Philadelphia, here she comes...
US-born Sheva proud of her Irish roots and keen to make World Cup dash
MARISSA Sheva’s sporting background may come in handy as she attempts to make a good impression in her first Ireland camp this week.
The Washington Spirit attacker used to be a decent steeplechaser, and juggled athletics with soccer while at Penn State.
Sheva mostly ran the 1,500m and 3,000m steeplechase as she says ‘it required a little more athleticism than just linear running’. Given that Vera Pauw likes her forwards to run and the system Ireland play demands a tireless work-rate from the front players, Sheva’s endurance levels may stand to her over the coming week in Spain, especially if she gets an opportunity against China next week.
‘I grew up running competitively and did that just as much as soccer,’ she explains.
‘When I got to collegiate level, I didn’t really want to make a decision. Luckily, I had coaches that supported me doing both, which I think ended up benefitting me on the pitch. I don’t do much competitive running any more, but I definitely still have my endurance base which I think helps.’
The 25-year-old Philadelphia native has had an interesting journey to this point. Her grandmother Kathleen Cassidy came from Donegal while her grandad, John McCaul, is a Tyrone man.
It was her grandfather who urged her to apply for an Irish passport, a process that has taken a couple of years.
‘He was really insistent on making sure that I had my citizenship. We started the process back at the beginning of 2021, so it has definitely tested my patience!’ she smiled from the Ireland camp yesterday.
‘We have been working on it for a quite a while. I reached out to Vera last summer, just to see how the squad was looking and if there would be any opportunities to come into camp. That definitely came from me.’ And Sheva reckons her grandfather has been the proudest Irish man in Philadelphia since she was called into the squad last week.
‘Oh my goodness, he is really delighted. I waited a while to tell my family and extended family that the opportunity was coming because I knew how excited they would be. And my grandfather has been burning up the phone line since, I’ve been told. They are all very, very excited.’
Her grandfather took her on a tour of Ireland some years back and the memory of that trip still burns brightly for the Washington Spirit star.
‘I didn’t get to visit Ireland much as a kid, but my grandfather took me over for my high school graduation and I think we touched every corner of the country. He took me on a massive tour and I just fell in love with it. I am eager to get back. Soccer made that tough growing up, but my grandparents did an incredible job making me really proud of my Irish roots and keeping us all involved in the Irish American community.
‘There is a massive Irish community in the Philadelphia area, where I grew up. It felt like a second home when we go to events at the Irish Society of Greater Philadelphia or the Donegal society.’
At club level, Sheva is coached by Mark Krikorian, who has worked with the likes of Megan Connolly and Heather Payne at Florida State. ‘He was very excited for me. I told him about
“My grandad insisted I got an Irish passport”
“I reached out to Vera Pauw last summer”
the official call-up when we were in camp in Florida and he was running down the list of incredible Irish players he has recruited in the past, including Megan. He is eager to hear how it goes.’
Just as they will in an Irish corner of Pennsylvania.
From urging her to start the process to get her Irish passport, Sheva’s grandfather might have yet set her on the road to the World Cup.