Even though the combine wasn't what I had hoped for soccer-wise, I had a great time meeting so many other girls with the same dream, desire, passion and determination to hopefully be drafted this coming January into the WPS!
$400 got us:
1) a hotel suite--2 rooms, 4 big beds, kitchen, living room, 2 baths, small porch, and plenty of room--for a few days
2) 3 meals a day
3) and training gear--tshirt, 2 shorts, 2 socks, two jerseys, and a small pack sack, all sponsored by Umbro
4) and some unbelievable and unforgettable experiences!
The girls played so well amidst the heat and humidity. 3, 70-mins games in less than 60 hours is hard in itself, but these girls gave it their all, to impress the WPS coaches on hand. All the girls played well, and left nothing behind.
As for me, I'm going to get my knee checked out in VA, get an MRI and make decisions as they come. I'm hoping to be ready to go for December's invite-only WPS combine. Even if that doesn't pan out, there's always open tryouts with each team, and then there are still options beyond that. I'm trying to trust God's timing and plan in all this, though it is disappointing and disheartening.
A special thanks to you all for your encouraging messages, unending support, and prayers. They mean so much to me and have helped me as I cope with my knee injury...
Later : )
Monday, September 28, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Not what I was hoping for...
well, i tried to give it a go today--through our first session and our first game. didn't go so well. i can't push off to my right. i can't get power to my right side, and it's limited on my left side. i'm not even gonna attempt coming out on breakaways (thank goodness i had none today).
i went up for a ball served from a corner kick that, at 100% ability, i would have caught cleanly. tried to punch it and totally whiffed. now, usually, this would have caused me great disappointment and frustration... however, more alarming was that i didn't get the power to get off the ground like i had prepared for (bent down, loaded the quads, etc.)... Grrr.
so, Sat morning, i'll have to tell the combine directors that i'm done for the weekend. i'll sit on the sideline and cheer on my teammates--and katie, who's on the other team tomorrow :) luckily, there are 7 GKs for 6 teams... so now all GKs will get to play full games.
good night, tampa...
i went up for a ball served from a corner kick that, at 100% ability, i would have caught cleanly. tried to punch it and totally whiffed. now, usually, this would have caused me great disappointment and frustration... however, more alarming was that i didn't get the power to get off the ground like i had prepared for (bent down, loaded the quads, etc.)... Grrr.
so, Sat morning, i'll have to tell the combine directors that i'm done for the weekend. i'll sit on the sideline and cheer on my teammates--and katie, who's on the other team tomorrow :) luckily, there are 7 GKs for 6 teams... so now all GKs will get to play full games.
good night, tampa...
First session down...
Hey all,
Well, it's been fun meeting a lot of the girls. Some were at the Freedom tryouts this past Feb, so it's been great catching up and seeing what we've all been up to! There are a few girls here from the Hampton Roads Piranhas that I was gonna play with at the beginning of the summer, so it's good to see them again!
First session this morning, we were divided up into our 6 teams. We warmed-up on our own, did some passing, tight possession (two 8ydsx8yds grids), and then ended with a few shooting drills. Nothing hard since the girls will be playing basically all 70 mins in our 3 games this weekend. Each team has 1-2 subs, and there are 7 GKs.
Right knee is okay. Did okay during straight-on shooting. Hurt when I pivoted on it on a crossing play. I've been icing and keeping a compression sleeve on it, so I hope it continues to hold up. The pain is a dull pain all the time; more so when I pass with my right foot (can't take goal kicks), and when I pivot. Can't really push off it either to my right side, but I'm managing.
Saw and said hi to Jim Gabarra (Washington Freedom coach) and introduced myself to Tony DiCicco (Boston Breakers coach). Saw Abner Rogers (LA SOL coach) yesterday...
We play a match this afternoon at 2:30pm, Sat at 5:30pm, and Sunday at 11am.
Thank you for all your support and prayers. I need them...
Well, it's been fun meeting a lot of the girls. Some were at the Freedom tryouts this past Feb, so it's been great catching up and seeing what we've all been up to! There are a few girls here from the Hampton Roads Piranhas that I was gonna play with at the beginning of the summer, so it's good to see them again!
First session this morning, we were divided up into our 6 teams. We warmed-up on our own, did some passing, tight possession (two 8ydsx8yds grids), and then ended with a few shooting drills. Nothing hard since the girls will be playing basically all 70 mins in our 3 games this weekend. Each team has 1-2 subs, and there are 7 GKs.
