Women's Soccer
Brianna Young Blog - Week 2
 

Could Have Been Worse - Should Have Been Better: September 5-6, 2008

Looking over this past weekend, tying UT-Tyler 2-2 and then winning against UT-Dallas 2-1 (both in overtime), our effectiveness at putting teams away was an issue.  However, effectiveness must go hand in hand with urgency, with desire. With intensity…with a gut-wrenching need to put the ball in the back of the net. To get to those balls that no one else will, to sacrifice yourself - mentally, emotionally, physically - for each of the other 21 players. We cannot begin each game lethargic, or play down to their level, like we did versus UT-Dallas. Team captain Grace Rizza put it beautifully at halftime during that game - she was embarrassed to watch us play how we were,  because it was not Trinity Soccer.

Then, I must query, what is Trinity Women’s Soccer? I think part of it means risk. Risking that run, that tackle…to risk making a mistake, especially when there is fear of failure, or of being subbed out. Of course we must play smart, but we must also play with all those things that go along with effectiveness…that make an effective player a great player.

Even in the midst of our overall “should have been better,” you have beautiful moments - like Bekah Gabay’s goal from outside the 18-yard box against UT-Tyler…a beautifully-hit shot that tucked itself just behind the keeper. Or Alex Leamy’s goal against UTD, when she broke through two defenders to score…and later when first-year Abby Loar did the same thing inside the six-yard box, two minutes into our second overtime for the game winner.

Four games into the season. 2-1-1. Now is not the time to over-think how effective we must be… but we must ask ourselves each day at practice until the answer is burning within our gut: “how much do we want it?” 

There can be no other answer but two solid wins this coming weekend.