Board of Directors
Lula Bauer, Chairwoman
Growing up at a time when girls’ sports opportunities were scarce, Lula Bauer often had to play with the boys just to stay on the field. Later, in coaching classes and on the sidelines, she was frequently the only woman, or one of just a few. Those experiences shaped a lifelong commitment to changing the game so that women and girls would not be the exception, but have real, visible, and lasting opportunities to play, coach, and lead. Over more than three decades as a coach, club executive, and WAGS Board Chair, she has been a pioneer in creating those opportunities, helping introduce small-sided play to league competition and mentoring countless players into college soccer.
When Lula realized that many women who grew up playing in the WAGS Tournament had aged out of youth soccer but still wanted to compete, she created the WAGS Legacy Division, inviting those former players back, this time as adults, to continue their journey where it began. The Legacy Division gives women a place to stay in the game, reconnect with old teammates, and model what lifelong participation can look like for the next generation.
Remembering how isolating it felt to be one of the only females in her own courses, Lula led WAGS to invest in all female coaching and referee education. Through all female license courses and training environments, WAGS creates spaces where women are not outnumbered, but fully supported, so more women can earn credentials, stay in the profession, and move into leadership roles.
In listening to the rapid rise, and quiet disappearance, of many female coaches, Lula uncovered a common barrier: child care. Rather than accept that loss, she led the creation of the WAGS Child Care Grant, removing a major obstacle for moms who coach. By helping cover child care costs, WAGS keeps women on the touchline, protects their ability to say yes to opportunities, and, for many families, changes what is possible.
Through visionary initiatives like these, Lula has helped transform WAGS from a league into Women and Girls in Soccer, a nonprofit that does more than honor its history. It actively builds a future where women and girls are given real opportunities to lead, coach, play, and stay in the game.
Deborah Honaker, Vice Chairwoman
Debi Honaker has been a steady force in Virginia youth soccer for decades, dedicating her time and talent to making the game organized, fair, and accessible across the region. What began as a way to support local soccer soon grew into a lifelong commitment to strengthening the structures and systems that keep the game running.
Her leadership has reached every layer of the sport. Debi has served on the Virginia Youth Soccer Association Board of Directors as Secretary, bringing her attention to detail and player-first mindset to decisions that impact thousands of participants statewide. Her long-standing service was recognized with the Adele Dolansky Award, VYSA’s highest honor for exemplary service to youth soccer in Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Known for her fairness and calm under pressure, Debi has been deeply involved in the discipline and governance side of the game. She has served on National Capital Soccer League (NCSL) and WAGS adjudication panels and as a member of state adjudication committees, helping to resolve protests and disciplinary matters with consistency and integrity. She also spent many years as a state registrar, ensuring that players, teams, and clubs were properly registered and eligible for competition.
Debi’s experience also extends to tournament administration, including service as a National Capital Tournament Director, where she coordinated teams, schedules, and logistics for large-scale events. Across all of these roles, she has built a reputation as a meticulous, reliable, and highly respected leader in the Virginia soccer community.
Pat Lusk, Treasurer
Pat Lusk is most proud of his four daughters and his patient wife of 41 years for allowing him to dedicate time to our organization, WAGS. Pat has a Master’s Degree in business administration and in personnel management. Pat has been involved in soccer for more than 50 years in various roles as a player, coach and serving as a board member. In his current role, Pat helps manage the resources necessary to support activities that provide opportunities for the advancement of women and girls. Pat served 25 years in the U. S. Army, and retired in Fairfax, where he has resided for the last 19 years.
Dotty Talbott, Secretary
Dotty grew up in the early days of organized girls’ soccer, lacing up her boots at age eight and quickly falling in love with the game. At 13, she began training under WAGS co-founder Mavis Derflinger, a pioneer who became her mentor and model for what strong, player-centered leadership could look like. Those years shaped Dotty’s work ethic, tactical understanding, and deep belief that soccer could open doors for girls who were only just being invited into the sport. As a standout high school player and three-year varsity captain, she earned All-Met, All-Region, and All-District First Team honors, was named Most Valuable Defensive Player in 1979, and received soccer scholarship offers from Brown University and George Washington University.
Her commitment to giving back to the game is reflected in a coaching career that spans more than two decades. From 1987 to 2008, Dotty coached both recreational and travel teams, building year-round training environments that focused on technical skill, confidence, and teamwork. She served as President of Gunston Soccer Club and coached the Varsity Girls Soccer Team at Hayfield Secondary School, while also stepping onto the field as a FIFA-certified referee from 1994 to 1998, officiating matches across all ages and levels. In every role, she has emphasized development over shortcuts and character over championships.
