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2007
Pip's Loving Life In The USA
by Jeremy Ruane
Life in the USA is proving highly agreeable with New Zealand women's soccer's “Pocket Rocket”, Pip Meo.
The jet-heeled, pint-sized New Zealand international is about to commence her last semester at Kennesaw State University, and after completing both that and an internship, she'll be armed and dangerous, equipped with a degree in sports management and an unshakeable belief in herself and her footballing ability.
“While I do miss some aspects of home, I love it overseas”, declares the Masterton native of her experiences to date. “I've enjoyed some amazing opportunities, such as a trip to Barbados just before I came home.
“My sister was there on business, and as I hadn't seen her for some time, nor had holidayed for a while, we agreed to meet up. The flight cost me the princely sum of $US 21, and what a nice country - the best I've visited!
“Then there was the time (NZ team-mate) Rachel Doody and I went to New York. We met the Black-Eyed Peas - we had backstage passes and everything. And as we were in New York, we decided to go to a New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium. We bought the tickets off a guy in an alley - we only paid $10 for them!! - and we were up in the bleachers. Baseball's boring, but the stadium experience was awesome!!”
And certainly a world away from playing for the likes of Douglas Villa, Wairarapa United, Capital Soccer, Ellerslie and Auckland, the teams whom Pip graced on the domestic scene before taking up a scholarship at Missouri's Southwest Baptist University.
“That was a very good experience. SBU was a Second Division team, which was a good division for improving individually, both skill-wise and technically. Pete McGovern was a very good coach for us. From a personal perspective, he focused on improving me as an athlete, and pushed me really hard.
“When he left SBU at the end of 2004, a number of us followed suit. I transferred to Kennesaw State University, who were in just their second season in Division One. It was a big jump, and everyone in the squad was really good - you had to compete for your place, whereas at SBU there was a big gap between the top eleven and the reserves.
“As well, every game was a lot harder, and your direct opponent a lot better too - the competition in general was a lot tougher, Division One being far more tactics- and team-oriented”.
At Kennesaw, the 2004 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association MVP took the place of a fellow New Zealand international, Sara Clapham, who, much to Pip's delight, returned in 2006 after recovering from a severe knee injury.
“It was so good having another Kiwi there, especially Sara, who was number one in the entire country for assists - she did really well. She and I were a good combination - it was good fun!!
“As well as setting them up, she also scored a few too, while I eventually rattled home three goals in our last four games as we clinched the Atlantic Sun Conference championship with a fourteen-match
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 Pip Meo's Favourites
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unbeaten run”.
KSU's coach, Rob King, has also aided Pip's progress. “I've had good fortune with all my coaches. Rob was completely different to Pete in that he helped me improve the mental side of my game, and my composure on the ball.
“The English girls I've played with at SBU and Kennesaw have also been a good influence on me. They have such a passion for soccer, and know so much about the game and every player. Just through watching league games with them, you get to know a lot more than you would otherwise”.
And let's not overlook the influence of the Atlanta Silverbacks, one of the leading teams in the W-League, on our intrepid goalscoring midfielder. “I was training with them last year. They had four Canadian internationals and a host of former North Carolina and Florida players as well.
“They were amazing - a number of them played in the currently defunct WUSA competition. I was so scared when I first went there with my friend from Scotland, Siobhan Rooney. As a result, every touch was away, and they would just yell and scream at everything you did.
“But as time went on, I gained in confidence through being able to relax and play properly. At the same time, their confidence in me was improving, to the point that the club wanted to sign me by the time I had to return to Kennesaw”.
Graduation presents Pip with the opportunity to play for the Silverbacks, or perhaps conduct her sports marketing internship there. At present, she's undecided on her future career path, although she's keen to stay involved in sport in some capacity, even if it's in a coaching role somewhere in the USA.
“Training with Atlanta was an awesome opportunity, one of the highlights of my career. My last appearances for New Zealand, against the USA in October 2004, were another highlight. I loved the atmosphere - it was crazy, `cause we played in front of over 16,000 fans in Portland, and nearly 19,000 in Cincinnati”.
The chance to wear the silver fern with pride once more is one this ever-effervescent twenty-three-year-old is very keen to realise. “The influence of the U-20 players in this environment is good”, she says of the NZ women's training camp which took place in January.
“They're quick and so fit, and it's crazy that they're so good at that level now, whereas when I was that age, I was never nowhere near as good as they are. It's good that they're getting better quicker.
“As well, there used to be a big division between the top players and the average players, but I think that's evened out a lot. And it's hugely beneficial that we're being coached by someone in Allan Jones who wants to win.
“I've always been around coaches who are so competitive and focused on winning”, beams five-times-capped Pip, “and it's good to have that environment in place at last for the national team, in what is a tremendous time for New Zealand women's soccer”.
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