Chesapeake Charge -- Growing the Game in Gambrills

As we work our way to World Cup finals and our bid to bring the games to Maryland, now is a good time to look at organizations on all levels who show just how passionately the game is played in our region.

2010 is the inaugural season for the Chesapeake Charge, an Anne Arundel entry in the Women's Premier Soccer League.

If you're not familiar with the Women's Premier Soccer League, it was formed in 1998 as an independent national soccer organization whose main focus is on the development of highly competitive amateur women's soccer teams.

Their mission to is to bring quality soccer to all levels of the community and promote the stature of female athletes as role models for youngsters.  The WPSL is affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States,  and our good friends at FIFA, who rule the world.
 
WPSL teams roster college, post-college, foreign and talented high school players every year. The season runs from May to August. A league championship tournament is held the last weekend of July or first weekend of August.  Many college programs encourage their athletes to play summer soccer with the WPSL to prepare for the upcoming season and gain experience playing with top caliber players, including former and aspiring professionals. 
 

The Chesapeake Charge, who play at Carroll Field at Arundel High in Gambrills, are currently 3-3-3 .   On Friday, they take on TSC Maryland Pride -- a team established in 1991 in Howard County.  This game will be held in Columbia at Howard Community College.
 
There will be representatives from the Women's Premier Soccer League at the World Cup Festival in the Inner Harbor this Sunday.  They are an integral part of what makes Maryland such a soccer-centric site for tournament play.
 
Can't leave the subject without reminding you to sign the petition.  Our goal is to fill the stadium with supporters to let FIFI and the USA Bid Committee know just how committed we are to the sport.