Throughout her life in soccer, Dotty has remained grounded in one core belief: the game is a powerful teacher. Discipline, teamwork, leadership, and resilience are woven into every training session and every decision she makes. Whether she is mentoring a young player, supporting a coach, or shaping the environment around the game, her focus is on creating opportunities, nurturing confidence, and helping each person carry the lessons of soccer into every part of their lives.
Sue Vodicka, Director
Sue has had a long time association with WAGS, having played in the inaugural tournament and league. After moving away for high school, she returned to Northern Virginia to play at George Mason University and was a member of the 1985 NCAA Championship squad. During her college off seasons she coached at local high schools (Robinson, Lake Braddock and West Springfield) and helped coach several local club teams that participated in WAGS. After starting the Centerville High School girls soccer program, she started her college coach journey as an assistant at William and Mary University. After three years under John Daly‘s tutelage, she headed west to work at Washington State University. She had a one year stint as head coach at VCU, before returning to her alma mater. While at Mason as an assistant she coached for Vienna in the WAGS league. Sue headed south to South Carolina where she was the head coach at the University of South Carolina Aiken for 11 years. Always looking for new adventures, she headed to Minnesota to coach at Shattuck St. Mary’s Soccer Centre of Excellence, where she guided the U15 girls in the inaugural DA season. She returned to the college ranks after 4 years, joining Glad Bugariu‘s staff recruiting coordinator at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Sue holds a USSF A Youth License, and was a proud member of the WAGS Women’s International Coaching Education trip to France during the 2019 FIFA WWC. Sue is the daughter of one of our WAGS founders Rael Vodicka. The WAGS annual tournament is held in honor of Rael’s memory and contributions to WAGS.
Marie Onorato Schweitzer, Director
Marie currently resides in Prince William County with her husband, Tim. Her biggest accomplishment has been raising her two children Stephen and Nicole to be caring and successful young adults who now are contributing to society in so many positive ways.Marie’s mom and dad always encouraged her to be committed, responsible, and respectful. She is well known as one of the pioneer female soccer players from Northern Virginia. As a founding member of Braddock Road Cougars, Marie began playing for Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS) in 1975 and played in the first WAGS Rael Vodicka Memorial Tournament that same year. In addition, Marie was also a member of the Virginia State Olympic Development Program (ODP) as well as the Region 1 ODP team. She played on the Cougars until her graduation from High School in 1983 and played High School Soccer for Lake Braddock. She was one of the first females to receive a scholarship to play at Radford University and did so as a key defender for four years on a very successful Radford Division One team. Marie, was named co-captain on Radford women’s soccer team and had her number retired in 1989. Since receiving her Bachelor‘s degree from Radford University (1987) and Master’s degree from George Mason (1991) in Education, Marie taught school, successfully coached a number of successful youth teams while mentoring and developing many young players. She is now a Director of the MJX Mental Fitness Program and coaches the girls varsity and junior varsity soccer teams at Forest Park High School. Marie also volunteers and helps the Prince William Special Olympics Soccer Team. In 2013, Marie was awarded the Positive Coaching Alliance Double Dual Coach Award and attended the first WAGS All Female International Coaching Education Trip to France for the 2019 Women’s World Cup. In 2020 Marie was inducted in the Virginia-DC Hall of Fame, a great honor for having devoted so much to the game of soccer as a player and leader in youth and women’s soccer for so many years. She continues to energetically and enthusiastically coach, play, and set a positive example for young girls and women of all ages to follow.
Karin Victorio, Director
Karin is very proud to have come full circle with WAGS having played in the league and tournament in the 1980s, coached players and teams in the league and tournament since the 2000s, and participated in the WAGS Women‘s International Coaching Education trip to France for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. For more than 30 years, Karin has enjoyed playing, refereeing, coaching, and directing soccer programs for toddlers, youth, high school, college, and adults. She believes soccer is a proxy for life and the lessons learned through soccer instill confidence, teamwork, and resilience that contributes to a healthy society. Her high school did not have a girls soccer team until her senior year. She has since seen the opportunities for women grow in and around soccer and is most excited to help other women #StayInTheGame. She holds a USSF C, USC VI (NSCAA Advanced Regional), and the FA Psychology for Soccer Level 1. She is a Physical Therapist Assistant with a B.S. in Gerontology.