Right knee is okay. Did okay during straight-on shooting. Hurt when I pivoted on it on a crossing play. I've been icing and keeping a compression sleeve on it, so I hope it continues to hold up. The pain is a dull pain all the time; more so when I pass with my right foot (can't take goal kicks), and when I pivot. Can't really push off it either to my right side, but I'm managing.
Saw and said hi to Jim Gabarra (Washington Freedom coach) and introduced myself to Tony DiCicco (Boston Breakers coach). Saw Abner Rogers (LA SOL coach) yesterday...
We play a match this afternoon at 2:30pm, Sat at 5:30pm, and Sunday at 11am.
Thank you for all your support and prayers. I need them...
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Less than 36 hours til Florida!!! :D
Hello all!
I have very mixed emotions as the first session approaches at 9am Friday morning. While I am still overly excited for this opportunity and the chance to show the WPS coaches my skills and talent, I've had a slight setback...
Sunday night, I was playing pick-up soccer in Luray with my awesome Page & Luray kids when I blocked a cross-attempt (playing field) and landed on my knee before rolling. Now, ordinarily, I would have been fine, but let me set the scene... 1) playing on rock-solid ground (very dry and dusty); and 2) when I blocked the ball, I was at a full sprint. So when I hit, I hit HARD!
Right away, all I could feel was the superficial impact of hitting the rock-solid ground. That's all that hurt. And it was numb for at least 5 straight mins before it began to simmer down a little. Of course, once I got up and walked off the field, I put an ice pack on it. Not until a few hours later, when I got outta my car and was home and getting situated in bed to ice it more, did I realize that the superficial purple bruising was not hurting anymore. But now I couldn't twist my knee without feeling some pain inside my knee = UH OH!!! I know from watching others go through knee injuries that THAT feeling is NOT what I wanted... especially this close to tryouts.
After having Mike and Carleen look at it the past two days in the training room at EMU (thanks you two!!!), my knee is doing well. It's solid, the swelling is slowly going down and most of the problem just seems to be a pateller contusion (bruise). However, today, when Carleen tested out my MCL, I winced in pain. I'm getting it "rehabbed" tomorrow yet, and it'll be what it is for Friday-Sunday.
I'm just hoping and praying that nothing weird happens during the course of the tryouts--examples: twisting it awkwardly, sliding out for a ball and colliding with a player, etc.
At this point, I'm realizing that I just have to put it all in God's hands. All I can humanly do, is to play to the best of my abilities and let the rest up to God and His plans for my life. He's given me this talent and has given me this incredible, unbelievable opportunity, and I'm just gonna go out there and give it my all! Florida won't know what hit it!!!
Wed: driving up to PA.
Thurs: Flying out of Philly at 9:50am; landing in Tampa, FL/hotel/meetings in evening.
Fri: team training (9-10:30am); match play--3 games (2:30-7pm); meeting
Sat: GK training (8:30-9:30am); meeting with WPS coaches; match play--3 games (2:30-7pm); meeting
Sun: match play--3 games (8am-12:30pm); depart from Tampa at 6:30pm; switch planes in Atlanta; arrive in Philly 12midnight
Mon: visit Mom's and Dad's; drive down to VA
Some songs that have been motivating me:
/Hit me with your best shot/ ~Pat Bataner
/I can feel the pressure coming down on me / people say that im not destined to suceed / but i have the faith i need to carry on / and i will find the strength in me to prove them wrong / it isnt for the thrill / it isnt for the prize / its all about a fight to stay alive / knowing that the dream can survive // when you're out there on the edge / and the odds you face are life and death / you've got to have the heart of a champion / when your time is running out / and everybody sees youre going down / you've got to have a heart of a champion / when your back's against the wall / and your rival thinks your gonna fall / you've got to have a heart of a champion// ~Carman
/I, I am small but / You, You are big enough / I, I am weak but / You, You are strong enough to // Take my dreams / Come and give them wings / Lord with You / There`s nothing I cannot do / Nothing I cannot do// ~Britt Nicole
/I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow / And each road leads you where you want to go / And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose / I hope you choose the one that means the most to you / And if one door opens to another door closed / I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window / If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile // But more than anything, more than anything / My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to / Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small / You never need to carry more than you can hold / And while you're out there getting where you're getting to / I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too / Yeah, this, is my wish// ~Rascal Flatts
/This is ten percent luck / twenty percent skill / fifteen percent concentrated power of will / five percent pleasure / fifty percent pain / and a hundred percent reason to remember the name/ ~Fort Minor
Thanks for all the prayers, support, encouragement and everything else!!! WPS coaches, HERE I COME!!!!! :D
I have very mixed emotions as the first session approaches at 9am Friday morning. While I am still overly excited for this opportunity and the chance to show the WPS coaches my skills and talent, I've had a slight setback...
