Indiana University Athletics
Weekend Blog - Kelly Lawrence
8/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 29, 2006
During the 2006 season, IUHOOSIERS.com will give women's soccer fans an insider's look at what it's like to be a member of the team. Every Tuesday, a different Hoosier will bring her view of the weekend's events to IUHOOSIERS.com. The entry for Tuesday, Aug. 29, is by freshman Kelly Lawrence.
All the preparation for this tournament was almost complete, the moment everyone had been waiting for. The players met up to leave for the Wisconsin Tournament at Armstrong Stadium. A 9 a.m. start was enough to send almost every player to sleep as we set off for our eight-hour bus ride to Wisconsin.
The coaches seemed to take full advantage of the quiet, as inevitably it wouldn't last very long. The eight hours went by and we found ourselves on a practice field finishing off the last few stages of our preseason preparation. Quick feet drills and shooting was carried out, intending to get out the eight-hour dead leg feeling.
Optimism was in the air as the team made there way to the restaurant where Bev Markwort's birthday celebration would begin. The balloon man was a hit, creating a hat for Shannon Vnoucek, a tiara for Megan Reinhardt, another hat for Liz Holby, a monkey and a palm tree for Stacey Van Boxmeer and a genie in a bottle for the birthday girl.
A few words from the coaching staff and a very attractive man appeared at my shoulder - the one the only - Popeye! Still an active member of the team!
The game was upon us; a few nerves were lingering but the girls were all up for the game. We started well and showed some promising plays. When a 'die in the box' attitude still couldn't keep the ball from hitting the net, the girls knew it would be a struggle. Lets just say the soccer gods were not with us on this day.
However, we maintained a positive attitude and pressed on. We settled down in the second half and ended the game with some impressive performances coming from many players. A shot from Kristin Arnold skimmed the crossbar and was enough to make the whole crowd cry. It was not to be a 'Hoosier' day.
The girls were not satisfied with a 1-0 defeat and wanted to go out and prove something to the disbelievers in the conference. Popeye was joined by four-legged creatures on Saturday. Would the three new members of the team help lead the Hoosiers to victory? We would soon find out.
Sunday came by quickly and a thirst to prove ourselves was the mentality. The team came out of the blocks. With chance after chance, surely it would be our day! It wasn't for the lack of trying that the Hoosiers did not succeed in hitting the back of the net till late in the second half. Twenty-seven shots proved that the girls were taking responsibility and wanted to shout, 'we have arrived.'
However, the Hoosiers did feel that all was against them, with shots hitting the crossbar, the post, goal line clearances and a questionable call from the Blue Jays' friendly linesman was in dire need for the Blue Jays. The performance showed that IU is not just here to make up the numbers in the Big Ten, its goal being ultimately to win it! With performances like the one on Sunday there is no doubt that IU will be in a fighting chance of succeeding in its quest. A few in the net, and who knows...
