What seemed like a normal day, Saturday, December 8, 2012, turned out to be anything but normal. I had a full day of soccer planned, and for me, that wasn’t anything new. I was competing for a spot on the North Carolina ODP (Olympic Development Program) soccer team.
Upon arriving at the fields I noticed many familiar faces among the crowd. I spotted several of my club soccer teammates; they had an earlier time slot for training and when their training drew to a close I noticed they were crying. We were more like sisters than teammates, and I wanted to help comfort them. Walking over to them, I expected to hear that they had not made the ODP team but was shocked when they told me “Larissa (our teammate) was in an accident, and she may not survive”. At that moment I had never felt so hopeless, not being able to help the person I called my best friend, my teammate, and my sister.
After receiving the terrible news, I took the field and fought for not only
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It was the Thursday prior to that dreadful Saturday, we were at our soccer practice. It was decided that we would play the whole practice so Larissa and I were named captains of our respective teams and then selected our teams. It was a solid game with equally matched teams and although my team ended up on top, it could have gone either way. After training, we walked to our parent's cars laughing and joking and I spoke the last words I would ever say to her, “bye, love you”. As I reflected on this, it made me feel better to know that I had told Larissa that I loved her as a friend and respected her as a soccer player.
Just a few days later, the funeral was held in Larissa’s small hometown at a country church. In attendance were people from every aspect of her life: school friends, soccer players and coaches, and relatives from near and far were there to express their love for Larissa and pay their
Growing up in a house with all boys in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, I was taught to be tough and injuries were very common but easily shaken off. When it came to sports, I would put all my time and effort into one thing: soccer. Soccer was always a true passion of mine; as a matter of fact, it was more of a lifestyle than just a sport. I would spend weekends traveling around my local area playing the game I loved with people I enjoyed being with. My teammates became like my second family after countless seasons and we did almost everything together off the soccer field. The idea of putting on my jersey and lacing up my cleats was a moment I would not trade for the world and something I would never take for granted.
There comes a time when you have to grow up or are forced to. You learn from past experiences and base your recent scenarios from it. Since the age of five, soccer has been part of my life. From having practice twice a week, to having practice every day of the week not including games. I felt like soccer was my pathway to success. I felt like I could do big things from it and I had all the confidence in the world but never would show it when others asked me if I was good. I’m the shy quiet girl that shows you what I’m capable of without saying a single word.
Soccer is a game where nothing is predictable. Soccer is a game that’s been around since the eighteenth century and has a different effect on many athletes’ lives, including mine. My sophomore year of high school is over and I was finally over with a long season of high school soccer. Returning to my team of five years I was excited to go back and am comfortable with. Right as I approached my team I saw an unfamiliar face and instantly got intimidated. Trying my hardest to avoid him it seemed as if every time I looked over he was examining my every move. Of course that day of practice was a series of conditioning test to see if we were really doing our fitness assignments over the break. The drills consisted of a pattern of sprint got dragged out all along to eighty yard
I remember when I first moved to America. I remember how scared I was to move to a whole new country and didn’t know a soul within 400 miles of me. Everything was brand new and I was basically a newborn child in this world at the age of 4. I remember how we met, we bonded over the sport of soccer. I remember how we became the best of friends, and how we would carpool to Pre-K together. Then, she had a game for her church. I remember it was freezing because it was early January. She scored a goal right before half time, and then was taken off for the rest of the game. I remember seeing her panting on the bench, then I saw her lie down the bench. I figured she was tired, but then I saw her convulsing on the bench. I didn’t even realize what
late November and my team was playing for glory in the New Jersey State Championship for soccer. It
When I was eight years old, I played my first season of soccer. The real reason I played soccer was because my dad forced me to play. I loved to play all kinds of sports such as basketball, baseball and football but I was never interested in soccer. After my first practice I already realized soccer was not for me. I told my dad that I did not want to play anymore but he would not listen and made me keep going to practice. At my 3rd practice, the whole team was running laps and I tripped over a stick and fell down. My ankle was hurting pretty bad but I knew I was going to be fine. While I was lying on the ground, I thought to myself If I tell the coach and my dad that my ankle is hurt really bad than I won’t have to play anymore. I thought it was a genius idea at the time. I told them just that and it worked! I have no idea how my dad knew this but once I got home he knew that I was milking my injury. He told me something that night that I won’t ever forget. He told me “you didn’t just give up on yourself, you gave up on your team”. He called the coach the next day and told him that
From one week to another I started feeling so much pain in my back I honestly did not know what it was I tended not to pay attention to it that whole week. Until at the end of the week it got to a point where I couldn't move nor stretch that was when I realized my high school soccer career would end. I played soccer as a freshman and as a sophomore I always tried my best I was ready for soccer this time and I had just gotten back from a Europe trip which made me learn new things about soccer. My goal for high school was to be able to play all four years since I had already made the team freshman year.
