Catchin' Up with Kaeli: The Theatre of War
A Diary by Kaeli Kentner, Toros Soccer Player
September 30, 2003

Why is it that we all appreciate the brutality of grueling contact sports such as wrestling, rugby, and of course American football... but for some reason, soccer is often overlooked as one of the world's most physically demanding activities?

Don't underestimate what we endure each day to put on the show that you all call entertainment. Each game, from the minute the whistle blows until the final 10-second countdown, we are fighting a battle of the "survival of the fittest", literally. The girls who can overcome the physical and emotional pain will prevail in the final minutes.

As a team, we suffer from nine ankle injuries, eight damaged knees, fifteen previously broken bones, eighteen shin splints, and seven surgeries to repair these soccer-related injuries. Although we take our health very seriously, it's a big joke among us athletes about who has the biggest scars to show for their collisions. This dawned on me just the other day when Scottie White and I were comparing our "ACL reconstruction" scars at our break between classes. We're both blown out of the water, however, by Alba's tibia/fibula scar, which takes up the better half of her lower leg.

So, in addition to the nagging pain from pre-existing injuries, we deal with the usual bruises, raspberries, Charlie-horses, etc... and understand that it's all just a part of the game we love.

In our last game, I personally walked off the field with a bloody mouth from an "accidental sock in the face" while challenging an opponent for a header, I had a stiff knot in my leg, aching joints, blisters... and that's just the beginning. Remember, I'm just the average player. Each team member sacrifices her body through this type of adversity on a daily basis, while attempting to control the emotional aspects of the life of a starving college student. So if you were one of those poor misinformed souls who thought soccer was a glamorous show, but not such a rough sport, think again.

In conclusion, I must say congratulations ladies on pulling off some huge wins this week. Defeating San Diego (No. 4 in the Nation, No.1 in the Region) was, I'd say, quite a thrilling feat for us "underdogs". The chemistry is good, we're playing well... well enough to do some damage this season, so let's keep it up.

And way to keep on truckin' through some vicious physicality... we are fine-tuned athletes, even when our bodies could use a little "tuning up".

Kaeli