Since moving to Port Colborne from Dunnville three years ago, Lepre has played house league in the city's Sir John Colborne Youth Soccer Association, but is yearning for something more competitive.

"If you came to one of our games right now, it's not a real soccer game. We play on fields that little kids would play on and we have fewer players on the field than there would be for an actual game. For people who love soccer, to see how we have to play it gets us down," said Lepre, who plays in the 15-17 co-ed division.

She has the support of her father who is willing to take the coaching certification course this fall and run the team next year. They would play in either the under-17 or under-18 division of the Niagara Regional Girls Soccer League.

The Sir John Colborne league has 44 house league teams and three travel teams with the oldest being the under-13 girls squad this year.

Lepre also has created a Facebook site and has several girls who have expressed an interest in playing for the team.

"One day after starting the Facebook group, I already had 15 girls so I thought that was great," said Lepre.

If Samara is successful in getting a team on the pitch for next season, she won't be the first in her family to start their own team from scratch.

A few years ago, her sister, Sarah, did something similar in Dunnville.

"She started an under-16 team and it's still going," said Samara. "She's my inspiration for doing this."Samara believes she is going to be able to accomplish her goal and have Port Colborne field a team in the NRGSL next season.

"I have a lot of confidence in this," she says. "I see how many girls have joined the Facebook group and how they talk about how much they want to play soccer. We are all behind each other and I'll do anything to make it happen because it means a lot to me."For more information, contact Samara Lepre at sammm-oxox@hotmail.com.