Winning the State Championship is every players first goal no matter the age or where you live. The girls worked hard this year and are now able to say, “I am a State Champion.”
Last year as the season came to an end I was very proud of the girls and how hard they worked individually and as a group to become a team. So often “teams” will depend on ONE player to do everything and THE TEAM is centered around one player. If they play well, there’s a chance for the group to experience a win, if they are off, well many players are deflated. That’s never been how I would like to play nor how I would like to coach in the future. Yes teams usually have their one player who gets the attacking award, like Alyssa Fason did in the tourney, she was our attacker. But, a good player knows that she needs someone to feed her balls and a defense to stop the other team from continually advancing. It’s a TEAM effort.
As I said in earlier blogs, May has been crazy. Part of the reason for that has been because of the end of the soccer season. My seniors are preparing for graduation, they don’t have to go to as many classes and finish earlier. They were excited about that. But, I can imagine that it’s hard to continue to train hard and prepare for the tourney when you aren’t studying or in classes anymore.
I was very thankful for these ladies. They didn’t dwindle away or come late to train, they were ready and focused to win a title. These seven ladies above, usually worked hard in training, asked questions and desired to understand what I was trying to do. They were troopers to listen and then encourage the other players to follow through. I will miss these ladies. They have to be one of the most talented classes to graduate here in Arkansas ever.
The way the State tourney is played here, there isn’t a sectional tourney first. So many teams will go on to the State tourney depending on their record after their games are played. We had done well, but had lost twice to Conway during the season, so we were seated second in the tourney for our conference. Here in Arkansas, the teams in North West Arkansas are usually able to have some pretty good talent in all their sports. In soccer they are closer to Oklahoma and Missouri, so. some players choose to play club in these states. The talent pool in these states can be more consistent sometimes. They always have some good players and coaches that are experienced in coaching soccer. Makes it harder for the rest of the state but, they are beatable.
The last two weeks of training are more focused on getting girls to loosen up and BELIEVE that they can do what we have been working on. We were fortunate to be able to do some training on some grass since we have been playing on turf all year.
It was great to be able to see the difference of speed of ball and size of a college field. They are usually wider and that width makes a huge difference in fitness and what you want to do as a coach.
I remember this picture of MC(one of our captains/seniors) as we headed back from our last practice before heading to state tourney game. It had been a lot to work for the past 14 years or so and after state tourney games, that would be all most of our seniors would play….at this level, ever. It’s a lot to ponder about and realize these moments occur many times in life.
One of the things the girls enjoy most about soccer tourney is the staying in hotels and Nikki Funk does a great job getting parents and companies to help with girls for the girls. We have been super blessed. As we left town the school and elementary schools were so great to say good luck ladies and cheer us on as we pulled out of parking lot. It was a great memory.
I haven’t mentioned that our boys soccer team also made the State Finals in the tourney. Their presence and winning made our memories so much greater and the experience so much fun! I have known the boys for a long time, as Garrett played with a lot of them. So thankful they were able to experience such a memory before some of them graduated.
While we were at the tourney it was Abbey and Ashton’s 16th bday. They love soccer but, it’s still a rushed bday and not the way you would probably write how you want to celebrate. We let the pasta place serve them some dessert and the girls are so sweet to just help others feel special. We were thankful to get these cookies and pass them out to the girls after dinner.
As we went out on the field for the games, I told the girls that they needed to play hard and believe they could win. The girls worked hard and beat Fayetteville 1-0 and then beat Bentonville 2-0. I have been proud of our defensive line. They did a great job in the back all year and their experience and work effort made a difference in the games.
In the Final Game we were moved from Conway, AR to Fayetteville, AR where we were given the opportunity to play on the Razorback field again, like we did last year. The first week of the tourney the temp was cooler and it’s always a little hotter for the championship! How badly do you want to win?
Before the game started I told them they needed to own and score the first 5 minutes. Now, we’ve said this before and the girls have allowed their fear or doubt to be their focus. Not what I’ve told them to focus on and know. We had experience in the Razorback field and playing on that field is different because of size and noise level. Last year it was harder to get comfortable because of those two things. The girls started quick and really dominated possession for the first 5 minutes like we said. The girls were able to score a goal before the 5 min mark. It was pretty exciting.
Conway came back and scored on a direct kick and sent ball far post in the goal and we were able to score again off of a PK and Alyssa Fason took the shot and it went in. I was. very proud of these girls. They ran over to celebrate with the crowd and honestly, it wasn’t my time to do that.
I was blessed to be a player and to win in college and HS. Games are not for coaches to win, they are for players to win. Players have to choose to work physically and mentally until they are spent. Coaches can want them to do what they say, but players have to decided to do it. So in the end – it is the players win. I am thankful for these ladies and all they have taught me as a coach and how I desire to live as a follower of Christ.
The Championship will be a forever memory for these ladies and I know that they made many memories from the beginning of the season to the end. Hopefully the season made them depend on the Lord more and hopefully the win helps them to know, they should never give up. Believe, focus, believe, train, believe and then DO.
We were fortunate pretty soon after the finals and graduation, we did our soccer banquet. So much to try to fit in! Was fun to see the awards the seniors gave and to give each player an award. All the girls improved this year and I am excited to see where they are able to go.
This year my senior captains asked me if they could give their captain bands to the captains for next year. We had never done that before. The team always voted, but last year there really wasn’t a unanimous opinion and we struggled to figure out how to pick captains. When the girls who were voted on for this past season asked me this, I told them I would have to think about it and I would get back with them on it. After a couple days of praying through and looking at positives and negatives, I told them they could pick IF the selection was unanimous between the three. There were two names that were unanimous so at the banquet the captains handed their arm band to two girls: Addison Funk and Ashton Inman. They couldn’t select a third and we agreed that we would wait to see if someone stepped up to the plate in the coming months. Thankful that the captains were able to approach me with their idea.
Pretty excited to see our championship rings in a few weeks. The girls have enjoyed their new stickers on their windows and seeing the new State Champion painted on the athletic building at school. I’ve collected a few things that will look great in my office this next year.
When school finished and everything was done….it wasn’t! We had a banquet that is focused on highlighting athletes of all sports on what they have accomplished for the year. We had two athletes put on the list: Alyssa Fason and Ashton Inman. Abbey and I went and were able to cheer on all the athletes for all they have done. I was also given the opportunity to coach the All Star game for the seniors. Had a great time hanging out with Rachel and Ashlyn for a couple days and watch them play one last time. It’s such a blessing to look at the final scores for each game we played up on the locker room wall.
Hard to believe my second season is over. As I think back to all that happened and all the Lord did, it’s time to start looking ahead. Will miss these seniors, but look forward to pouring into and investing in the rest. I know they are going to be cheering the rest of the girls on this coming year! I have a new hat read for next year and we will always remember the season we were able to share together. Proud of these ladies! Go Lady Hornets!!!
Coaching is a blessing for me. When I would coach this year it would make me feel “normal” and it’s something I am passionate about. I love seeing the girls improve and succeed. Praying this year the ladies work hard, love one another, focus on improvement and desire to play together.
Continue to pray for the ladies as they train and prepare to prevent injury and be team focused.
I have finished my chemo pills for the year. I am thankful to be done. I’ve been more tired this summer. I have been trying to start working out a bit and I can tell my body is tired. Please pray for continued energy growth.
I will continue to get MRI’s every other month and see a new doctor. Pray that eyes are opened for them and that I do what I need to be doing. God is in control and I trust Him in all of days going forward.
School starts sooner than I can think and I am trying to finish a few things. There’s so much to catch up on and not enough time it seems! Thank you for your continued prayers. God is so good to me!
