By ALISA CAMACHO
Herald News

You’ve seen soccer moms a million times, those juice-box toting women cheering on the sidelines. Angela Bolivar, however, gives the phrase a whole new, more literal, meaning.
 

During the past few weeks, the 35-year-old mother of two has crossed the line onto the playing field, along with 27 others whose children play on the Police Athletic League team. They formed the Silk City Ladies, the city's first all-women soccer team — without being yellow-carded. The PAL funded them also, though at times it's difficult for them to find a place to practice. Sometime in October, their season will kick off against a women's team from Wayne.

In the meantime, these Latinas, who have little to no playing experience, practice twice a week in gruelling three-hour sessions. Most have previously done nothing more than kick the ball around on the streets of their homelands: Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Honduras.

But their husbands and children play. Televised matches prompt these families to set the alarm clock for 3 a.m. and invite over friends and generations of relatives for the festivities. For them, the World Cup is what the Super Bowl and World Series are to Americans.

It's a sport with deep roots in the Latin American culture, reason enough for these moms to toss aside high heels in favor of cleats. Exercise and getting a few minutes of reprieve from the rigors of motherhood are an added perk.
 

"You're always running with the kids, so it's my time or for enjoyment. And it's a good way to meet all the mothers," said Monica Atkins, 29, who emigrated from Medillin, Colombia. "It seemed very easy being on the sidelines, but when you're out there playing, it's pressure. It gives me a better understanding of what they're going through."
 

Although it may be a mommy team, games become an event for everyone. Children cheer as sweaty women bounce balls off their heads. Grandparents setup lawn chairs to watch the Sunday afternoon practice at Buckley Park. Husbands cradling infants shout out strategies in Spanish during drills. And the ice cream truck sells out.
 

"My brother is on a soccer team, and he teaches her," 10-year-old Elizabeth Cruz said of her mother, Irma Sanchez. I'm lucky to have a mom like that. Everyday she learns something new, and everyone is impressed."
 

That may be so, though the shining star on the field is Ana Gomez, a 60-year-old with five grandchildren in the PAL youth league, for whom running wasn't enough.
 

"She's the grandma on the team, but she's the No. 1 player," Bolivar said. "She's got a lot of energy. Everyone loves her, but she's very tough."
 

The Silk City Ladies work up quite a thirst. The only catch — nobody brings them juice.

 

Reach Alisa Camacho at (973) 569-7165 or CamachoA@northjersey.com