Women’s professional soccer is back in St. Louis, with the aptly-named Women’s Professional Soccer league and its local flagship, Saint Louis Athletica.
The squad has a similar make-up to many teams in the new WPS. You’ve got some rookies, coming to the league directly from college. Others are former college players who’ve been biding their time in day jobs and semi-pro leagues.
And lastly, there are the star players, national team veterans who’ve been actively keeping their skills alive by playing abroad or in the nearly-year-round US National team program.
The Athletica’s Tina Ellertson fits the latter role.
A forward by training, but a defender with the U.S. National side, is once again filling that role with the Athletic. Though wanting to jump into the attack when possible, it’s her role to work as a central defender. It’s a sometimes thankless job, but she’s up to any task the Athletica need.
Up top, in back, anywhere she’s needed, she’s skilled and experienced enough to play.
“I know I’ve loved playing in the back,” says Ellertson. “I’ve learned to prepare myself for that. I started out with the National Team as a defender, but our new coach has been trying me at forward and I think I’ll be playing forward with them, again. I just feel blessed to be playing.
“I’m not going to lie. Scoring goals feel pretty darned good,” she adds. “When I transferred to defense, it brought out a different player in me. There’s nothing like a big tackle, or shutting down a top forward. That’s also one of the greatest feelings when playing. I’m just blessed and lucky. I’m still playing soccer professionally, and I can’t complain about that.”
Ellertson was one of three marquee players to be assigned to the Athletica from the U.S. squad, a small, exclusive group that also includes goalkeeper Hope Solo and St. Louis native Lori Chalupny, who is Ellertson’s roommate in St. Louis.
“I feel so blessed to be able to play for Saint Louis Athletica,” says Ellertson.
“The National Team players got to pick their spots and I knew that St. Louis, L.A. and San Jose were interested in me. We just went from there and I was allocated to St. Louis. I’ve been to St. Louis a few times, and I’m excited to be there this season. The whole process has been really, really good.”
Though the team’s only scored four goals in the first five games, they’ve only given up six, giving them a win and two draws in the first handful of contests. Safe to say that Ellertson’s been a big part of that stingy defense, which will be tested as a long season wears on.
The team’s 20-game schedule stretches into August, with National Team players like Ellertson, Chalupny and Solo probably looking at some additional, limited double-duty with the National Team during that stretch.
That kind of schedule is certainly going to pull at Ellertson’s emotions, from time-to-time, as her husband, Brad, and two young daughters will maintain their full-time residence in Vancouver.
Born herself to a Ghanaian father and Nigerian mother, Ellertson is aware that her family ties will be tough to deal with this season, but playing in the new WPS, she feels that it’s the best option for the moment.
“Lori’s one of my best friends on the (National) Team and I’m living with her Brentwood,” she says.
Ellertson feels that she has a natural need to be a role model with the youths who’ve been coming out to Athletica matches this season – boys and girls, but especially the latter.
“I want to be an example for girls. I have a seven-year-old and she wants to be a professional soccer player. Soon, she’ll be around a professional team, but I can give other girls a sense of that picture,” she said.
“I’m so excited for college girls to have the options to continue playing. I’m so ready for the promoting. We’re here and we want people to come out to our games. I hope we have volunteer opportunities, too. Lori and I were chatting about that: how to connect, how to help. We’re totally willing to do that. We have some options and we’re ready to jump into that.”
The next home game at SIU-Edwardsville’s Korte Stadium is on Saturday, June 20 at 7 p.m. For tickets, call 888-785-4625. For more information on the Athletica, see www.stlouisathletica.com.
