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Over-30 league brings fun to women’s soccer

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Grant Morris photo Merrily Blasi, left, and Brenna McIlwrath nearly collide while chasing the ball during a women's soccer game at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, Tuesday evening. Hampshire Hills sponsors an over-30 soccer league for women.

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Grant Morris photo Referee Brian Osborne talks to the ladies playing in a recent over-30 soccer game at the Hampshire Dome in Milford.

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Grant Morris photo Peggy Corban runs briefly to warm up before the start of Tuesday evening's over-30 women's soccer game at the Hampshire Dome in Milford.

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Grant Morris photo Jamie Hoffpauir straps on her shin guards before the start of Tuesday's game at the Hampshire Dome in Milford. Hampshire Hills sponsors a women's soccer league for women over 30.

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Grant Morris photo Kristine Murray makes a stop right in front of her goal during Tuesday evening's game at the Hampshire Dome in Milford.

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Grant Morris photo Brenna McIlwrath kicks the ball with the side of her foot to try to keep it from falling into the hands of the red team, Tuesday evening at the Hampshire Dome in Milford.

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Grant Morris photo Ladies playing in Tuesday evening's ladies' soccer game at the Hampshire Dome introduce themselves to one another before taking the field.

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Grant Morris photo Lisa Landolf is seen from behind the net during a recent Tuesday evening's ladies soccer game at the Hampshire Dome in Milford.

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Grant Morris photo Michelle Dunn talks about how she hurt her knee, left, while Merrily Blasi puts her hair up during halftime, on a recent Tuesday evening at the Hampshire Dome in Milford.

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Grant Morris photo Shelley Brodhurst tries to maneuver the ball around defenders on the other team during Tuesday afternoon's women's soccer league game at the Hampshire Dome in Milford.

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Grant MOrris photo Kristine Murray kicks the ball away from a red attacker during Tuesday night's game at the Hampshire Dome in Milford. Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness club sponsors an over-30 women's soccer club.

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By MICHAEL CLEVELAND

Staff Writer

MILFORD – For Sean Wisbey, soccer was a calling.

Now he’s calling all women older than 30 to get involved in the sport he loves – a sport he is convinced they’ll love – in an atmosphere that is about more than just sports.

Wisbey runs the adult leagues for the Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness Club at its Hampshire Dome, and his latest endeavor is a women’s over-30 recreation league Tuesday nights starting at 8.

They play soccer for an hour and then, he hopes, will spend the next hour getting to know one another and enjoying life.

For instance, in the Dome’s men’s over-40 league, the men kick the ball around in the Dome, then often go next door to Hampshire Hills for a snack or a drink.

“They enjoy playing, but they love the social aspect,” said Wisbey, who once coached the Merrimack High School boys’ soccer team to a state championship.

The women’s league began less than a month ago and had 24 women playing recently.

“You don’t have to be a club member to play, and you don’t have to have any experience,” Wisbey said. “It’s a rec league. It’s for beginners and for people who used to play, and it’s for people who want to find an avenue to foster new friendships.”

The women break into teams in a 7-on-7 format – six players plus a goalkeeper and, when there are enough women signed up, there could be three fields going at once under the Dome.

“We’re just getting going,” said Wisbey, who played in college at Plymouth State University where he was a two-time All-New England striker and is still third in the school’s scoring list, “but I believe that in time, we’re going to have 60-to-100 women signed up and we’re going to be able to form teams of 10.”

To get involved, call Wisbey at 673-8123, ext. 568, or e-mail him at swisbey@hampshirehills.com.

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