"I Gotta Feeling"

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After months of sacrifice and preparation, the GU15 Surf White team demonstrated
perseverance through their passion, determination and desire on the pitch at the
US Youth National Championships. After much concern that the girls might not be
well prepared for Nationals after qualifying as a wildcard by winning National
League back in March, the girls traveled to Lancaster, Massachusetts 6 days
before their first scheduled kickoff game. With the anxiety running high to
begin competition and with the opportunity to hold the National Champion trophy
at hand, the team started the voyage with a training session and college tour at
Boston College upon the first day of the team's arrival. In the next few days
leading to the National Championship Team luncheon, the team sacrificed sleep
and tried to mimic the playing schedule by training some days up to two to three
times a day. With the first game scheduled at 7:30a EST, the team had to get
their bodies and minds used to waking up early and ready for an early game, 4:30
Pacific Time. With some training days being hindered by lack of fields and
rain, the girls took playing soccer to the parking lot and the hotel's
conference rooms. In between all of the hard preparation, the ladies enjoyed
spending time at breakfast, lunches and team dinners. They also loosened the
tension by playing cards and dancing- "jerking"- to songs like "I Gotta Feeling"
and "All The Above" which became a thematic portrayal of the feelings that
united the teams' goals when focus was a necessity.

Day 1

Player Luncheon

With pouring rain, the team traveled to the player luncheon dressed to enjoy an
afternoon lunch with all of the boys and girls teams participating at the
National Championships. For the first time, the team caught eye of the Girls
U15 Christine Lilly National Champion Trophy as they set their goal to hoist it
at the end of the grinding struggle.

Day 2

First day of competition was highlighted with a shower of goals as we emerged as
the victor on a 5-0 victory over the St Louis Scott Gallagher team. Our first
team goal was to get our first win under our belt and we had lived up to the
expectations as an array of creative goals were scored by 5 different players.
With no goals against, a solid defense was on route to paving the road to the
finals. St Louis only allowed 1 goal in each of their next two games. We had
a feeling that night was going to be a good night as another victory would
guarantee us a spot in the National Championship finals as we faced the National
League finalists whom we barely edged in a 1-0 victory back in March in the next
game.

Day 3

A match not fit for the faint of heart best described the intensity in which the
game was played against the FC Pennsylvania Strikers. A win for the Strikers
kept their hopes alive to be in the finals of the National Championship, a loss
would force our team to win our last game and hope that the goal differential
would boost our aspirations into the finals. From the first minute, the
Strikers demonstrated their determination through their aggressive play and
broke the defense down as one of their forwards broke loose on a 1 versus 1
against Ari, our goal keeper. Ari came up with a momentum shifting save that
allowed us to gain momentum and remain in the game. With both teams coming
close to opening the score, the game's lone goal came from our team, another
different player from that of our first match, in the final minutes of the
second half. Our confidence grew as we gained control of the game and surfed
the wave of momentum into the finals. Two games in and we had guaranteed a spot
in the championship game versus the North Texas Dallas Texans.

Day 4

The last game of the round robin was versus our cross town rivals, So Cal Blues.
With our focus to not loose momentum and confidence entering the final game,
Michelle, outstretched on a couple of shots to ensure that we continued with a
clean sheet of no goals against. After a scoreless tie and no days of rest in
between long games, the girls commenced the recovering process by taking ice
baths. In less than 24 hrs, we would be at the fields playing the most
important game in the team's past 7 yrs.

Day 5 THE FINAL

The Dallas Texans had lost their final match versus the FC Penn Strikers,1-0 and
we were hoping that they might have lost some focus with the loss but their
attitudes weren't to be underestimated. The finals versus the Dallas Texans
completed the full circle of the journey that had started back in U9's and had
begun to have life back in December of 2008. They were our first opponent in
National League in North Carolina and we had tied them in the last minutes of
the game abck then. Known for their defensive organization, grit and physical
play, they proved a tough opponent to break down. Just when we gained momentum
by passing the ball around, they would find a way of motivating themselves to
get back into the game. Both goalkeepers for our Surf team Ari and Michelle
were tested as well as the Texans Goalkeeper. After 19 shots through regular
game play and overtime, we witnessed a scoreless game. Our fate would now be in
the hands from the penalty kick spot. In the end, their last shot was saved
while we scored ours.

Our mission to rise to the top and believe in one another as a team, player, and
coach had been fulfilled as we were crowned National Champions. Seven years of
investing time, money, sweat and tears had all culminated and ended my journey
as a coach with this team at the pinnacle of our voyage together. In the end,
the players had dedicated themselves to a vision and exemplified what
sacrificing as a team can accomplish. By surrounding themselves with a club
that supported their every step, coaches that believed in them as a player and
talented young ladies, and parents willing to make a high level of commitment
and sacrifice, a National Champion was born.

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