I am so beyond excited for the return of professional women's soccer in the USA!! Today's inaugural game will feature the two biggest stars in the game today as the Washington Freedom travel to LA SOL. Marta v. Abby. Women's Pro Soccer v. the world. History in the making!!!
Of course, I keep saying, "we" are going out to play the LA SOL, but that's just cuz I know my girls : ) It's going to be so surreal watching them play, knowing that I trained right along side of them, pushing them, encouraging them, and making them better. Wow! I'll definitely be wearing my Freedom shirt today as I'm watching the game at a friend's house!!
GO FREEDOM!!!!! and GO WPS!!!!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Making History at Page Co High School!!!
Wow! What a rush of emotions today!
Today... March 17, 2009... history was made at Page Co High School. We played our very first soccer game!!! The girls hosted non-district foe Mt. Carmel and played sooooo well!!! There are not enough words to describe how I feel about how we played today, and what this big step means for Page Co Public Schools!
Coming in, we had lost our two scrimmages to Luray (don't worry, we'll get 'em twice this season!) and Madison. And the latter game was not so pretty, but there were bright spots. So, with a week to prepare for Mt. Carmel, we went on the defensive, learned how to keep our opponent in front of us, and how to protect the ball. Our goalkeepers also got some great training (by your's truly!) which was the first step in the right direction!
Let me just put it this way... compared to how we played last Tuesday, we were 100x better tonight! Though we didn't get to score a goal or win the game, I really hope the girls were pleased with their effort (only 12 players available today), excited about the future, and that they had fun!! I AM SOOOO PROUD OF MY GIRLS!!!
----
The rest of the week holds practices and hopefully catching the boys' game at Broadway tomorrow night. Then, Saturday is some needed "girl" time with some of the greatest gals (and guy) I teach with, before heading to VA Beach Saturday night in preparation for Sunday's 10am tryout with the Hampton Roads Piranhas of the W-League (semi-pro). Before you know it, Monday comes, bringing on a new week filled with endless possibilities!!!
~Joyful
PS. (for my girls) Dream Big. Persist. Trust. Do it Right!
Today... March 17, 2009... history was made at Page Co High School. We played our very first soccer game!!! The girls hosted non-district foe Mt. Carmel and played sooooo well!!! There are not enough words to describe how I feel about how we played today, and what this big step means for Page Co Public Schools!
Coming in, we had lost our two scrimmages to Luray (don't worry, we'll get 'em twice this season!) and Madison. And the latter game was not so pretty, but there were bright spots. So, with a week to prepare for Mt. Carmel, we went on the defensive, learned how to keep our opponent in front of us, and how to protect the ball. Our goalkeepers also got some great training (by your's truly!) which was the first step in the right direction!
Let me just put it this way... compared to how we played last Tuesday, we were 100x better tonight! Though we didn't get to score a goal or win the game, I really hope the girls were pleased with their effort (only 12 players available today), excited about the future, and that they had fun!! I AM SOOOO PROUD OF MY GIRLS!!!
----
The rest of the week holds practices and hopefully catching the boys' game at Broadway tomorrow night. Then, Saturday is some needed "girl" time with some of the greatest gals (and guy) I teach with, before heading to VA Beach Saturday night in preparation for Sunday's 10am tryout with the Hampton Roads Piranhas of the W-League (semi-pro). Before you know it, Monday comes, bringing on a new week filled with endless possibilities!!!
~Joyful
PS. (for my girls) Dream Big. Persist. Trust. Do it Right!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Results...
Hello all!
After Saturday's scrimmage (first half--potential starters vs. non-starters/tryout participants), Head Coach Jim Gabarra met with each of us individually to let us know whether to pack up and go home, or to stay another week, or to offer a contract. I was let go...
He told me that he'd love to be able to offer me a contract, but with 2 GK's already signed (Scurry, McLeod) and with me not beating out the other GK, there was simply no way they could keep me--which for the record, I suspected on Monday already, after only 3 sessions!!
He told me that he and Nicci (GK coach) were happy with my training and impressed with my talent. Unfortunately, their W-League team is set with GK's, so he'll try to hook me up with their affiliate teams--Hampton Roads Piranhas (http://www.hrpiranhas.net/) and the Northern Virginia Majestics (http://www.novafc.org/women/index_E.html). So I will seek those out.
