My first game back was an exciting one to say the least. At the end of the first half, when I was told to warm up, my stomach immediately knotted up. It had been just about 3 weeks since my injury occurred and it seemed like I had been off the field forever. I knew once I was out there it would be like no time had ever elapsed, however, I couldn’t help but be a little nervous. I didn’t want to go out there and be a liability and hurt the team. Not to mention I was dreading that first hard battle and header. You could say I was a little scared to get hit in the face again. To make it worse, I waited at mid-field for about 45 minutes to enter the game because we never got the chance to sub (OK maybe it was just 5 minutes but it seemed like a life-time!!). As I expected, all my insecurities faded once I was actually in the game. I got that first header out of the way and then was far too focused on the game to care about anything else, but winning and taking care of my responsibilities on the field.
As history repeated itself, my counterpart Grace got a concussion in the first half against Brown. I’m starting to believe that there is a curse on the defensive center mid at Rudd Field! As the game got deeper into the second half, and overtime seemed very likely, the 3 weeks off really started to catch up to me. I felt like I was making it harder on our two center backs, Meg and Lauren, by having to pass my man off as I struggled to get back. They definitely saved my butt a few times. I know that it won’t take long to get back to where I was before my injury, but for the entire back line’s sake, let’s hope it is before Tuesday.
The game went into overtime, and early on we earned a corner. We were all standing at the top of the box expressing the same thing, this would be a great time to end this and score. All that crossing and finishing we do at practice finally paid off because Tori sent in a great ball and Dee finished it perfectly. I have never been so relieved to see the ball go into the back of the net. I don’t know how many more times I could have made it up and down the field. There aren’t many better feelings than an over-time win! However, the demands of playing more than 90 minutes can be enormous and endurance becomes key. I’ll admit, although reluctantly, that “fitness Tuesdays” have been effective in getting us ready for extra-time!
As history repeated itself, my counterpart Grace got a concussion in the first half against Brown. I’m starting to believe that there is a curse on the defensive center mid at Rudd Field! As the game got deeper into the second half, and overtime seemed very likely, the 3 weeks off really started to catch up to me. I felt like I was making it harder on our two center backs, Meg and Lauren, by having to pass my man off as I struggled to get back. They definitely saved my butt a few times. I know that it won’t take long to get back to where I was before my injury, but for the entire back line’s sake, let’s hope it is before Tuesday.
The game went into overtime, and early on we earned a corner. We were all standing at the top of the box expressing the same thing, this would be a great time to end this and score. All that crossing and finishing we do at practice finally paid off because Tori sent in a great ball and Dee finished it perfectly. I have never been so relieved to see the ball go into the back of the net. I don’t know how many more times I could have made it up and down the field. There aren’t many better feelings than an over-time win! However, the demands of playing more than 90 minutes can be enormous and endurance becomes key. I’ll admit, although reluctantly, that “fitness Tuesdays” have been effective in getting us ready for extra-time!
Coming to UMass, I was aware that the weather would bring rain and cold and eventually snow. This week in particular has been rainy. However a “little” rain didn’t stop the Minutewomen from getting out there and practicing. We are obviously a dedicated group. Once you are soaked, there is nothing more fun than running in the pouring rain. With the Boyden River at flood stage, and the team already saturated, post-practice seemed like the perfect time to do some mud sliding. The sight of the women’s soccer team running down Mass Ave, drenched in water and mud must have been amusing sight for the rest of the student-body.
To top off this fun filled afternoon, we finally got some of our gear! There are definite perks to playing soccer in college, one the most important (of course) being the team apparel. That night a couple of us went out to dinner together, all wearing our flashy new long sleeved UMass Women’s Soccer tees. Everyone in the restaurant was well aware that we were representing for the women’s soccer team – and I was pretty proud of that. I felt like a little kid and it was the first time I wore my Danvers Youth Soccer shirt to elementary school.
This week we have Dartmouth away; our last non-league game, and then we begin our Atlantic-10 schedule. Going forward, especially with the start of more traveling, it looks like we will be a lot busier. There is also the issue of missing classes, something that I am pretty familiar with (I certainly never won a perfect attendance award in high school.). However, staying current with class-work will take greater effort. I’m sure all of this will make October fly by… just like September has. It’s hard to believe that my first season is already half over! Hopefully come November we will be in the A-10 championships making this season last longer!!
To top off this fun filled afternoon, we finally got some of our gear! There are definite perks to playing soccer in college, one the most important (of course) being the team apparel. That night a couple of us went out to dinner together, all wearing our flashy new long sleeved UMass Women’s Soccer tees. Everyone in the restaurant was well aware that we were representing for the women’s soccer team – and I was pretty proud of that. I felt like a little kid and it was the first time I wore my Danvers Youth Soccer shirt to elementary school.
This week we have Dartmouth away; our last non-league game, and then we begin our Atlantic-10 schedule. Going forward, especially with the start of more traveling, it looks like we will be a lot busier. There is also the issue of missing classes, something that I am pretty familiar with (I certainly never won a perfect attendance award in high school.). However, staying current with class-work will take greater effort. I’m sure all of this will make October fly by… just like September has. It’s hard to believe that my first season is already half over! Hopefully come November we will be in the A-10 championships making this season last longer!!
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