Fairfax’ Claire Zimmeck is living the WPS dream

By Joe Dougherty

Claire Zimmeck stood at the midfield stripe, the fourth assistant referee ready to give her permission to step on the field. The game was in the 90th minute, and Zimmeck was about to make her season debut with her Boston Breakers team up 2-1 against the Washington Freedom Saturday at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

It wasn’t the first time Zimmeck, who played youth soccer in Fairfax and college ball at the College of William and Mary, stood on that very spot. A year earlier, she wore a Freedom kit, and played in four matches for Jim Gabarra’s squad before being waived early in the summer.

But on this night, Zimmeck donned a Breakers uniform. And though she played less than two minutes before the final whistle signaled her side’s 2-1 win, Zimmeck says she his happy to be playing soccer well north of the Mason-Dixon line.

“I love it!” said Zimmeck, who plays center forward or on the wing for the Breakers. “I love the staff, the players, the coaches. I feel at home with this team. And with the city.”

Boston is certainly new territory for Zimmeck, who cut her travel soccer teeth with Braddock Road Youth Club, where her coaches included long-time coaches Dan and Denny Daniel (Braddock Road Aurora).

Indeed, the youth and high school coaches who influenced Zimmeck’s career reads like a Who’s Who of the top Northern Virginia coaches: Reston Football Club’s Todd Hitt, Chantilly Soccer Club’s Greg Smerzinski, W.T. Woodson’s Ashu Saxena and Jim Abt, and Braddock Road’s Megan McCarthy, who also played her college soccer at William and Mary.

Zimmeck credits McCarthy, who helped coach Zimmeck with the Aurora, for much of her soccer success.

“I learned a lot from her,” she said. “I just developed as a player – how to position myself, how to make the right runs, just how to play the same. She was someone I really looked up to.

She paused. “But then, really, all of my coaches have been important to me.”

In addition to enjoying success with her club teams – including a national championships appearance with Chantilly Milan – Zimmeck was a standout at Woodson, where she played varsity soccer with the traditional high school powerhouse all four years. She netted 57 career goals and earned 37 assists, including 30 goals her senior year, when she led the Cavaliers to the Virginia state title. Along the way she was selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) all-region team as a junior, and to the All-American team as a senior.

In the offseason, Zimmeck set the school record in indoor track in the 500 meter race and the 4x800 relay, earning all-state distinction.

Zimmeck’s college career is equally impressive, placing in the top 10 in several Tribe rankings, including:

•    Seventh all-time points leader with 90 (42 goals, six assists)
•    Fifth all-time points-per-game (1.5 points over 60 games)
•    Fourth all-time goals (42), including 17 of her team’s 36 goals in 2007
•    Fourth all-time goals per game (.70)
•    Twice was named conference player of the year

The Hermann Trophy semifinalist was named the top women’s college player in Virginia in 2006, and was first-team all state in 2006 and 2007. She was named by the Colonial Athletic Association as one of the top conference players over the league’s 25 years.

The Freedom drafted Zimmeck in the ninth round of the 2009 WPS draft, but was released that June. She was out of the league for the remainder of the season, but was picked up in the offseason by Boston coach Tony DiCicco.

The former national team coach said her mission is clear: “Score goals.”

Zimmeck said being away from family has been challenging, though Skype and a computer has helped. Like many WPS players she lives with a host family.

“I really am very happy,” she said. “It’s a little tough, but it’s worth it. It’s a dream to be playing here.”

The former Fairfax soccer star said the league offers opportunities for younger players to turn their love into a possible career. Her advice for youngsters? “Just keep working hard, work as hard as you can. And always work on something new.” She particularly recommended a lot of juggling, and staying fit.

“Hang out with a friend to help push yourself and to teach you some new things. And have fun!”