Women's soccer as we know it today is the product of evolution. In preparation for today's U.S. Women's National Team's exhibition game against New Zealand at Paul Brown Stadium, soccer players from five decades talked to Enquirer reporter Shannon Russell about how perceptions, and opportunities, have changed.

Shirley Rolfes

Age: 58

Hometown: Harrison

The scoop: Rolfes can't fathom what soccer will be like when her newest grandchild, 2-month-old Kristen, starts playing. Rolfes' chances to participate in youth soccer were nil, and that's something she regrets. She was initiated into the sport first as a coach, then as a player, when she was in her late 30s. Rolfes still plays year-round except summers and is a member of an indoor team. Though she came to the sport late, the school bus driver said she has "vowed to quit" only when she could no longer score.

In her words: When I was little, I was a good runner. I used to run all the time. But the only things we had at school were intramurals, where we played each other - except in basketball and archery, where we played other schools. I would have loved to run track or play soccer. It would have been great.

This is how I learned about soccer, when I was a parent: Someone handed me a rulebook and said, "We need a coach."

Later on, a women's league started in Harrison - but it was very, very slow. A group of women, mostly mothers of kids who play soccer, thought it would be a good idea to play. It grew by word of mouth. It actually has taken a long time to develop in the sport when you're older. It's not as easy to multi-task, so we work on one thing till we get it down pat and go on to the next.

Mary Iott

Age: 48

Hometown: Florence

The scoop: This wife and mother of three didn't start playing soccer until she was 40. A teacher at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Burlington, she doesn't remember learning soccer in grade school or beyond, "even in gym class." She filled in one night in an adult recreation league and was hooked. She still plays in a mixed-couples league Friday nights in Florence.

In her words: When I was growing up, sports - from my family's point of view - were for the boys. My brothers played football and baseball. And, from my mom's standpoint, it was like: "Get in 4-H and learn to sew." And that wasn't me.

When I was in school, some girls tried out for cheerleading - and that was about it. Girls have such great opportunities to play when they're young now, I guess for a couple of reasons. They're bombarded with sports on TV - and it's in the paper more often - and there's Title IX (1972 education legislation denying sex discrimination in public schools).

I started playing soccer for the exercise, really. But I love it, I really do. It's a lot of fun. I didn't realize I was competitive until I started playing.

Theresa Hirschauer

Age: 37

Hometown: Anderson

The scoop: She helped Turpin High School to three state titles. She's the all-time leading scorer at Brown University, where she was an All-American at center striker. She's the Cincinnati Country Day athletic director and a 15th-year varsity soccer coach, and she said the sport's perceptions are completely different for her players than they were for her.

In her words: The Newtown Athletic Boosters started a girls team when I was 11. Before that, I don't think I ever knew what soccer was, honestly. I played basketball and baseball with my brothers. We (girls) did swimming. ...

We didn't get into club soccer till we were 13 and 14, and it's interesting to look at where girls have come since then. There are so many better things out there to train them. For one thing, we used to play on farm fields, and today there are schools that actually have turf fields.

I've been blessed. I was so lucky as far as what I was able to do in soccer. But the problem I see now is that kids get burned out by the time they get to their college career, and that should be the best time of their lives. That's why I preach balance. That's the way I was raised, to play three sports. ... That's why I've never lost my passion for soccer.

Katrina Rice

Age: 32

Hometown: Fort Mitchell

The scoop: As a freshman, Rice played on the inaugural Campbell County High School girls' soccer team. She also played for Thomas More College in 1990. The mother of four has coached soccer and still plays, though she recently tore ligaments and tendons in her right ankle and chipped the ankle bone during a match.

In her words: Soccer never was huge in Campbell County when I was growing up, and I'd never heard of it before my father coached us. He got books to teach himself how to play, and then he taught me. For two years before that, I'd played boys' Knothole baseball. I really didn't know there was much more to play beyond that.

I don't know if there were many role models for us when it came to women's soccer. We certainly had heard of Pele and watched some of his stunts, and we watched Mia Hamm grow up.

Kids today can play soccer year-round, which I think is awesome because they have so many opportunities. For me, it was only fall soccer. But it's also difficult for us to put kids on select teams, money-wise and time-wise and still hold on to family time.

Jenny Goodwin

Age: 30

Hometown: Fairfield

The scoop: After graduating from Roger Bacon High School, where she was a forward on the varsity team, Goodwin played soccer at Thomas More College for two seasons and at the University of Cincinnati for one. She has played with the Cincinnati Amateur Soccer League for the last two years and, though she's a mother of soccer-playing children, said she "can't give up" the sport she became enamored of at age 7.

In her words: I loved having the ball at my feet. I'd play it in our neighborhood all the time. When my mom signed me up to play, I think it was at the league closest to our house. I didn't know what the options were back then. I see all the clubs now and think I would have had better opportunities and been a better player if I'd been in them.

