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I can understand why many Americans don’t appreciate soccer.  With the minimal scoring and the lack of replay angles, they just don’t get it—but how someone can’t respect the emotion that dictates the game is beyond me.  And yesterday’s final match certainly wasn’t starved for emotional swings.  

The game had a significantly different feel as Izler opted to give her younger players the start and the majority of the play time, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t affect our mindset entering the match.  This entire trip has been a bit of a mystery until it has unfolded, so we tried not to underestimate this opponent—but as a team, I don’t think we were ready to play (the fact that the game started 30 minutes earlier than we had been told, preventing a respectable warm-up, also didn’t help).  What’s more, Izler and Stacey decided that Lydia would be sidelined and stick to her coaching role in an effort to level the playing field.  To say I’m an emotional player would be a severe understatement.  And to say I play for myself would be an even bigger misconception.  So our lack of preparation combined with the disappointment that I wouldn’t be playing beside a good friend and tremendous player set my emotional tone early—but the show must go on.

The onslaught of scoring in the match makes it difficult to recall, but I believe we got on the board first.  I served in a corner, which found its way into the back of the net thanks to strong pressure from a WWC attacker and the unfortunate heel of a USVI player.  Then, thanks to the consistently shocking refereeing (more on that later), USVI evened the score on another PK (their 3rd in 3 matches).  From there, USVI went ahead on a quick transition and pretty side-net finish by Blair Clark (Blair is a Greensboro native and friend of mine from Asheville.  She’s taking a break from mountain living to try the island life for a few months, and Izler snatched her up for the final two matches).  Finding ourselves down to a younger, less experienced team kickstarted the high emotions of the rest of the match. I took the subsequent kickoff and struck a shot on goal, which the USVI keeper punched off the crossbar and apparently out.  Man, what I would’ve done for an instant replay or a challenge flag on that one!  I got another chance a few minutes later on a free kick from about 25 out.  I sent a ball on frame and over the USVI keeper’s head.  2-2 at half!  (Sidenote: Don’t get me wrong—I love scoring.  But I’m not completely oblivious to the weaknesses in the USVI’s goalkeepers’ air game.  Their two young goalkeeepers have a great deal of potential, but it’s certainly an area we [I, in particular] exploited).

Emotions continued to flare in the second half with USVI going ahead again on an impressive top shelf finish by one of the younger USVI attackers.  To maintain the PG rating on my blog for the younger crowd, I’ll just say that I wasn’t happy.  As a group, we weren’t communicating effectively or positively, and I felt like the game was spiraling out of control.  Stacey and Lydia’s frustration on the sideline was tangible—and rightfully so, but as I’m well aware, there’s so little coaches can control from the sideline.  Soccer is a player’s game, and I knew we had to retake control on the field.  I did my best to stay in the ear of the center midfielder playing beside me (Reilly), trying to keep her positive and help her keep her head—and it seemed to pay off.  A few minutes later, I served a free kick over the USVI back line, which Reilly timed perfectly and flicked over the USVI goalkeeper’s head.  3-3!  You could tell this goal knocked the wind out of USVI’s island sails, and we finally settled in and started to create some quality possession.  Kristen Tekell (a Georgia native and another friend from Asheville who joined us as a guest player) and I combined at the edge of the attacking third, leading to Kristen slipping me through the backline on a perfectly weighted ball and the go-ahead goal.  WWC capped off the scoring late in the game when another free kick hit the crossbar and bounced in front of the goal and in front of 3 crashing WWC attackers.  Kristen tucked away the rebound for the final score of the match.  Unfortunately, USVI’s players took to frustration, turning a game that was for all intents and purposes over into a game of retaliation.  (HFC players: close your eyes for this comment)  Normally, I would take physical play into my own hands, especially when the referee is doing nothing to control it and especially when I watch my teammates take knock after knock, but trying to be mindful of the “friendly” nature of this event, I swallowed my Jersey pride and just continued to play.  My Jersey mouth, unfortunately, missed the memo, earning me a yellow card late in the game.  It was inevitable.  Thankfully, the game came to an end uneventfully, with a 5-3 win for Warren Wilson.                