Sunday night, I was playing pick-up soccer in Luray with my awesome Page & Luray kids when I blocked a cross-attempt (playing field) and landed on my knee before rolling. Now, ordinarily, I would have been fine, but let me set the scene... 1) playing on rock-solid ground (very dry and dusty); and 2) when I blocked the ball, I was at a full sprint. So when I hit, I hit HARD!
Right away, all I could feel was the superficial impact of hitting the rock-solid ground. That's all that hurt. And it was numb for at least 5 straight mins before it began to simmer down a little. Of course, once I got up and walked off the field, I put an ice pack on it. Not until a few hours later, when I got outta my car and was home and getting situated in bed to ice it more, did I realize that the superficial purple bruising was not hurting anymore. But now I couldn't twist my knee without feeling some pain inside my knee = UH OH!!! I know from watching others go through knee injuries that THAT feeling is NOT what I wanted... especially this close to tryouts.
After having Mike and Carleen look at it the past two days in the training room at EMU (thanks you two!!!), my knee is doing well. It's solid, the swelling is slowly going down and most of the problem just seems to be a pateller contusion (bruise). However, today, when Carleen tested out my MCL, I winced in pain. I'm getting it "rehabbed" tomorrow yet, and it'll be what it is for Friday-Sunday.
I'm just hoping and praying that nothing weird happens during the course of the tryouts--examples: twisting it awkwardly, sliding out for a ball and colliding with a player, etc.
At this point, I'm realizing that I just have to put it all in God's hands. All I can humanly do, is to play to the best of my abilities and let the rest up to God and His plans for my life. He's given me this talent and has given me this incredible, unbelievable opportunity, and I'm just gonna go out there and give it my all! Florida won't know what hit it!!!
Wed: driving up to PA.
Thurs: Flying out of Philly at 9:50am; landing in Tampa, FL/hotel/meetings in evening.
Fri: team training (9-10:30am); match play--3 games (2:30-7pm); meeting
Sat: GK training (8:30-9:30am); meeting with WPS coaches; match play--3 games (2:30-7pm); meeting
Sun: match play--3 games (8am-12:30pm); depart from Tampa at 6:30pm; switch planes in Atlanta; arrive in Philly 12midnight
Mon: visit Mom's and Dad's; drive down to VA
Some songs that have been motivating me:
/Hit me with your best shot/ ~Pat Bataner
/I can feel the pressure coming down on me / people say that im not destined to suceed / but i have the faith i need to carry on / and i will find the strength in me to prove them wrong / it isnt for the thrill / it isnt for the prize / its all about a fight to stay alive / knowing that the dream can survive // when you're out there on the edge / and the odds you face are life and death / you've got to have the heart of a champion / when your time is running out / and everybody sees youre going down / you've got to have a heart of a champion / when your back's against the wall / and your rival thinks your gonna fall / you've got to have a heart of a champion// ~Carman
/I, I am small but / You, You are big enough / I, I am weak but / You, You are strong enough to // Take my dreams / Come and give them wings / Lord with You / There`s nothing I cannot do / Nothing I cannot do// ~Britt Nicole
/I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow / And each road leads you where you want to go / And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose / I hope you choose the one that means the most to you / And if one door opens to another door closed / I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window / If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile // But more than anything, more than anything / My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to / Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small / You never need to carry more than you can hold / And while you're out there getting where you're getting to / I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too / Yeah, this, is my wish// ~Rascal Flatts
/This is ten percent luck / twenty percent skill / fifteen percent concentrated power of will / five percent pleasure / fifty percent pain / and a hundred percent reason to remember the name/ ~Fort Minor
Thanks for all the prayers, support, encouragement and everything else!!! WPS coaches, HERE I COME!!!!! :D
Friday, September 18, 2009
One week...
