Soccer! Why is it something that can shape character as an adult?

It only took us twenty minutes to be up 2-0 against a team, our main rivals Clements, we had not beaten them for twenty years and who were also former state champions. It was the best feeling ever, seeing the confusion in their faces from being down to us. All the work we had put in that year was finally translated into the field, where it truly matters. Toe to toe with a team they said we had no chance against, I beg to differ. All was going well, until early in the second half they had scored a goal. I could sense the timorous feeling beginning to rise within my teammates, but I never doubted them and knew we still had a

As I stood on the field, sweat dripping down my face, it all came down to this moment. Going to practice for months, the bruises, the pain, it was all preparing me for this altering moment. I’m a soccer goalie, that in itself is a big responsibility, but tonight my team was counting on me to lead them to victory. We just played a full 90-minute game only to be tied two to two. I stood in between the goal posts, people cheering my name, as a member from the opposing team walked closer. Since we tied we are in a penalty shootout, the outcome of the game is decided on this one kick. See, being a goalie is a big responsibility, but during a shootout, that's when it gets unbearably stressful. The odds are not in a goalie’s favor. There is only an eighteen percent chance that the goalie will stop the penalty kick, but I was beating those odds because I already blocked two out of four shots. I just needed to block one more, one more and we win the gold medal, we win first place. As the player walks closer to me, the cheering of the crowd slowly dissipates. All I hear is my heart pounding out of my chest. It all comes down to this final whistle signaling the kicker to begin. I felt unstoppable, this was my moment to shine, this was when I became the hero for my team. The referee blew

The third game, that was previously postponed, was a tie at 8-8 with a team from Bucks County. Then it was a waiting game to see who and when we would play. We ended up playing a team called Big Sky and won that game. Then right after that we played York A team for the gold medal; which no keystone west team had ever won. The game was a long one if you were playing even though the game was only 40 minutes it felt like 2 hours. The game was 6-2 at the half and the keystone West team were winning. With under 1 minute left in the game the score was West 12 a York A had 8. York ran the ball down the field and then throw it out of bounds with under 30 seconds. West got the send it call and that is what they did and ended that throw with a goal. That ended the game and all but one of the West team ran to their goalie but I did not. I was in so much shock from how I went from one position to another in under a year and was one of the best in Western PA and how much we practice we had to let this moment happen. I am now and was and will always be proud of what happened with this

At that moment I realized that I had to add something to my game in order to stand out. I soon learned that practice and physicality could only make me better. Freshman year came around and i didn't have a coach that was willing to support me and help me develop into the player i know i am today. Its been a whirlwind of emotions with all the pain and failure I've experienced since my freshman year, when i watched the team go 4-11, To say the least i didn't get a single game but that only taught me to fight harder for what i wanted. Sophomore year came around, and with that a new coaching staff that gave me an opportunity to shine from day one. At the beginning of my sophomore season i thought i wasn't meant to be a goalkeeper, so i switched to attack, after a few games, i didn't like it and my coach could see that i was frustrated not being able to settle in. During a game against Flanagan High School, our goalie let in two goals in a matter of seconds, and our coach

Everyone has that one special thing. The thing that is comfortable and familiar. The thing that makes every problem, worry, and doubt go away. My thing is soccer. I cannot recall a time in my life where I didn’t have a ball at my feet. Soccer has been a major part of my life ever since I was born. From attending my first soccer game at the young age of one month, playing my first soccer game when I was two years old, and still playing to this day, it is safe to say that soccer has taken over my life.

One club season I would get piercing shin guard burns. I tried creams, shin guard covers, ice, new shin guards, everything! Nothing would help from the blistering, peeling burns on my shins. Any time I would shift leg positions it felt like bees were stinging my shins. This happened the whole season until I found that if I applied lotion before the game then put shin guard covers underneath my shin guards the blistering would cease. The burns, cuts, bruises, aches and pain were always worth it to play the sport I loved.