In the spirit of the game, the WWC and USVI players and coaches united at our hotel bar later that night to watch the NFL playoffs, “oohing” and “ahhing” over every score and every angle on every replay.        

The U.S. Virgin Islands brought some more organization and fire to our second matchup last night.  I think the buzz on the island and some negative press they received gave them a bit of extra incentive.  Due to an injury in our first game, one of WWC’s backs was out, so I found myself in the center back.  Not my ideal spot anymore—I like to be more involved, but I’m here to play wherever I’m needed.  The scene and energy were much the same from the first game—the eager, loud island crowd filled the sidelines and the Reggae/Calypso music set the atmosphere not only for the first half but for the entire game, making communication more than frustrating.    

USVI got on the board first early.  While the player celebrated like it was intentional, I know her “shot” was really a shanked cross that tailed in near post.  I absolutely hate getting scored on, especially when I feel like I could’ve prevented the goal.  And I especially hate it as a back because I don’t feel like I can do much to make up for it—but thankfully an opportunity presented itself.  We earned what seemed like a harmless free kick about 5 yards deep in our defensive half, and with the help of some pent up frustration, I knocked a ball toward goal, which the keeper misplayed amidst a crowd of charging attackers!  1-1 at half!

The second half turned sloppy and physical, thanks to some very questionable refereeing (You think I can get in a ref’s ears from the bench?  Imagine me within earshot in the middle of the field).  A USVI attacker broke through the corner of the box, and a WWC defender made a bit of a reckless tackle, taking the player down inside the 18.  PK (And yes, I may have had a subtle comment [or three] for the referee on this call also).  2-1 with about 12 left to play!

We managed to maintain our composure and create several opportunities, and our persistence paid off with about 5 to play.  Lydia played a left footed bending through ball to a breaking forward who buried the shot!  The goal erupted the island crowd who was eager for their young team to tally their first win, and part of me felt for them—well, a small part of me (I’m competitive.  What can I say?).  

After shaking hands with players and referees (yes, I still managed to muster some sportsmanship) and after thanking the crowd, Lydia and I walked off the field shaking our heads at each other.  That was a game we should’ve won.  We spoke to the players and reminded them to hold onto the feeling of frustration and to bring it back to our final match of the tournament on Saturday.

The team and I enjoyed a much needed day off today to rest and recover.  Suffice it to say, I’ll be coming home with a few trophy cleat marks and bruises!  The islands produce some big girls!  Stay tuned!

Special shout out and congratulations to the “Quick Chicks” (a.k.a ‘00LR indoor team) who took home the ARC Indoor Championship last night!  So proud of you ladies!  Great omen for the spring season!  More good to come! 

Tell ya what—there is nothing like being part of the game at a high level!  Our federation vans took us to the field for warm-ups around 5:30pm AST.  It’s always interesting to me to be part of other teams’ pregame rituals—and if you know anything about Warren Wilson College, you know they have some quirky ones!  Some players shared headphones and sang; others danced along to their music.  I always preferred to get my mind set on my own, so I rode quietly with my new teammates, headphones in, head bobbing along to my own music.  But even with my headphones in and volume high, I couldn’t drown out the “Quelbe” blasting from the speakers as we drove up to the game field.  The music (apparently the island’s blend of Calypso and Reggae) was deafening throughout the entire warm-up and even through the entire first half!  Regardless of whatever was blasting from the speakers, there’s nothing like walking up to the field with your teammates as part of a unit—even as a temporary part, seeing the FIFA flags hanging behind the benches, and sizing up a formidable opponent.  I have yet to find anything else that compares to that feeling of nervous excitement and energy that builds throughout the warm-up and peaks at the opening whistle.  It’s a feeling that makes all the work you put in—every training session, every individual workout, every dedication to your progress—make sense.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved my club and high school experiences and am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I earned through those teams, but they were a pathway to the next level.  I worked as hard as I did and sacrificed as much as I did at those levels to achieve more in soccer and in life.  And soccer, that pathway, brought my life here.  I never truly experienced this type of rush until I stepped on the field with my college team or my pro team—and it was such a rush to get a taste of it again last night!

