned about missing a training session or team function earlier in the day. Instead, it was a contract offer to fulfill a dream of playing professional soccer.
“The Breakers, like all WPS teams right now, are looking to call up players with the World Cup going on,” explained Mischler, a three-time all-BIG EAST forward at WVU. “It’s always been a dream to play professional soccer and for it to actually happen, it’s very humbling.”
Mischler’s road to success was a bit unusual as the Moon Township, Pa., native did not touch a soccer ball for much of the spring. After four years of BIG EAST soccer, the speedster opted to run track for the Mountaineers in her final semester on campus.
“I didn’t play enough soccer at all and was nervous heading up here (this summer),” said Mischler. “I thought I would be able to train with soccer while running track in the spring. I had a little bit of success in track and decided to focus my attention on running.
“I’ll have to admit, I forgot about a soccer ball for a few weeks. I knew when I moved to Boston I had to get refocused (on soccer) and I made the transition without any hiccups.”
The adjustments were made as only a few weeks into the season, she was named WPSL co-Player Of The Week for her efforts with the Breakers Reserves.
“I’ve been playing for the Boston Breakers reserve team and training with them since I moved up here after graduation,” said Mischler. “I’ll have two, sometimes three practices a day. It’s been a lot of hard work but also very fun.”
“We are so excited for Megan and what she has contributed to West Virginia women’s soccer the past four years and now making pro soccer a reality,” says WVU coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “It shows what type of character she has to work her way into a position to follow her dream of playing soccer at the highest level.”
Pending some last-minute paperwork from the WPS and the U.S. Soccer Federation, Mischler will suit up in a WPS uniform this Sunday as the Boston Breakers play host to the Atlanta Beat. The game is at 6 p.m. ET and will be televised live on the Fox Soccer Channel.
“I’m hoping to get some minutes because there are only two regular forwards still here,” said Mischler of her expectations this weekend. “My goal is to come in and make an impact for my team. I’m not sure how many (scoring) chances I’ll get, but I’ll be out there trying to score or set up a goal.”
Come Sunday, Mischler will be looking for not one, but two victories.
“It’s definitely a win-win situation for me. I am rooting for the U.S. and the further they advance, the more opportunities I’ll have to stick around the WPS. It’s a wonderful opportunity and I am going to make the most of it.”
Despite the U.S. Women’s National Team’s disappointing loss to Sweden earlier this week, Mischler remains committed to cheering on her country in a quarterfinal match with Brazil this Sunday. However, there is some extra motivation behind her applause.
Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), now in its third season as the top-flight women’s pro league, knew it had to maneuver around the World Cup. The league understood the likelihood of losing a few marquee players and coaches for a portion of the regular season.
Personnel departures across the league meant opportunity for players like Mischler, now in her first season with the Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL).
“I received a call Tuesday night from (associate head coach) Lisa Cole who is serving as our head coach with Tony DiCicco gone at the World Cup with broadcasting duties,” said Mischler. “She explained the situation and said they were offering a short-term player contract for the game this weekend. It was all very exciting.”
The phone call caught Mischler off guard, perhaps more concerned about missing a training session or team function earlier in the day. Instead, it was a contract offer to fulfill a dream of playing professional soccer.
“The Breakers, like all WPS teams right now, are looking to call up players with the World Cup going on,” explained Mischler, a three-time all-BIG EAST forward at WVU. “It’s always been a dream to play professional soccer and for it to actually happen, it’s very humbling.”
Mischler’s road to success was a bit unusual as the Moon Township, Pa., native did not touch a soccer ball for much of the spring. After four years of BIG EAST soccer, the speedster opted to run track for the Mountaineers in her final semester on campus.
“I didn’t play enough soccer at all and was nervous heading up here (this summer),” said Mischler. “I thought I would be able to train with soccer while running track in the spring. I had a little bit of success in track and decided to focus my attention on running.
“I’ll have to admit, I forgot about a soccer ball for a few weeks. I knew when I moved to Boston I had to get refocused (on soccer) and I made the transition without any hiccups.”
The adjustments were made as only a few weeks into the season, she was named WPSL co-Player Of The Week for her efforts with the Breakers Reserves.
“I’ve been playing for the Boston Breakers reserve team and training with them since I moved up here after graduation,” said Mischler. “I’ll have two, sometimes three practices a day. It’s been a lot of hard work but also very fun.”
“We are so excited for Megan and what she has contributed to West Virginia women’s soccer the past four years and now making pro soccer a reality,” says WVU coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “It shows what type of character she has to work her way into a position to follow her dream of playing soccer at the highest level.”
Pending some last-minute paperwork from the WPS and the U.S. Soccer Federation, Mischler will suit up in a WPS uniform this Sunday as the Boston Breakers play host to the Atlanta Beat. The game is at 6 p.m. ET and will be televised live on the Fox Soccer Channel.
“I’m hoping to get some minutes because there are only two regular forwards still here,” said Mischler of her expectations this weekend. “My goal is to come in and make an impact for my team. I’m not sure how many (scoring) chances I’ll get, but I’ll be out there trying to score or set up a goal.”
Come Sunday, Mischler will be looking for not one, but two victories.
“It’s definitely a win-win situation for me. I am rooting for the U.S. and the further they advance, the more opportunities I’ll have to stick around the WPS. It’s a wonderful opportunity and I am going to make the most of it.”
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