September 14, 2007 became the best day of my life and the worst day of my life combined into one. During one of my high school soccer games, I had the realization that my passion for soccer could come to a screeching halt, not by choice, but by injury. Here is where that emotion filled day started. I worked so hard to earn my first starting game as a freshman goalkeeper, and on that cool autumn night, I finally got what I had been working hard for, that high school Varsity starting spot. Before every game, the announcer announced the starting lineup for each team in the stadium for all of the fans to hear. Hearing my name announced in my high school stadium for the first time felt like no feeling I have ever felt before. So much joy, anxiety,
I have known it for fifteen years. For fifteen years I have lived, breathed, and marveled at it. I am only eighteen years old meaning it has taken up almost all of my life. I know nothing else but this, and it is soccer. Soccer has been my lifestyle ever since I was able to walk and it has been what keeps me going and keeps me motivated in life. Soccer has made me who I am today and has taught me almost everything I have ever needed to know.
People in this world, have a heart that makes them fall in love. I'm not talking about, love with another person, but instead with an activity, a hobby or a job. As for me, my heart pulled me towards soccer. I was born in Mexico City, and us Mexicans are huge soccer fans. I was raised in a soccer family and ever since, a ball has followed me around my whole life.
I grew up with a love towards sports. Sure I started off in ballet and gymnastics but one day my best friend told me I should play soccer with her. So of course I begged my mom to let me do another sport. Little did I know soccer would have such a big impact on my life. I started off with playing recreational league soccer. My first coach, was my softball coach, and he decided I would be a perfect forward. As the years went on and I got a different coach my position changed. I went from a forward to a midfielder then finally a defender.
Walking out on the field clothed in full confidence, I have no doubt in my mind that our team will perform to our fullest potential. As a team captain, fear is something that I keep locked away in my mind; however, I still get butterflies before every game. Before each game, I inhale two puffs, stretch every muscle, and sing to myself to remain placid. When praying for strength, courage, and protection, it is like the Holy Ghost enters my players and kindles inside of them. Their focus shifts from what could go wrong to what will go right and what they will do to help the team. When I walk on the field, my heart begins to feel like it is about to beat out of my chest, and I feel like someone is trying to take over my kingdom. On the field I am home, I have purpose, and I have a sense of belonging. While I may feel like I am suffocating, I still continue to pump my
My season was unfortunately cut short by a demoralizing ACL tear in my other knee. At this point in my life I began to feel depressed and I could not understand why this happened to me, again. I questioned if rehabilitating and continuing to pursue my soccer career was really worth it any more. With immense motivation and encouragement from friends and family, I decided I would continue.
I recently went to Marist’s first football game of the season with Peyton (in our class) and Michael Cully. Mr. Yount was our teacher that day. I showed up early and helped set up the bus and the field with equipment for the broadcast. 30 minutes until the game Michael was showing Peyton and me the in’s and outs of the camera and we got to practice with them a lot. 20 minutes until the game Peyton and I were basically pros with the camera. 10 minutes until kickoff we start undergoing problems. Apparently even though the field was supposed to have Wi-Fi for us to broadcast, we didn’t get a single bar. So up until halftime Peyton and I were playing with the cameras while Michael and Mr. Yount tried to solve the
I kinda moved away from soccer and started playing football it was my first year and wasn't sure how I would do or what I would do. They put me at inside linebacker and I didn't know what to do I just remember the coach said go for the ball and hit them as hard as possible. .