He commended me on coming from obscurity to the final round of tryouts, and hoped that they could call on me this summer if (hypothetically) one or more of the GK's were injured or had to leave the team. And I said, "Heck yes, call me!!" : )
So, I'm back at Page County High School, teaching and coaching the girls soccer team! It was actually great to be back and to see my students! Our second scrimmage is tomorrow, away!
I'll be looking for a W-League team to play on this summer (semi-pro league, more competitive than the WPSL, which I played in last year), and if for some reason that doesn't pan out, then I'll be looking at playing with the Lancaster Inferno or one of the Philly/Delaware/Atlantic City teams (owned by Matt Driver, owner of the newly-forming Philly professional (WPS) team next summer).
Thanks again for everyone's support, encouragement, and prayers! They were deeply appreciated and felt throughout the past 2 weeks especially! It was a very unique and unreal experience that I'll never forget, but hope to encounter again next year!!! (Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures).
Love, Joyful
After Saturday's scrimmage (first half--potential starters vs. non-starters/tryout participants), Head Coach Jim Gabarra met with each of us individually to let us know whether to pack up and go home, or to stay another week, or to offer a contract. I was let go...
He told me that he'd love to be able to offer me a contract, but with 2 GK's already signed (Scurry, McLeod) and with me not beating out the other GK, there was simply no way they could keep me--which for the record, I suspected on Monday already, after only 3 sessions!!
He told me that he and Nicci (GK coach) were happy with my training and impressed with my talent. Unfortunately, their W-League team is set with GK's, so he'll try to hook me up with their affiliate teams--Hampton Roads Piranhas (http://www.hrpiranhas.net/) and the Northern Virginia Majestics (http://www.novafc.org/women/index_E.html). So I will seek those out.
He commended me on coming from obscurity to the final round of tryouts, and hoped that they could call on me this summer if (hypothetically) one or more of the GK's were injured or had to leave the team. And I said, "Heck yes, call me!!" : )
So, I'm back at Page County High School, teaching and coaching the girls soccer team! It was actually great to be back and to see my students! Our second scrimmage is tomorrow, away!
I'll be looking for a W-League team to play on this summer (semi-pro league, more competitive than the WPSL, which I played in last year), and if for some reason that doesn't pan out, then I'll be looking at playing with the Lancaster Inferno or one of the Philly/Delaware/Atlantic City teams (owned by Matt Driver, owner of the newly-forming Philly professional (WPS) team next summer).
Thanks again for everyone's support, encouragement, and prayers! They were deeply appreciated and felt throughout the past 2 weeks especially! It was a very unique and unreal experience that I'll never forget, but hope to encounter again next year!!! (Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures).
Love, Joyful
Friday, March 6, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
I LOVE being outside!!!
We finally got outside today!! The weather was only calling for about 50 degrees, but it ended up being 50-ish for our morning session, and near 60-ish for our afternoon session! : ) But seriously, it felt sooooo good to get outside, on the big field, in the fresh air, under the blue sky, in the warmer weather. I could enjoy being paid to play all spring/summer :) :) :)
Today was one of the girl's birthday--Sarah Huffman! One of the girls decorated our locker room with some birthday things. We got her a card and everyone signed it. Someone got her a chocolate chip cookie "cake" (to share). Our equipment manager got her a bunch of chocolate chip cookies (to share), and we had candy and brownies (to share)! Who says we can't eat junk food?! We're training! ; )
The weather is going to be so nice the rest of the week. Tomorrow, we only have one training session (10:30a-12p), and then Saturday will be our intersquad scrimmage! I'm so excited!
Again, thanks for all the little ways that you're showing me you care!! I love you all!
Today was one of the girl's birthday--Sarah Huffman! One of the girls decorated our locker room with some birthday things. We got her a card and everyone signed it. Someone got her a chocolate chip cookie "cake" (to share). Our equipment manager got her a bunch of chocolate chip cookies (to share), and we had candy and brownies (to share)! Who says we can't eat junk food?! We're training! ; )
The weather is going to be so nice the rest of the week. Tomorrow, we only have one training session (10:30a-12p), and then Saturday will be our intersquad scrimmage! I'm so excited!
Again, thanks for all the little ways that you're showing me you care!! I love you all!
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