OK, I’m off my soapbox.  If I haven’t lost you yet, I can now report that we (Warren Wilson College) pulled off the first win in our three game tournament with the US Virgin Islands National Team by a score of 2-1!  I started in the center midfield in our 4-4-2 formation with Lydia Vandenbergh beside me in the midfield.  If you know anything about Lydia, you know that’s pretty much the best possible “wingman” you could ask for as a center middy!  We scored first early on a set piece from about 25 yards out.  I touched the ball forward to Lydia who blasted a shot over the USVI keeper.  Later in the first half, Lydia served a corner that I got on the end of and headed over the USVI goalkeeper, but one of the USVI defenders intentionally saved the ball off the line with her hands and prevented the goal.  The USVI player was red-carded and we scored on the subsequent penalty kick, which was converted by one of Warren Wilson’s seniors.  2-0 at halftime!

We’re playing on an incredibly small, somewhat choppy pitch, so the game seemed rather frantic into the second half.  I spent some time as an outside mid (Sidenote: for all of you outside mids, I always have and always will commend and respect you for the exhausting and often glory-less work you put in!), but thankfully it didn’t last very long!  USVI made it interesting toward the end of the second half, when a breaking forward was taken down in the box.  USVI converted the subsequent PK, but it wasn’t enough.  Final score: WWC 2 - USVI 1.  Our next match is tomorrow night at 6:30pm again.  Hoping my old bones and muscles will have enough time to recover! :)  

I hope the first sessions for the younger crowd went well yesterday!  And for everyone, I hope you’re doing what you can during this time in the season to make yourselves better!  97s, you guys have a complete workout with ideas for preparation, and 00s, you guys know what to do!  I have access to email and this blog obviously, so if you need any more ideas, let me know!  Thinking about you guys and looking forward to getting started next week!       

I have to admit I accepted the invitation to attend this trip rather blindly.  I’ve known the head coach at Warren Wilson College, Stacey Enos, since I moved to NC about 6 years ago, and I’ve put quite a bit of trust in her word on several occasions—and this trip was no exception!  Entering the trip, I knew we’d be heading to the USVI to play a few exhibition matches against their women’s national team and would be able to work with their coaching staff as well.  Their head coach (Izler Browne) is good friends with Stacey, and I’ve worked with her at some of Stacey’s camps over the years as well.

As the trip has evolved, I’ve learned more and more about the expectations and what will unfold.  I’m traveling as a guest player/coach with Warren Wilson College, and we have joined a mini-training camp with the first ever US Virgin Islands Women’s National Team.  The national team is training for the Caribbean qualifier at the end of the year, and the winner of the Caribbean qualifier earns a bid to play in the CONCACAF (Confederation of North Central American Caribbean Association Football) Tournament.  The winner of the CONCACAF qualifies for the 2015 World Cup!  I’ve been training with both Warren Wilson and the USVI National Team, and while both are rather young, inexperienced teams, being exposed to two tremendous coaches in Stacey Enos and Izler Browne has been well worth the trip!  Not only that, but upon my arrival, I thought I’d just be observing the USVI sessions, but apparently Izler had other plans and invited me to participate.  Suffice it to say, I’m getting more than I bargained for—but as always, Stacey certainly has not steered me wrong!  

So much more to write about (training facility, island life, and some run ins with the locals), but we’re off again!  Game one tonight at 6:30pm AST!  Wish me luck!