When the World Cup or the Summer Olympics come around, it’s always a time that journalists and broadcasters like to publicize and give some extra attention to sports that may not get much, if any, because of their popularity. This is becoming less and less the case for soccer here in the United States. In fact, according to a recent ESPN poll, pro soccer was second to only the NFL in the 12 – 24 age group when respondents were asked what their favorite sport was. Mike Kobylinski, head women’s soccer coach at Central, says he’s noticing that at the local level and adds things are heading in the right direction for the sport here in the states. Popularity is starting to rise for the women’s program at Central, especially after a season where they finished a program-high second in the Iowa Conference and participated in an epic shootout in the league tournament finals. Their season will get going on September 1.