Liz's Log: The Beginning of the End for Senior Class
Perspectives on Toro Women's Soccer
August 28, 2005

After all these years of hearing people say “Your college years will go by so fast, and it will be over before you know it,” I have finally realized that the time for my college experience to be over has come.

This season is the beginning of the end, at least for the seniors that is. This is my fourth and final year as a Toro and it is very difficult to describe how I feel about that. I will not miss my sore legs from double days nor will I miss our infamous ten-minute run! But at the same time I will miss everything about double days! Building friendships and creating memories with my team is something that will never be replaced.

We have spent over four hours per day with the same thirty girls for the past three weeks. I can’t say that these eighty or so hours have been completely blissful. Off the field, our trainers, Ethan and Tim, have had to deal with not only our injuries, but they have had to hear our daily complaints of being too tired and our legs being too sore. There have been times where they have tried to talk our coaches into going easy on us, and we completely appreciate it, but the truth of the matter is that we have to work hard to get better. Hard work is very demanding, and that is why I believe we get grumpy and of course, very tired.

On the field, there have been obstacles to overcome as a team, and we have handled them like troopers so far. A couple of games ago, for example, we lacked chemistry and energy on the field and so we fell to Biola in a scrimmage, 2-0. Since that game, we’ve brought energy and intensity to practices as well as the following scrimmage where we tied Vanguard 3-3. We overcame a tough game and we have showed character since then.

Friday is our first official game and I’m very nervous and anxious for what’s to come. (This just in . . . CSUDH defeated Concordia, 2-0). I’m nervous because I’m not really sure how the girls will handle the pressure of knowing that every game counts from now on, but I’m also anxious to get our season underway. I’m excited to feel the energy that our league brings and I’m excited for those ninety minutes of hard work.

As a team, there are still a few things that need to be worked on in order to be a true championship team, but for the most part I’m very happy of where we stand before our first game. We have the talent, the coaching staff, and we have the best family support anyone can ask for, and that is why I believe in my heart that we are and will be champions!

I would like to close with a quote that has become more than just words to me and to our team. We hope you will come out and witness our continued efforts to excel.

"We are what we repeatedly do, therefore excellence is not an act but a habit." -Aristotle

Liz