Just For Kicks

By Al Chase

Alfiler goes to camp
as a professional

Andrea Alfiler was not expecting to be drafted by the Women's United Soccer Association when she participated in the Umbro Select All-Star Classic in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., in early February.

The Umbro Select Classic is an All-Star extravaganza that highlights the nation's top collegiate players, and is climaxed with both the MLS SuperDraft and WUSA Draft.

As the Classic progressed, Alfiler picked up on hints dropped by the coaches that there were people watching. After the second of her three matches that week, her coach complimented her play.

"After the last match, my coach asked me what I would do if I got drafted," Alfiler said. "At first, I told him that I wanted to finish school. Then I went back on the field and said to myself, 'Oh man!! Why did I say that?' So, I went back to him and said if I have the opportunity to play professional, I'm going to play."

Alfiler was talking to Mark Krikorian, head coach of the Philadelphia Charge. The Charge ended up making Alfiler their third pick in the 2002 WUSA draft, the 16th selection overall, the last in round two.

It made her the first athlete from Hawaii taken in the WUSA draft.

"I was surprised and happy. I was excited," said Alfiler, a senior at Azusa Pacific and the 2001 NAIA Player of the Year.

She was also an NAIA All-American, earning her way onto the first team three times.

She made arrangements with her professors to "hopefully get incompletes that I can finish this summer" and from Valentines Day to March 28, the day she was released, Alfiler trained with the Charge.

She returned to California and school the next day.

"It was kind of a bummer. I feel a little unsatisfied about the whole thing. Coach came and told me he could only carry 18 players, that if he could carry 20 I would be on the team, etc.," said Alfiler. "It was a matter of numbers and the position.

"I trained with them every day. We had a preseason tournament the week before in Virginia and played Washington twice. I played the full 90 minutes in both games. That as good for me. It gave me a chance to see what real competition was like."

A midfielder in college who played more defense than offense, Alfiler was a marking back with the Charge. She admits she has never been a real technical player, more of an athletic player.

"I felt I held my own and gained the respect of my teammates. I felt I did well, went out every day and played hard," the Kapaa High School graduate said.

ALFILER HASN'T given up on a pro career although she will concentrate on finishing her degree requirements first. She also believes it's possible to overcome any shortcomings in her game.

"I came so close and really felt I belonged there, belonged at that level. I was sad and upset, but I wasn't devastated," Alfiler said. "I know I've got to go out and work hard, work on my weaknesses.

"That door may be closed, but something always works out. I've never put all my eggs in one basket.

"Overall, it was a great experience, a total growing experience. I learned a lot about myself and a lot about other people. I was fortunate to play at the pro level. I wouldn't change that for anything."