BOSTON - The Boston University women's soccer team hosted 45 local soccer players at Nickerson Field on Monday afternoon as a part of the CityKicks program that provides opportunities for Boston-area middle school students to play soccer in the spring and fall.

Senior Paula Moniz, sophomores Elizabeth Speck and Mara Osher, along with freshmen Farrell McClernon, Emily Pallotta, Janie Reilly and Casey Brown ran drills with the girls teaching them dribbling moves, techniques of passing and receiving, shooting and goalkeeping. Following the clinic the players answered questions from the participants on what it takes to become a collegiate student-athlete.

CityKicks is a non-profit organization that provides school-based soccer playing opportunities for urban middle school girls in Boston after school in both the spring and the fall. Head coach Nancy Feldman has been a member of the CityKicks board for the last four years.