Nowadays, when you get into high school, they look at what kind of soccer you played growing up. If it was a SAY program (Soccer Association for Youth), which is more recreational, you might be less likely to play for a varsity team than if you played club.

I also think the expectations for soccer coaches are much higher than they used to be. When I was young, it was just parents coaching - and now you've got former college players coaching kids. I think the kids are benefiting big time.

Katie Petry

Age: 27

Hometown: Mount Lookout

The scoop: This Turpin High School and Southern Methodist University alumna comes from a big soccer family. A grandfather was a 1928 Olympian, and her brother, Mike, was a high school All-American. Petry still plays several times weekly and coaches 12- and 13-year-olds in Batesville, Ind., where she works as an engineer. She started playing soccer when she was 3.

In her words: When I think of soccer growing up, I think about it being fun. But the expectation was that you work very hard - it was a way of life - and you practiced every day of the week in the summer. You wanted to be king of the hill, and a lot of who you were stemmed from what club team you played for.

In Cincinnati, I think soccer got huge in the late 1980s and early '90s. Suddenly, we could get scholarships to play.

But to be honest, I didn't enjoy playing that much in college. It felt like it was a job. On the flip side, I didn't ever anticipate I'd ever be making a living out of something that was my first love. I still think there'd have to be a complete revolution for America to support WUSA (the Women's United Soccer Association), but I don't think not having a pro league will stop the growth beneath it.

Andrea Cunningham

Age: 23

Hometown: Mount Healthy

The scoop: Cunningham's mother enrolled her in soccer at age 6 "to make some friends" - and the rest is history. The McAuley grad played prep soccer and select soccer before suiting up for Miami University. The forward - and registered nurse - has spent the last 4 years with the Cincinnati Ladyhawks, an amateur women's team in the W-League (the highest level of women's soccer in America). She has been a Cincinnati State assistant soccer coach for two years.

In her words: With soccer, you can go out there at any age and learn the game. It's not like other sports - like softball - where you start out at T-ball. I've always loved the game because of how competitive it is and how many friends I've made. No one really influenced me to play, although everyone knew who Mia Hamm was.

Of my graduating high school class, I think only three of us went on to play college soccer. If Miami hadn't had a women's soccer program, I probably would have gone to another school. I think the program was created because of Title IX, so I think they dropped men's soccer for women's. But there was club soccer for both. I think Title IX created a lot of opportunities for women's soccer.

Brianne Eisenhard

Age: 17

Hometown: West Chester

The scoop: This Lakota West defender has signed to play next year at Bowling Green State University. She started playing at age 4 because a lot of her friends had signed up, and, she confessed, "for the halftime snacks." Eisenhard joined a select team when she was 8 and has traveled to out of state for tournaments.

In her words: Sometimes I've gone through periods where I've hated soccer, I'm so tired of it. Then I realize I've been playing for 13 years and I love it - and I can't live without it.

For all the things I've sacrificed for soccer ... it's worth it to get a scholarship to Bowling Green. (Because of club) I missed my junior prom, parties, being with senior friends last year. I almost missed my cousin's wedding because of soccer, too. With club, there are so many girls from different high schools that a lot of people had to miss their proms. Do I regret it? Kind of - but there's always this year, I guess.

I wasn't able to play other sports because I've played soccer year-round. By the age of 22, I may be completely burned out from soccer.

Alexis Dickison

Age: 14

Hometown: West Chester

The scoop: As a 5-year-old, Dickison noticed people playing soccer and begged her mother to sign her up. She was a dancer, a basketball player and a soccer player in her youth - but she dropped dancing to pursue school sports. Dickison entered select soccer at age 8 and plays year-round. Only two weeks ago, the freshman goalkeeper learned she'd earned a permanent position on Lakota West's varsity program.

In her words: As you get older, you have such a different perspective on the game. You learn so much about the game when you're younger, and I think that has helped me now.

Could I have made varsity without playing club? I think if I would have worked extra, extra hard, I could have come this far in soccer without playing so young, and without playing club. ...

Soccer is great because I've made so many friends through playing it. In the future, I'll probably focus on just playing soccer because I like it more (than basketball).

Someday, I'd like to play college soccer.

Whitney Scott

Age: 11

Hometown: Independence

The scoop: Scott attends St. Cecelia Elementary School in Independence and plays for the Under-12 St. Cecilia Crusaders, a select soccer team. She's also a soccer referee. Scott began playing recreational soccer at age 4.

In her words: Soccer is so fun because you move a lot more than other sports. ... It's so fun going to different places and having tournaments; we usually go to three every season.

I think I'll always play, no matter what, because it's just one of my favorite sports. Scoring goals, that's the best part - and winning.

I want to play high school soccer for Holy Cross, and probably even get a college scholarship. Maybe even get on the national team or go pro.