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Spring 2008 - Game 5 My Lucky Seven
But, on this night they were MY lucky seven. I consider myself the luckiest coach in Loudoun Soccer. What a pleasure it is to know girls of character, strength, determination, and beauty. Tonight they banded together as a team, played tough when they had to, sprinted up and down the field (with no substitutions possible) and, yes, even looked beautiful caked with mud. In the end, what were they doing? They were trying to set up their newest teammate, Jamie, so that she could get her first goal. Granted, I asked them to do that, but as soon as I said the word it became their mission--even though others could have more easily scored. This is the kind of game that you might call "seminal." There was a special feeling right from the moment I arrived and saw Tyla's bright and smiling face. She just seemed ready. And so did Anna and Sammy and the rest. Not one of them was worried about having such a small team. They just sort of took the news as a matter of fact, and went about their business. Very cool. I will remember a defender who bent but never broke and never gave up (Anna). I will remember a girl who didn't feel so well making a beautiful pass for a goal and smartly outplaying a keeper for another (Emily). I will remember a novice player getting a lot of experience and making the most of it (Jamie). I will remember a center midfielder running all night and bounding through the mud to retrieve a ball out of bounds (Sammy). I will remember a pair of orange clad arms rising above the defensive wall to snare an opponents free kick (Shelby). I will remember a diminutive second half keeper who stopped two tough shots cold (Taylor). I will remember a girl who stepped up powerfully all over the field and always had a smile on her face (Tyla). I think they will all remember this game, too. What makes me feel even more fortunate is that I actually have a Lucky Twelve! Think snow. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
