Santina Croniser vowed in 2000 that her soccer career was over after tearing her left anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) .
But then the 2006 Gay Games came to Chicago, and the Chicagoan had the urge to kick again.
And she did. Croniser, 30, played on a team that finished in fourth place.
That was just the start of her return to the sport. Among other things:
—She formed the Chicago Gold Stars with her ex-girlfriend and her current girlfriend, Nicole Bashor. "We are the only female GLBTQ team that I know of in the Chicago area prior to the [ new ] Women's Soccer League from the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association," Croniser said.
—She is the co-commissioner of the CMSA women's soccer league.
—At the World Outgames in 2009 in Copenhagen, she competed for Discover Futbol from Berlin, though the team did not win a medal. "We won one or two, but, ugh, lost every other game," she said. "Still, it was a lot of fun."
This summer, Croniser heads across the Atlantic Ocean to compete in Gay Games VIII, held in Cologne, Germany. She will play soccer and hockey.
Croniser played for Team USA and won a bronze medal in hockey at the World Outgames in Copenhagen. Her hockey team at the '06 Gay Games, the Wisconsin Wonder Women, did not place.
"I decided to come back to the game because I wanted to play in the 2006 Gay Games. I haven't stopped playing since, even though I tore my right ACL in 2007," she said, laughing.
"The Gay Games in Chicago was amazing. I was surprised at how taken aback I was at the Opening Ceremony, how many people were there. Chicago was such an amazing experience that I had to go back.
"But this time I want to get that gold. Coming up short in Chicago was tough. It'd be nice to win this time."
More about Santina Croniser:
—Nickname: Tina
—Background: Predominantly Filipino
—College: Nazareth College of Rochester, Class of 2002
—Favorite pro sport: Hockey ( men ) , soccer ( women )
—Favorite pro athlete: Abby Wambach
—Favorite pro team: Chicago Red Stars
—Favorite movie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
—Favorite TV show: The L Word
—Hobbies: Sports, Wood-working, hiking, camping, traveling.
—Little-known fact: "I was originally planning to be a music major in college."
—Favorite local bar: Bad Apple
—Superstition: "I don't wear even numbers on uniforms."
—Fun fact: Was one of the tallest players on her Outgames hockey team, yet is barely 5'7"
