Tracy's biggest fan
Sunday, April 22, 2001
By Tim Bresnahan
No offense to the Boston Breakers marketing staff, but Caitlin Pickul might be the best salesman the team could ever have.
Pickul, North Andover High School's junior goalkeeper, has been rounding up friends and classmates to buy Breakers tickets in anticipation of the club's May 5 home debut. She also hopes to go to all 11 home games.
Her enthusiasm shouldn't surprise anyone who knows Pickul, who has been one of Tracy Ducar's biggest fans for years.
"She's just been the person I've always looked up to since sixth grade," said Pickul, one of the area's top keepers. "That's every girl's soccer dream, to go to UNC (University of North Carolina). She did that and she's from North Andover. That was an awesome thing for me to look up to."
Pickul has corresponded with Ducar periodically for about five years, and the two met at a soccer camp a few years ago. That her role model has come home to play in the new WUSA pro league provides even greater inspiration.
"It gives so many girls an opportunity (to say) 'I can do that.' There's no limit to the opportunity," said Pickul, who has a shot at breaking Ducar's school record for career shutouts next season. "It just makes you want to work harder and harder."