The game was to be decided by penalty shootouts. Once again, the odds were in our favor, we had the best goalkeeper in the league. Despite having to shoot second we all remained confident that we would win. No goal was prevented for the first thirteen rounds of penalty kicks. In the fourteenth round of penalty kicks, the St. John’s striker quickly took the shot and missed. It was up to me to win the game. I set the ball on the ground, took three large steps back looked at the goal and took the shot with all the power I had in my right foot. I missed. My shot hit the top of the crossbar and bounced back to me. My heart sank, I had failed at my job to deliver for the team. We battled back and forth up to the twenty fourth round, when the player from St. Johns finally “made” his shot by protest because it had hit the crossbar gone in and gone out. All Devin needed to do was make his shot to win the game. Devin took the shot. He missed. It was over, our perfect season had come to an end. We had come so close but ultimately

We were all set up on the field ready for the game, I remember closing my eyes forabout a minute before the game started, that minute felt like 10 years, I froze and thought aboutmyself when I was 3 years old and how I first fell in love with the game and how my ultimatedream was to become pro, I remember the hours of pain and suffering I put myself through tobecome the player I was today, I remembered waking up at 4 a.m. on school mornings to go forruns so that I could run longer in games,I remember skipping parties and hanging with friendsso that I could train, I remembered everything, but one thing truly hit me was how much soccerwas there for me growing up my parents argued a lot and when I was feeling sad and lonely Iwould go train at the fields and it would hell my sorrow. Growing up in a household when yourparents are constantly fighting is difficult, but soccer was my out lit it was my therapist. Duringthe time of their divorce I felt like I had no one but soccer so I decided I need to give back to thegame. Soccer did so much for me, so I wanted to prove to it that it wasn't a waste of time andthat I would make something out of the game. I opened my eyes and didn't feel human anymore Ididn't feel in control of my own body the sport had taken over me for the better. I remembermoments when I was running and it didn't even feel like my feet were touching the floor

The opposition scored the first goal and we were slightly disheartened. But then Joshua McNack from our team aided in the score of an own goal on the Culver’s team’s part, and our side of the field erupted in celebration. In the second half the Culver’s were determined to score more goals and shot many shots on target, but unfortunately for them none of them were successful, thanks to our amazing goalie Braxton. Although the game turned out to be a tie, it was a really close game and there were some very good goal shot attempts. After the game, we interviewed the scorer of our goals, Joshua McNack. We asked him what he felt like when he thought that he missed the goal, but ended up scoring, and he responded “I wasn’t satisfied, but i was glad

Everything felt slow with just 45 more minutes until the game no one was ready yet. Everyone was moving around, no one could sit still. This was the first time that everyone has been in this kind of position. My coach came in and asked for the captains. Our captain looked around and picked me to go with him. With chills going down my neck I slowing walked out with him. On the field I can see so many lights shining, the ice cold air. Walking to the middle of the field my captain asked me to call the toss. I told him no but he told me he was too nervous to do it. Slowly walking towards the middle of the field we saw the other team’s captains. They were huge way bigger than me. The first strategy of football is to send your biggest guys to scare the other team. Well they did it to perfection to six foot guys that looks

My team had been preparing for this game our entire season. All of the workouts, practices, and games would all finally be put to the test. My team’s record against them was one to one. Each game before this was a tight matchup and a very high competitive game. This game would decide which of us would pack up our bags and done for the season. For our seniors this meant the end of their hockey career entirely. For the younger ones on the team it was a day to play for our seniors. A chance to give ourselves and them extra time together the ice and on the team. I remember my coach saying everything that you have done so far has led up to this moment.

It was the last game of the season, a televised football competition vs Murphy high school, a big rivalry game that Vigor was projected to lose. Going into the game I never knew how much this game would change my life. Down 28-27 in the fourth quarter with three minutes and eight seconds left on the game clock, my teammates and coaches leaned on me to close out the game to help ensure a victory.

We had to go to bed early because we knew the next few days of competition would be long and tiring. Once the next day came around we woke up and prepared for our first two games of the tournament. I was nervous, this was my first time playing in a "AA" provincial championship. Many of the teams we would be facing this weekend we teams we had won and lost too. But some of the teams had never even played against us. These two days of round robin competition had put us into 4th place which meant we would be going top the semi-finals. The pressure to preform grew even greater as we went up against the top seated

There was only five minutes remaining, and we were on the power play. A man advantage with five minutes left in a tie game for two minutes what else could you ask for? I stepped on to the ice I was so zoned in I could hear my skates shuffling across the ice as a skated to my position. The play was tough but our team was skilled, and had the ability to overcome adversity. I got the puck on the blue line passed it across to my teammate who had a god given passing lane to another teammate who shot it right through the red metal posts, with three minutes left in the game we had taken the

Football or “soccer” brings out who I am. I am a hard worker, athletic, respectful, and responsible. I love playing soccer and I can show my character through it.