THE FREE PRESS SPORTS MAY J4, 2000 Alive and kicking Women’s soccer keeps on growing In Europe and South America, the popularity of soccer whips fans into a fevered pitch unrivaled in any other sport. Given the steadily rising interest in soccer in Prince George, it may not be too long before packs of rowdy soccer fans start showing up at fields around the city. But there’s a very good chance it isn’t men’s teams they’ll be cheering for. The Prince George Women’s soccer league has been steamrolling forward, increasing in size and scope with every year. And there’s no sign of a slow down. “Soccer’s relatively easy to get into even for someone who doesn’t have much experience. When I first started I’d never even kicked a soccer ball,” admits Twylla Fraser, secretary of the Prince George Women’s Soccer Association executive committee, when explaining just why soccer continues to attract new players. “We have eight teams this year, which is one more than last year. We’ve nearly doubled in size in the last four years - especially in the recreational division. Soccer, in general, is growing quite quickly, both in men’s and women’s leagues.” Growing so fast, in fact, that the PGWSA is looking to end their nomadic existence and settle down on a soccer field or two of their own. tmra 66 “We have a five year plan to find our own permanent home for Prince George women’s soccer,” says Fraser. The PGWSA is planning to approach city council with a plan to build two fields on vacant land adjacent to the men’s soccer fields on 15th avenue. The fields will cost approximately $250,000 each, a tab that the PGWSA is hoping the city will kick in for part of. “We’re hoping to get a third of it from the city, a third in grants and the other third we’ll fundraise for,” says Fraser. One of the major fundraisers for women’s soccer is the annual Michelle Lamarche Swift memorial tourna- Soccer’s relatively easy to get into even "rent "amed in honour J ° of a PG player who died for Someone who from cancer two years doesn’t have much experience. ago. Other fund raising would be in the form of corporate sponsorship. As for grants, Fraser Ser ^ that the PGWSA is TurrenTT^ooJung into what grants would be available to them. It was problems with scheduling fields that led to the strange paradox of the women’s ice breaker tournament being held nearly two weeks into the regular season play this year. "We had a little bit of scheduling difficulty with the fields. And last year when we actually had the ice breaker before the season, it snowed.” The women’s ice breaker tournament runs until 3:30 p.m. today at the Ron Brent school fields. Regular season play resumes Monday at 6 p.m. on the Ron Brent and Youth 8 fields. The Michelle Lamarche Swift memorial tournament runs June 10 and 11. THE PRINCE CEORCE FREE PRESS 1773 South Lyon Street WEST HILL LUMBER (1988) LTD. Manufacturer and Wholesaler of Forest Products Locally owned & operated LET WEST HILL LUMBER ON THE HEAD WITH THESE LOCAL LUMBER PRODUCTS Now Open Saturdays for Local Sales 9:00am to 5:00pm Supporters of Kelly Road Dry Grad • Treated Lumber • Studs & Fencing Much mote lumber available! WEST HILL LUMBER (1988) LTD. Manufacturer and Wholesaler ol Forest Products 61?2 Ohoay Road "Prince George, fit V2ltl 913+ E-mail; ioesihill@netlrisiro.com Phone. 563-2012 lax. 563-1*88 RED TAG DAYS SALES EVENT! 2000 SIENNA CE Ends May 31st Includes: 3.0L 194hp, 24 valve V6, power door locks, power windows, cruise control, power remote mirrors, illuminated entry, key lockout protection, retained accessory power, bodyside cladding graphics, block heater, undercoating, freight & PDS. 2.8% purchase o.a.c. on 2000 Tundra 2000 Rav 4 2000 Sienna 2000 Corolla Lease oilers from Toyota Credit Canada Inc for qualified retail customers O A C Lease payments of $399 00 plus taxes for 2000 Sienna (ZF19CS BA) based on 48 month walkaway lease with $2,880 total start-up costs (first payment, security deposit, taxes and administration fee included or equivalent trade). Total lease obligations are $23,860 Lease payments based on a maximum of 96,000 kms APR 6.8% Excludes licence and insurance ® TOYOTA Northern Toyota *:©- 018877* 2005 REDWOOD ST. (250)564-7205 1-800-331-2005 unwn Prices • Interior's Largest Garment Printer When you are looking for efficiency, reliability and quality... .Fleece Wear ^^1 |ON TIME DELIVERY • Tees • Teams • Corporate • Digitising • Resortwear • Mugs and Uniforms 537 2nd Ave., Prince George, V2L 228 561-1530 Fax 250-562-2260 1-800-616-1338 OF ALL AGES! ATTENTION KIDS The Prince George Free Press is currently looking for carriers in the following subdivisions: St. Patrick 1 st & Ospika Patterson & Ogilvie Ford Avenue Westgate Estavilla We will also accept future applications for all areas of Prince George. Please cal 564-0005 and ask for the Circulation Dept.