quick post

so quick post here before i head out to go watch some soccer.

what are you up to this weekend?  as i've mentioned, we are mid-way through the NCAAs and so i'm supporting my MWS in Grantham today and likely tomorrow.  then there's thanksgiving dinner at church tonight (if i make it back on time).

i love the sun this morning.  it is a great reminder of how God's mercies are new every morning.  

Thank you Jesus.

Upset City

I know I brag and talk a lot about my soccer team, my college, the one i once played for, Messiah College.  but it's because they are worthy; and because i had such a great soccer experience, because i respect the coaches; because the program has had so much success, success that i feel i have experienced along with them and at one time contributed to and continue to participate in.  pride, baby, pride.

MWS National Championship 2009

NCAAs are currently in sesh.  i love it.  i have only been to one game this past season (men's and women's); but no different than any other year, i am engulfed with d3 soccer fever this time of year.  NCAA Regionals kicked off this past weekend and both the men's and women's teams hosted this first and second round of the tournament.  Well, as expected, the women's team (MWS) cruised through the first (Elms) and second (Skidmore) rounds and are now awaiting times and location of games this coming weekend for sectionals.  i was hoping that this round would be in Baltimore, MD (at Johns Hopkins University); however, i presume that it now will be at Messiah.  Here's the shocker:  Generally, there is a trade off every other year with the men's and women's teams for home field advantage at sectionals since it is (usually) pretty certain that both teams will make it to that round.  However, this year, the men's team got upset in overtime against Neumann College (and the shocker is really not the fact that they lost, but that they lost in the second round to Neumann).  sooooo, no conflicting tournament scheduling is on the table and that means top seeded MWS may be hosting this weekend.  good for the team, bad for me.  good for MWS, bad for JHU.  [side note:  Hopkins has an impressive 21-0 record.  whoever ends up having home field advantage, will def have just that.  And not only because of that, but based on the surface of home field.]  MWS plays on grass; JHU on turf.]  it's fine.  whichever venue it happens to be at, i plan to be there, and will bet that this will be the best game of the season (for both teams). [another side note:  this is the first year, as far as i am aware, that MWS has made it farther than the men's team. (finally)]

MWS National Champions 2009

so besides all that recent hoopla, i had a pretty good weekend. how about you?  mine consisted of sushi and starbucks, playing soccer in great weather, coaching soccer to a win (finally!), football practice, church, brunch, friends, Sunday football, plenty of sleep, and netflix.  relatively, good weekend, i'd say.  i cannot believe Thanksgiving is in less than 2 weeks.  craazzzzy!

So Today...

...I voted!  I ran 2 laps around my neighborhood and then stopped at the polls to vote, then continued my run.  It actually felt soooo good.  Unfortunately, it's been awhile since i've been on a run, so it was much needed.  And then to cool off, i laid on the ground and gazed at the stars, beautiful night.  love that.  I also drank some sour chocolate silk milk, even though the expiration date was in December.  ugh!  Today at work, I had 2 continuing ed classes.  I love them.  I mean, not really, but it's not like real school where it actually matters.  so i just don't even pay attention.  it's like a mini vaca at work. kinda.  

so just to give you a little update.  the D3 soccer NCAA brackets came out yesterday.  Both Messiah soccer teams won their Commonwealth Conferences, respectively.  Wooo.  For the women, it was the 5th straight and i think 11 of the last 12 years.  talk about domination.  But anyways, MWS is playing at home in the first round against Elms College.  they scored a relatively easy bracket to make it to the next round.  my guess is that if they advance, they will be traveling to Hopkins in Baltimore, MD.  yaaaaya.  right in my backyard.  Hopkins is a very strong team though.  i saw them play on Sunday.  they are athletic, fit and strong and they always play Messiah well.  so needless to say, if and when MWS comes to Baltimore, i'll be stoked, but i will also be very very nervous for them.

i wanna watch the cmas tomorrow. boo.

Messiah bound

Today, I'm off to Messiah College to coach and then to watch the best in the country.  It is beautiful weather for a soccer game.  Then again, it's always a great day to play - never forget that!  

I've decided that I also need this kitchen cart for my house.  I just need some more space for stuff to free up the counter space, that's it.  How about this cart from ikea?  

My sister has this in her kitchen and I might copy her style.

Messiah Athletics - national exposure

Today, the USA Today ran an article on Messiah College, in particular the women's and men's soccer teams, with mention of the field hockey and softball teams. How awesome is this!? I mean, seriously, I have been bragging about this program and this team for years! They seriously are the real deal when it comes to quality soccer, playing with class, and execution. Additionally, not only was Messiah recognized as a national powerhouse in athletics, which is quite the honor, the name of Jesus was exalted and as with every game, a great Christian testimony portrayed. I am truly proud to have played for a program with such high spiritual, academic, and athletic standards, and to have such a great team of players who were sisters, bonded by the undying love of Christ. The article brought such great memories to mind and it was almost like I was re-living my days on the MWS team. The testimony of the players are the exact same feelings that I can remember as a player. To God be the glory! Go Messiah!

the smell of soccer

The air is crisp and grass is green. I feel a change in seasons and smell…soccer! One can only know what I mean if you are a soccer player/parent/referee, etc. It is a feeling within that takes you back to the days that you played, as a kid for fun and a young adult competitively. The way you felt when you laced up your boots and made sure your guards were straight, the way the air smelled and the sky looked, the green grass and painted white lines; the feeling as if you were unstoppable; focused – it just brings you back.

I have such an excitement for this fall/soccer season despite being somewhat uninvolved on the collegiate front this year. It stems from a combination of things: 1) the Messiah College women are at the top (again) and a strong contender for another national title http://www.messiah.edu/athletics/sports/womens_soccer/; 2) I am not coaching this season, which gives me the liberty and flexibility to watch great soccer anytime I want, train for a marathon www.thebaltimoremarathon.com/ and play some soccer for myself; 3) There are many great matchups this season in the local Baltimore area, which include Navy Men’s soccer and top ranked Johns Hopkins University Women. Hopkins has a great schedule, with many competitions played on their home turf against nationally ranked teams (TCNJ, Washington Mo, and Lynchburg), http://www.hopkinssports.com/sports/w-soccer/sched/jhop-w-soccer-sched.html (not to mention playing #1 Messiah in Grantham early on in the season). Participating in the Hopkins tournament, William Smith also plays in town Labor Day weekend. Brandt’s Navy team plays at Loyola MD 10/6 http://www.navysports.com/sports/m-soccer/sched/navy-m-soccer-sched.html and of course, there is my former College of Notre Dame of MD gators who also play a significant amount of home games this year http://www.ndm.edu/Athletics/Soccer/Schedule.cfm (all fields within running distance from my house) …and yes, I do check the official online scoreboard on a daily basis, color code games and schedules on my outlook calendar, and update my online bookmarks to the team sites in order by rankings (d3-w) – awesome.

So my goals are several for this season: 1) keep an updated blog here; 2) attend two or three Messiah women’s games, including Homecoming (my first!) and hopefully playoffs; and, 3) attend as many local D3 games that I am able this fall. Further, I am running a marathon on 10/10 and play an average of 2 times per week with various teams, varying in competitive level. To all players and coaches, good luck this season and know that it is always just a great day to play.