When I took a closer look, I realized the yellow outfits were matching uniforms, and interspersed among the girls wearing them were the upstanding members of our Pomona-Pitzer Women’s Soccer team, talking jovially with the girls.

For the last several years, P-P women’s soccer has hosted clinics for local girls’ soccer teams. The Sagehens plan the activities, coach the sessions, and talk to the girls about soccer, school, and what it takes to play soccer in college (hint: school matters). The players serve as role models and connect with the surrounding community.

P-P has worked with the same team, the G97 Celtic Harps, the last two years.

“My girls get a chance to have some fun away from their normal workout routine,” said Stacey O’Connor, Team Administrator for the 13-year-old Celtic girls. “They also get to experience first-hand what a college soccer future could be like. It’s a chance for both teams to build new relationships with similar people in the community.”

They “already have visions of college life floating about in their heads,” said Stephanie Navarro, a mother of one of the Celtic players. She felt the Sagehens have had a very positive influence on the girls.

The Sagehens get a lot out of it, too. After weeks practicing day in and day out, it’s nice to be able to break up the routine once in a while.

“Our players have all grown up playing this sport, and it’s important for us to give back to the game that has given so much to us,” said P-P Head Coach Jennifer Scanlon.

The team members also realize the value in helping their fellow community members.

“I know when I was younger I loved older kids playing with me and giving me tips. It is like having a big soccer-playing sister,” Emma Wolfarth PO ’14 said.

“I think it’s wonderful that we were able to spend time with the little girls team,” Arianna Sanchez PO ’14 said. “We were able to show them that working hard both on and off the field really does pay off and that it is possible to do well in school and be a good soccer player.”