When it seems as though there is no way to catch a break, we must find a way to just keep going. We had a rough game Wednesday against St. Kate’s…not because we were outplayed, but rather because we didn’t do what we needed to do to show up to play. We were not mentally prepared for the day and played without much urgency or passion.
The captains were part of a movement in a new direction to get the team more invested in mental preparation, and it paid off for the two games on the weekend.
A much more inspired team showed up to play, Saturday, for our second conference game of the year against Oshkosh and we found ourselves on the losing end of a 1-0 battle. It was an incredibly well-played game with a lot of speed playing both directions and it took a lot out of us.
We then had to board a bus for a 41/2 hour trip to Dubuque, IA on Sunday for the second game of the weekend. We continued to play well into the second game of the weekend, and dominated possession, shot attempts and overall play. It started to take its toll on us going into the second half and many of the players who had seen a lot of minutes on Saturday were starting to feel the effects of fatigue and injury. We had a 2-0 lead going in to the last 8 minutes of the game and we were unable to shore up where we needed to in order to hold the lead. We painfully watched one player, an inspired senior from Dubuque, chip away at our lead and ultimately take the win for their team.
It is hard to get back on a bus for a long ride home when a win was so imminent, but it is what we have to do. It is hard to continue to work toward bigger goals that will move the program to where we, the coaches, ultimately see it going, but it is what we have to do. It is hard to forget about record, to move beyond losses and to see the positives of all that has happened in the last couple of games, but that is what we have to do. We are starting to gel, to see the opportunities, to play better team defense, to trust one another and to play for one another. The focus is coming and the play is improving all over the field. It is hard to keep working, but that is what we have to do, and that is what we will do.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
To Build from Here
We opened conference play with a win against UW-Platteville. We had to overcome quite a bit to pull that one off, and it has the makings of the propulsion to get us moving with some positive momentum.
Platteville is a long ways from Menomonie. I have never been through that part of Wisconsin, and I can tell you that it has some unparalleled beauty. We weren’t sure we were actually going to make it to the game on time because just after we left, we pulled over to the side of the highway because a door on the side of the bus popped open. It opened probably 4 more times in the space of about 20 miles, and we pulled to the side of the highway each time to get it closed. Thankfully, a mechanic was able to meet us on an on-ramp in Eau Claire to get the door fixed, and we were on our way.
We pulled in to Platteville pretty much right on time and headed to the fieldhouse to get ready. We found out that the football game that was being played before us was quite a bit behind schedule. There had been an injury that required an ambulance, and the game was only in the third quarter. We were directed to the grass field outside the stadium to wait for the go-ahead signal.
We waited…and we loosened…and we waited, and next thing I know the girls are playing some sort of camp tag game. Most of the players are linked by arms in pairs and four others are playing chase. The object is to get from one pair to another and link arms so that another player has to become the chased. I thought about how perfect that warm-up was. We weren’t using balls, and we weren’t getting our needed time on the turf, but they were getting ready. They were doing something that made them smile and enjoy each other, and they weren’t overwhelmed by the fact that things really hadn’t been going our way. They simply made the most of it.
That attitude and energy translated onto the field, and although the refereeing was a bit suspect and the field was bouncier than we were used to, they maintained composure and class and continued to plug away at what we know works for us. We had spent an entire practice on taking and defending corner kicks, and after forcing a few, we were able to convert for the one goal we needed.
What I love is that good things are happening, and the women on this team are making the experience theirs from start to finish. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Platteville is a long ways from Menomonie. I have never been through that part of Wisconsin, and I can tell you that it has some unparalleled beauty. We weren’t sure we were actually going to make it to the game on time because just after we left, we pulled over to the side of the highway because a door on the side of the bus popped open. It opened probably 4 more times in the space of about 20 miles, and we pulled to the side of the highway each time to get it closed. Thankfully, a mechanic was able to meet us on an on-ramp in Eau Claire to get the door fixed, and we were on our way.
We pulled in to Platteville pretty much right on time and headed to the fieldhouse to get ready. We found out that the football game that was being played before us was quite a bit behind schedule. There had been an injury that required an ambulance, and the game was only in the third quarter. We were directed to the grass field outside the stadium to wait for the go-ahead signal.
We waited…and we loosened…and we waited, and next thing I know the girls are playing some sort of camp tag game. Most of the players are linked by arms in pairs and four others are playing chase. The object is to get from one pair to another and link arms so that another player has to become the chased. I thought about how perfect that warm-up was. We weren’t using balls, and we weren’t getting our needed time on the turf, but they were getting ready. They were doing something that made them smile and enjoy each other, and they weren’t overwhelmed by the fact that things really hadn’t been going our way. They simply made the most of it.
That attitude and energy translated onto the field, and although the refereeing was a bit suspect and the field was bouncier than we were used to, they maintained composure and class and continued to plug away at what we know works for us. We had spent an entire practice on taking and defending corner kicks, and after forcing a few, we were able to convert for the one goal we needed.
What I love is that good things are happening, and the women on this team are making the experience theirs from start to finish. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Colorado or bust
After a frustrating start of preseason with weather that refused to cooperate, we boarded a plane and headed toward a trip of a lifetime. Everything that needed to happen in Colorado to make the trip go smoothly, happened. On our first day, we took a long hike in Boulder, CO that led to incredible views and a number of photo opportunities. The dinner that night was in an incredible setting and we enjoyed laughter, good food and a chance to get to know each other outside of the dorm confines.
Friday of our trip we ventured to downtown Denver where we walked on 16th Street Mall and got some souvenir shopping done. We met with a sports psychologist near the steps of the Capitol building and spent some time talking about what is going to propel us to the successes we all want.
Our first scrimmage was played at an unbelievable facility adjacent to the stadium where the Colorado Rapids play. The sunset that occurred during our game was truly breathtaking, and we played to a 2-2 tie with a women’s select team.
Saturday morning we loaded up the vans and headed to southern Colorado. We stopped in Colorado Springs to visit Colorado College’s campus. We made a hefty contribution to the bookstore there and then took a peek at the Division I women’s soccer practice. We then headed to Canon City, CO where we put on the life jackets and went white water rafting under the Royal Gorge Bridge. Only one player barely fell out, and the experience was everything that a team building adventure should be.
Sunday morning we went for a run in the scorching temperatures along a trail that runs parallel to the river. We spent the rest of the day preparing for our second game. We played Division II CSU-Pueblo, and although the score was extremely lopsided in their favor, we scored 4 goals on them and had many things to be excited about with respect to our play.
We boarded the plane early on Monday, and headed back to Menomonie to finish out the remainder of our preseason. We had all gained valuable experiences, a chance to get to know each other, and more pictures than we know what to do with. All of the hard off-season work paid off and the team is already brainstorming about going on another adventure.
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