Soccer Club Goes Semi-Pro On the Fly

According to Kai Velmer, June 2013 could not have been a more unexpected pivotal month for the Pinellas County United Soccer Club as they were thrust into the women's semi-pro arena with less than a week's notice until the first game.

When Velmer, Director of Soccer Operations at PCU, received the call from the Florida Commissioner of the Women's Premiere Soccer League, he was told there was an opening to be filled immediately. And when he said immediately, he meant PCU's first game would be in five days. 

Velmer remembers telling the commissioner, "I don't have a team, I don't have a coach, we have nothing."

It was the first week of June and within five days of the phone call, Velmer was able to secure a head coach in soccer guru Don Tobin as well as form a competitive group of players ranging in age from 15-28 to represent PCU. Velmer stepped into the assistant coach.

One of the talents on the team lies in Guatemalan national team player, Daniella Andrad, 21. Andrad told Patch that the team at PCU is already better than a WPSL team she used to played for.

"I love it," Andrad said. "I feel like this team is different even though we don't know each other that well."

Andrad is a junior at the University of South Florida and a member of the Bulls women's soccer squad.

For head coach, Don Tobin, it's all about the brand. He says there is a need for quicker, more creative soccer and he hopes to offer that type of environment at PCU.

"There's a lot of robotic play in men's and women's soccer in America," Tobin said. "And we want to take the straight jackets off and get creative."

The group joins the WPSL competition with more than 70 teams nationwide. The WPSL is a semi-pro organization that offers an arena for players who are developing in club or college ball. It is also an opportunity for ex-college athletes to get back into the game.

19-year-old Erica Burt plays soccer at the University of South Florida and says she thinks PCU shows a lot of promise given the last minute formation of the team.

"I think we have a pretty good team so far," Burt said. "I'm going to come back next summer because if we put it together these last couple games, we can make it to the playoffs and win this thing."

PCU is the competitive branch of play at the St. Pete based organization. Azalea Youth Soccer Club is the recreational portion of the league. 

Home games for the PCU women's semi-pro team will take place at 2800 75th St. N. in St. Petersburg.

Check out PCU's Facebook page for game times and information updates on WPSL play.