One week til the tryout combine in Tampa, FL. Had a GREAT week of training! My lifting and cardio felt wonderful, as I feel I'm at the top of my game right now.
I have to give credit to both the EMU Men's and Women's Soccer teams as they've helped me prepare. I'm getting touches 5 times a week--4 with the women's team, and a day of super shooting from the men's team!
I've been talking with Katie and she's also getting some great training in up in PA. We're both unbelievably excited about this opportunity and will go at it with everything we've got! Why not??
One week and I'm feeling great!!!
I have to give credit to both the EMU Men's and Women's Soccer teams as they've helped me prepare. I'm getting touches 5 times a week--4 with the women's team, and a day of super shooting from the men's team!
I've been talking with Katie and she's also getting some great training in up in PA. We're both unbelievably excited about this opportunity and will go at it with everything we've got! Why not??
One week and I'm feeling great!!!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Soccer Journey
In the middle of August, I saw on the W-League website that the W-League Combine was being held in Tampa, FL at the end of September. For a few days then, I was obsessively checking the WPSL site for the announcement of our combine, but wasn't finding anything.
Out of curiosity, and for the slimmest of chances, I emailed the owner of the Hampton Roads Piranhas--who I was a member of for the first month of the season at the beginning of the summer. I asked her if, since I was with the team for a few weeks, I could sign up for the W-League Combine. She said to emai the person in charge.
So, I sent an email to the person in charge of the W-League Combine and told her about my ordeal and questioned whether I could sign up or if it was a far shot. She immediately replied that the tryout combine was now accepting requests from any players, and that I should register online. I registered immediately!! Went online and filled out a questionnaire, which included my GKing awards from high school, college and my WPSL team, Lancaster Inferno. With my postseason honors this past summer, I figured it might up my chances!
WITHIN 24 HOURS, I received an email saying that I had been accepted to the combine!! I was ecstatic!!!!!! I called Katie Lamm up and told her about it and that she should register as well. Long story short, she also applied and was accepted!! So we are both going down to Tampa, FL together!!!!!
There will be about 90 players there, and all the WPS coaches will be in attendance. Teams are from Los Angeles (CA), Bay Area (CA), St. Louis (MO), Chicago (IL), NY/NJ, Washington (DC), and Boston (MA). The two expansion teams joining next March are Atlanta (GA) and Philly (PA).
I am beyond excited and so thankful for this opportunity!!! I am training 6/7 days a week on top of coaching and finding a substituting job around here. Training is going well, and for one of the first times in my soccer career, I can really tell that it's paying off! I feel stronger and my feet are getting quicker everyday!
Will keep you updated as I continue to train! Will most definitely try to keep you updated while I'm in FL from Sept. 24-27 as well!!! Woooohooooo!
Out of curiosity, and for the slimmest of chances, I emailed the owner of the Hampton Roads Piranhas--who I was a member of for the first month of the season at the beginning of the summer. I asked her if, since I was with the team for a few weeks, I could sign up for the W-League Combine. She said to emai the person in charge.
So, I sent an email to the person in charge of the W-League Combine and told her about my ordeal and questioned whether I could sign up or if it was a far shot. She immediately replied that the tryout combine was now accepting requests from any players, and that I should register online. I registered immediately!! Went online and filled out a questionnaire, which included my GKing awards from high school, college and my WPSL team, Lancaster Inferno. With my postseason honors this past summer, I figured it might up my chances!
WITHIN 24 HOURS, I received an email saying that I had been accepted to the combine!! I was ecstatic!!!!!! I called Katie Lamm up and told her about it and that she should register as well. Long story short, she also applied and was accepted!! So we are both going down to Tampa, FL together!!!!!
There will be about 90 players there, and all the WPS coaches will be in attendance. Teams are from Los Angeles (CA), Bay Area (CA), St. Louis (MO), Chicago (IL), NY/NJ, Washington (DC), and Boston (MA). The two expansion teams joining next March are Atlanta (GA) and Philly (PA).
I am beyond excited and so thankful for this opportunity!!! I am training 6/7 days a week on top of coaching and finding a substituting job around here. Training is going well, and for one of the first times in my soccer career, I can really tell that it's paying off! I feel stronger and my feet are getting quicker everyday!
Will keep you updated as I continue to train! Will most definitely try to keep you updated while I'm in FL from Sept. 24-27 as well!!! Woooohooooo!
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