Co-op Brownsville soccer team is also co-ed

In a recent Brownsville Area High School boys soccer game at Steel Valley, California Area High School senior midfielder Natalie Granato was "leveled by a player at least 6-4, 205 pounds," Brownsville coach Bill Rouse recalled. Rouse started running toward his fallen player and was at least 10 yards onto the field when the referee warned him to return to the sidelines.

"It shocked me that she got back up so quickly," Rouse said. "She was OK, but I made her come out of the game."

Strange but true. This may never make it to Ripley's Believe It or Not, but Brownsville's boys soccer program is one of the few co-op programs in the WPIAL. To make it more interesting, the team is also co-ed.

"This has to be the most diverse soccer team in the WPIAL," laughed Brownsville athletic director Scooter Roebuck, in his seventh year in the position. "It is different, but it is working, and the length of time, six years, the co-op program has existed is proof that it is working. In high school, they play as the Brownsville boys team, but for the younger players the program is the California Youth League and includes players from both communities."

Actually, Roebuck may not realize how unique the program actually is. According to the WPIAL, two other high school boys teams and one girls team are co-op, but neither is co-ed at the same time.

Prior to the adoption of the co-op program, Brownsville had a boys soccer team, but the Falcons were shy on numbers and forfeited several games a season earlier.

"We had a program, but California had none," Roebuck added, "and both schools expressed interest in a co-op program literally at the same time. Brownsville's coach suggested I contact California and we went to the WPIAL. Then both school boards met and voted to adopt the co-op program."

WPIAL regulations stipulate that if a school does not offer a program, it can send players to a neighboring school, Roebuck further explained.

"Everything appears to be working, and there have been no complaints," California athletic director Phil Pergola said. "It's one team, and our kids accept it. It's not an issue."

Home games are played at Brownsville's Redstone Field, some 15 minutes from California, noted Rouse.

In the California Youth Soccer League, players are from both communities. At the California Middle School, the team is also co-op.

"Our numbers have been growing," Pergola added. "There are 16 players from California, two from Brownsville, with Dave Kurilko the middle school coach."

Of Brownsville's 13 players, eight are boys and five girls. Ten players from California are boys, with Granato California's lone female on the team.

"When we're on the field, no one notices or cares where another player is from," said Rouse, in his first year as coach.

Rouse, a 1998 Brownsville grad, played soccer and baseball for the Falcons.

"There is a sincere togetherness among the players," Rouse said. "Everyone gets along well. There are no complaints. Our players trust in each other, and the girls do not back down."

Granato is one of Brownsville's captains and is a veteran of the area's youth league co-ed teams.

"I like the co-ed concept better because there is more action," she said. "Playing with and against boys makes it a more physical game. Soccer isn't supposed to be dull and boring, so this is good for soccer."

A four-year member of Brownsville's team, the well-spoken Granato has been California's only female representative on the team since she first donned a Falcons' uniform.

"I'm used to it by now," she chuckled. "I wish there were more girls from California moving up from the youth leagues to play in high school, but other girls who played in the youth leagues have developed other interests, like volleyball. This program is good for both schools. We play as a team, considering we go to different schools. I wouldn't be playing high school soccer if it were not for Brownsville, and playing on the boys team is not an issue."

Senior stopper and captain Amber DiDominic is one of five Brownsville females on the boys team.

"Amber is a solid player and does everything I ask," Rouse said. "She does the little things on the field necessary to be a solid player. She is always positive."

"I've always played co-op co-ed soccer," said DiDominic, who also plays softball for Brownsville all-female girls team. "This is the type of soccer I'm used to playing, and co-op soccer in high school is no different. I really don't know what it's like to play on an all-girls soccer team, and I've played with these same players in the California Youth Soccer League, so this is nothing new to me.

"With girls being physically smaller, it's a challenge," DiDominic continued. "It's a challenge to work toward being as good as the boys. They can be more physical than me, but it's not really a problem."

Nor is playing on a co-ed team an issue for goalie Josh Roberts, a senior from California, who also plays striker and midfielder.

"There is no problem having girls on the team. They are as much a part of the team as anyone else, and they are not treated any differently," Roberts said.

At least by Brownsville's and California's boys.

For some opposing teams, however, it's a different story.

"We have two girls who start, and some teams are surprised to even see girls on our team," Roberts said. "Some teams really don't know how to react when they see girls on our team and aren't sure how to play against them, but some teams try to harass the girls when the officials aren't watching. We just make sure the referees are aware of what's happening."

Playing co-op is the same, Roberts added.

"If we want to play high school soccer, it's with Brownsville," said Roberts. "But I've been playing soccer with these same players all my life, and we've developed some good friendships through soccer."

Roberts is another of the team's captains and is "everything you want in a captain," Rouse said. "He's an athlete and can play anywhere. That's why we use him in different positions. He has good field awareness and does things you can't teach."

Rouse paused and added: "Josh will also call off work just to come to practice. You don't see many athletes doing that today."

Brownsville junior forward Christian Sally is "another athlete who is all business when it comes to the game," Rouse noted. "He hustles and helps to recover on defense, and incorporates other players into the game."

And "playing co-op is not an issue," Sally said. "We all know each other from youth leagues, and all the players from California are good players, and that helps us at Brownsville. Playing co-ed is the same. All the girls are good soccer players and play a big role on our team."