Street Soccer USA
Sacramento Lady Salamanders
Meet our 2012-2013 Participants....
Alex has been with our Women’s Street Soccer Program since 2011. We were blessed to have her with us in New York for the 2012 SSUSA National Cup. Alex has been extremely committed to soccer and her personal development since the first day she came out to practice. Alex has had tremendous growth and taken strides towards new goals and a life she never imagined possible.
Alex moved into a shelter in 2010 when she decided she needed to make a change in her life and less than two years later she has a fulltime job in the Medical Administrative field. She is a full time parent to her 4 children and is getting ready to move into permanent housing by the end of 2013.
“Believe in yourself first and the rest will follow.”
Eliana has been playing with our Women’s Street Soccer Program since 2011. She posses a spirit that can light up any room she walks into. She participated in the 2012 SSUSA National Cup and we look forward to Eliana participating in the 2013 SSUSA National Cup as well. Last year Eliana scored the winning penalty kick that gave us our big win in the middle of Times Square! The setting was incredible but the fact that her penalty kick tactics included landing a cartwheel while approaching the ball was an element that made that moment truly unforgettable.
Eliana began her road to recovery in 2010 by making the decision to pursue counseling for addiction and abusive relationships. Today she is employed full time, is an avid softball and soccer player and an amazing single mom to four beautiful children. We are very happy to have Eliana as a role model, player, and friend.
"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christs perseverance."
(2 Thessalonians 3:5 NIV)
Angelina is one of the toughest women we know and she continues to push through difficulties with one step at a time. Angelina began playing with the Women’s Street Soccer team in 2011 and participated in the 2012 NYC SSUSA National Cup. Angelina is great role model for our program because of her willingness to change. Angelina's lifestyle in the consisted of little tolerance and respect for women, but with her desire to play soccer she learned how to build positive relationships with women and learning to respect her teammates, developing a support system and even learn to love them.
Angelina began her path to recovery in 2010 receiving counseling in the areas of addiction, abusive relationships, and parenting classes. She has completed an educational program, is a single mother of 5 children, and she is learning how balance work and health. We look forward to having Angelina participate in the SSUSA National Cup again this year.
"Success is the best revenge."
Dawn is an amazing woman who has overcome a lot. She was our oldest player at the 2012 NYC SSUSA National Cup and played the most minutes as our goalie. Dawn had never played sports before coming on to the Women’s Street Soccer team in 2011, but she proved that age or lack of experience was not enough of a reason to keep her from learning soccer. One of Dawn’s greatest qualities is her commitment. She was at every fundraiser and almost every single practice for a whole year.
Dawn first entered the shelter system looking for help in 2010. She received help with housing and counseling for addiction. Dawn has just completed her vocational program for Medical Billing & Coding and is now looking for full time work while she takes care of two of her 2 youngest children and helps with her grandchildren.
"I just want to be the best person I can be."
Karla first came out to the Women’s Street Soccer Program in 2011 and participated in the 2012 NYC SSUSA National Cup. She has the ability to always make her teammates laugh and is always looking for the positive in experiences. She has been very committed to her team since day one and is a great person to have at practice and fundraisers- she is fearless!
Karla entered a women’s shelter in Sacramento in 2010 looking to make a positive change in her life and for her children. Karla is currently a full time student at Asher College, takes care of 2 children at home, has completed many counseling sessions for addiction, abusive relationships, anger management, and parenting, and has re connected with her family that she once isolated from. She is truly a survivor and the epitome of change.
“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change!!”
Sarah has been an active participant in the Sacramento Women’s Street Soccer program since 2011. She has participated in the 2011 SSUSA National Cup in Washington D.C. and again in 2012, in NYC. NYC was where she really stepped up as a leader for her new teammates and was a true example of playing with heart for your team. After the 2012 NYC SSUSA Cup she was selected to represent the Women’s USA team in Mexico City, Mexico for the 2012 Homeless world Cup. In Mexico City, Sarah and her seven teammates set the Women’s SSUSA record for most wins at a Homeless World Cup.
Sarah has been in recovery since 2010; she is currently employed full time, goes to school, and is a single mother to her daughter. She is an excellent role model for other women and we are happy to call her an Ambassador for The Lady Salamanders.
Cindy joined our team in 2012 and participated in NYC 2012 SSUSA National Cup. Cindy came to our team a couple months before the tournament and has been an incredible addition since. She is a very caring, appreciative, and hilarious teammates, and a true survivor of addiction. Cindy absolutely represents the hope of recovery as it pertains to addiction and alcohol and is always willing to help someone in need. She is a great role model, a great teammate, a great friend, and we look forward to watching Cindy achieve her goals and share her accomplishments with others.
Cindy has had her life threatened more than once with the struggles of recovery, but in 2011 she reconnected with her support group and has been running strong with it since then. Cindy is a full-time student at Asher College, she is a part time care taker, she has two beautiful children, and one very beautiful grandchild.
Eliana's game winning cart wheel!
"Once the whistle blows, we all speak the same language ...a ball can change the world!"
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