Jeff's Journal: Brushing Up on Chemistry 101 after Going Winless in Seattle
A Diary by Jeff Kunze, Toros Soccer Player
October 9, 2002

Wow!!! There are so many things that have to be said in this journal entry. Well, it all started when the men's soccer team got on to the airplane to go to Seattle. Many of the guys thought that it was going to be a fun trip just to travel and see the Space Needle. They were in for a huge surprise. I'm going to go ahead and tell you the scores if you do not already know. Seattle Pacific University 2, Toros 1. Western Washington University 2, Toros 1.

We lost two games that we had the potential to dominate. However, we were the ones who were dominated. No emotions were brought to the game either day. Many people were messing around the whole weekend though so how could that not effect the games. A few players missing curfew and people arriving late to every meeting did not help the chemistry on the weekend. I am not pointing fingers at anyone in particular, I believe that everyone is at fault.

The captains of the team had instructions on what to do when the coaches were not present because they were away coaching the women's team. However, nobody wanted to listen to two people who are the same age as they are and for whom they do not have nearly as much respect as the coaches.

Then we have to look at the team members. Since the coaches are handling both teams this year, sometimes they cannot be there to babysit us. However, many of the guys on the team need babysitting. People showing up late to the lobby to go get food or practice, without any excuse. Making your own teammates wait because you want to watch ten more minutes of television. Everyone was very greedy this past weekend and that is why we lost. We lost our team unity and chemistry for the weekend and that is what makes us special.

Now that we have talked about this, I would like to mention that all of these issues were addressed. The coaches talked about maybe neglecting us a little this weekend (mostly due to coaching two teams), and the guys talked about what went wrong. We all have had a lot of time to think things over which is good because Joe Flanagan has asked each one of us to individually answer a question: What does it mean to you to be part of one of the top five teams in the nation? And what does the game against Sonoma, this Friday, mean to you now that it is almost a mandatory win to get a position in playoffs?

For me I feel that these are very easy questions to answer. First, being part of this team is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Not only because of the talent, but because of the people I have met. From players to coaches, I feel I have learned a great deal. I think Joe has taught me more about soccer than I thought I could learn. I also feel like I have some life long friendships with some of the guys on the team. Even though this chemistry was not present on the road trip to Seattle, I know it is still there. That is why I am not very nervous about the game on Friday. I do not feel we have lost the chemistry, I feel that we took advantage of it the past weekend. Now that we know our weakness, we can fix it.

To answer Joe's question for myself, being part of this team is my life and I am not going to let my life end this Friday. To win this game, we will have to bring emotion and leave our hearts and sweat on the field. I know my teammates will do this.

Till Next Time,
Jeff