February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Jay Mwamba
In between some sight seeing and large doses of Irish hospitality, the Parlour Moms from the Bronx Irish Women’s Soccer League were able to chalk up two victories during their four-match tour of the Emerald Isle which ended last week.
Guest player Hilary Potkewitz, from Harps, and player-manager Wendy Hollender stood out in the Parlour Moms’ victories, over Allied Irish Bank (2-0) in Dublin and Galway’s Castle Celtic (3-2), respectively, but a good time was had by all in the touring side.
"We had a wonderful time. It was a great trip for all of us," said
defender Maggie Bradley, whose side dropped a 1-0 decision to Dublin side Portobello before being thrashed 5-1 in their penultimate game in Galway.
Potkewitz connected both goals against the women from AIB, while Hollender had a hat trick in the Parlour Moms’ romp over Castle Celtic.
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From a soccer standpoint, the New Yorkers were impressed by the smooth and verdant pitches in both Dublin and Galway, a far departure from the rough surface at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx where they play.
"The pitches were beautiful. The grass was like a putting green," said Bradley. "The pitches were also bigger than what we play on here," she added.
The Parlour Moms caught some of the sights on their nine-day jaunt, visiting the Aran Islands off Galway and doing some hiking in Connenara National Park, among other activities.
Bradley, a physical therapist who doubles as the team’s physio, also noted the hospitality of their hosts. "Everyone was so friendly," she gushed.
Bronx Irish League summer champions last year, and fourth in this year’s competition, the Parlour Moms were formed three years ago by a group of soccer moms who developed an interest in the game while watching their kids play.
The Bronx Irish League resumes in early September.