Feature Story

Click here to listen to the audio story by Petty Officer 1st Class NyxoLyno Cangemi

A color guard from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy marches off the field at Veteran's Stadium in New Britain, Conn., Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010.

Veteran’s Stadium in New Britain, Conn., a grassy oasis in the urban outskirts of the state’s capital, became the battlefield to decide victory in professional women’s soccer between the Boston Breakers and the Atlanta Beat. But the team taking the field to kick off the match embarked wearing Coast Guard jerseys.

The Coast Guard Academy Women’s Soccer Team based in New London, Conn., took the opportunity to represent their service and their school by opening the Professional Women’s Soccer match.

Coast Guard Cadet Elizabeth Kenis opened the game with her rendition of The Star Spangled Banner before a crowd of more than 4,000 people, while 23 of her teammates stood in formation behind her on the field, bearing the national ensign and the Coast Guard flag.

Afterward, the Coast Guard soccer team joined the fans in the bleachers to watch the game and glean what they could by observing the players on the field.

Following the game, Boston Breakers’ Coach Tony DiCicco sat down with the Coast Guard soccer team to discuss teamwork and leadership, both on and off the field.

DiCicco once guided the U.S. Women’s National Team to the 1996 Olympics, earning the team a gold medal. The team was later inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame. Presently, DiCicco is the all-time wins leader in U.S. National Team Soccer history.

“I challenge you to keep it as one team, and leadership is key,” DiCicco said to the team. “You have to value leadership. There’s a lot of positive leadership on the Coast Guard Women’s Soccer Team. It’s the nature of the type of person who would attend the academy. You just need to mold that and you can develop the type of chemistry that can make a difference.”

Coach Tony DiCicco of the Boston Breakers Professional Women's Soccer Team sits for a photo with the women's soccer team from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Coast Guard Cadet Mary Mills says the conversation with Coach DiCicco was a great way to start off the season, especially for the newer members to the team.

“He’s such a respectable coach and has so much experience,” Mills said. “He gave us some really good words of wisdom that I think is really good for all of us, especially for the younger girls.”

With the start of the woman’s soccer season approaching, Mills said the teambuilding visit and discussion with Coach DiCicco provides the groundwork they need to carry the team throughout the year.

“This is something we can always fall back on,” Mills said. “Whether it’s being distracted at practice, or if our chemistry isn’t all that great, we can always get back to [the basics]. It’s a great foundation for the rest of the season.”

	Coast Guard 3rd Class Cadet Elizabeth Kenis sings the national anthem Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010, at Veteran's Stadium in New Britain, Conn.
	Members from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy women's soccer team wait to speak with Coach Tony DiCicco of the Boston Breakers Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010, at Veteran's Stadium in New Britain, Conn.