GOOOAAAAL!!!!!!

4/20/2013 Today was finally a beautiful day. It has been a long winter and we are very excited to welcome spring. Tommy thought it would be fun for us to check out a soccer game. So for one of my birthday presents he bought us a couple tickets to see the Minnesota United FC vs. FC Edmonton (a Canadian team) play at the Metrodome. After visiting Aesthetic Apparatus we headed to the stadium. Lucky for us there were food trucks outside and I spotted Potter’s Pasties! We grabbed a quick bite to eat and made our way to the field. This was our first time visiting the Metrodome! It was very easy to navigate and we quickly found our seats. Basically we had the the option to sit anywhere between sections 130 and 132. It was a no brainer we both chose 131 (middle of the field, duh). Then we picked section 13 (my soccer number). They were perfect seats! We munched on our lunch while the players were in the locker room. Finally they took the field. Zoe cheered for players as they all walked on the field. I love watching her enthusiasm! It is so fun to share these moments with her. I know she won’t remember them, but I can’t deny the fact that she thoroughly enjoys herself when we go to events like this.

They game was well underway when Zoe finally decided to take a nap. The United controlled the ball for the majority of the first half. There were a handful of penalties and yellow cards. One of the infractions was against United in Edmonton’s penalty box resulting in a penalty kick. It was United opportunity to score a goal. The pressure was on and everyone was lined up for the shot. #7 Simone Bracalello sank the ball in the upper left corner. It was a beautiful goal. The score was 1-0 United at half time.
After half time Zoe woke up and began cheering again. She was in a great mood and just minutes into the second half United was on fire. Moments into the second half the United had made their way down the field. A cross connected with #32 Lucas Rodriguez and he popped the ball in the net. It was pretty magical and intense. They had finally connected. The game was now 2-0. They finished up the game with a few more yellow cards. It got pretty ridiculous. The yellow team didn’t bring their ‘A’ game. Zoe was pretty disappointed and started shaking her head. We decided that the referee needed to put their glasses on!

This was United’s first win of the season! YAY!!! After the game we waited around for the players to make their rounds to greet the fans. The players were great they came up and gave her a high five. She wasn’t so sure about the sweaty strange men coming up to her. It was a great experience. I loved being back in the soccer world for a moment.

One of the reasons Tommy chose a soccer game is because I played soccer growing up. For eight years our family revolved around soccer. We were in countless tournaments, spent hours on end practicing, and we practically lived on the soccer field.I have so many vivid memories of the feeling of being flush in my cheeks after playing a full game, chugging ice cold water after a long practice, the sound of my cleats on concrete (I usually forgot my extra pair of shoes in the car), the sound of the referee’s whistle, standing in a circle cheering with my teammates, the attractive tan lines from my uniform and shin guards, the fun that always ensued after a game, these are such sweet memories that I always keep with me. Ashley and I both made a lot of friends through soccer. Some of my teammates became like family to me. I played four years at the recreational level, then after a couple of State Cups my parents thought it would be a good opportunity for us to try out for one of the local club teams. I played another four years of club soccer and two years of high school soccer. (I apologize for the terrible quality of these pictures)  Unfortunately I quit playing my junior year of high school. If I was asked what one of my regrets in life was, it would be that. Quitting something I loved so much. I let the politics and my teen attitude get in the way of something I love. I smell a letter to Zoe, but I will save it for another time. I see a lot of my teammates still playing and enjoying the sport I loved. I admire there motivation and eagerness to stay in the game. All though I would love to continue playing, I know that I wasn’t that great and that I much prefer to coach. My senior year I ended up assisting a 18 and under recreational league team. I loved every minute of it for two reasons. One I love teaching others and two I found out I like working with high schoolers (I only realize this in retrospect). Coaching with Cliff is one of my favorite memories from my senior year. It doesn’t hurt that our team came in first place at the end of the season either.

Tommy and I have talked and dreamt about what sports we would like our children to play and to be completely honest I don’t know how I feel about Zoe playing soccer. I don’t want her to feel pressured into playing the sport I played because I can coach. I don’t want her to chose something that I want more than her. I want her to find something that she is passionate about and pursue her dreams. BUT if she did choose to play soccer I would love to coach her for a little while. I know my talent is limited and I would want her to be exposed to other coaches and what they have to offer her. I won’t lie it would be pretty awesome to see Zoe running around on the soccer field. Taking her to the United game opened my eyes and heart again to the world of soccer.