Angela's Blog Entry #8 - October 29, 2007
Friday night...our last conference game and senior night. I do not know how to even describe it, so I will start by saying thank you. To the fans: your continued support has meant so much to this team and this program. Thank you for believing in us through the years. To our family and friends: Thank you so much for coming to this game and celebrating the senior class. You are such a huge part of our lives and we are blessed to have you there with us through everything. To the parents: You truly made senior night so special for us girls. Over the past four years, we have become so close and you all mean so much to us. You always go above and beyond for us. I was so touched by everything you did to make the night incredibly memorable. You have been are biggest fans since we started playing soccer and we wouldn't be where we are today without you. To the coaches: Day in and day out you have impacted our lives. We would not be the people we are today without you. You have made us stronger people on and off the field. And to my teammates: I can never tell you how much senior day meant to me. You girls have been my teammates, my friends, my family, my support, my everything for the past four years. I have been through so many ups and downs, and you girls have been there for me no matter what. Every single one of you have touched my heart and made me the person I am today. The impact you have had on my life is extraordinary. You have made everything I have done and gone through worthwhile. You are all amazing people and I am so honored to call you my teammates. On Friday night, you made me feel so blessed and loved and that is the best gift I could ever ask for. As I looked around at all of you, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Soccer is so much more than just the game; it is the team...the experience. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am going to leave this program a better person because I knew all of you. I love you guys so much and I am going to miss you so much.
Senior night was indescribable and we beat Creighton to go 10-3-3!!! We finished 2nd in conference, so we do not have a play-in game!! We automatically go the semifinals of the tournament, so let's finish this thing out right!!!
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Thank you for being Kristin's mentor! She has had nothing but wonderful things to say about all the seniors and upperclassmen on the team. You don't know how much it means to us from so far to know that she is being looked after by such a wonderful group of 'sisters' on her team! It just confirms our decision about going to Evansville to play soccer and her education. I know she will miss you and the other seniors! Thank you again and the very best of luck to you in the future! Now go win the next two games! But no matter what, you've made us proud to be a part of this Aces family!
Posted by Patty T
November 6 10:29 AM
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Angela's Blog Entry #7 - October 18, 2007
Last week the athletic department sponsored a student-athlete academic breakfast. All student-athletes who achieved a 3.5 or higher GPA were invited to attend. Each student-athlete was also allowed to invite one professor. President Jennings and John Stanley, our athletic director, both spoke at the breakfast. Each student-athlete received a laptop bag and of course was served breakfast. Personally, I really enjoyed this event. It was very nice to be recognized for our work in the classroom. I was very proud of our team, as we were well represented at the breakfast.
As some of you know, I live in an apartment with Kaitlynn R., Julie, Heidi, and Kellee. Around 5:30 pm on Wednesday, our water was turned off without any warning. It did not come back on until noon the next day. Five female athletes with no running water is never a good situation. Actually, it was quite miserable. We all felt homeless as we had to get ready in the bathroom at the fitness center. It did however make me realize how many things I take for granted. I have never been happier to see a sink turn on in my life!
Despite our water problem, our apartment did have some real fun this weekend. We had a movie night, a pumpkin carving night, and a game night. To some people, these activities may seem boring. But if you know my roommates at all, you are probably aware that we laughed at each other the entire time. And despite my lack of pumpkin carving experience, our pumpkin turned out quite amazing, if I may say so myself.
This weekend, we also had success on the soccer field. We won both of our games, against Indiana State and Missouri State. We are already half way through conference, which is going by way too fast. Conference games are all extremely intense and unlike any other soccer game. You never know what is going to happen in conference. It doesn't matter how good a team you are; all that matters is who wants it more. For example, we were losing 1-0 against Indiana State. Then, with 8 minutes left in the game we scored two goals to win. It may not always be pretty soccer, but in conference, you do whatever it takes to win. Right now we are 2-0-1 in conference and 9-2-2 overall. And our next game is Thursday against Drake.
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I can only imagine the entertainment that occurred carving pumpkins, especially with you girls. Thank god no one cut off their hand, not like any of you are goalkeepers anyways. Keep up the good work, I miss you all and will talk to you soon.
Posted by Sarah G
October 18 7:06 PM
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Angela's Blog Entry #6 - October 1, 2007
So last weekend we were at Indiana University, and I was somehow put in charge of reading a map and directing us to dinner. Well, to make a long story short, I failed at my job and we ended up in a random part of town. The lesson I learned from this experience is to never mess with hungry females!!! But in my defense, I was never lost. As my dad always says, I always knew where I was, even though it was not where I was supposed to be.
This week was a very intense week of practice. Everyone was pretty angry and ready to work. This attitude was then definitely carried over to our game Friday night against UAB. We won 3-0 and finally played like we know how to. I hate to get all emotional, but there is nothing better than playing at home on a Friday night. The feeling you get when you step on to that field with your team is indescribable. It is one of the best feelings you get as an athlete and it is something I am definitely going to miss.
At our game we had a large fan base, which we always appreciate. We also had a little army of recruits this weekend. We left the field finally feeling proud of our performance. We set a standard of how we have to play every game. Saturday we had an hour practice, which featured our favorite game, PGG (pre-game game). The rest of the day was spent running errands, doing homework, and preparing for Sunday's game.
I arrived at the bus at 6:45am on Sunday morning. I was half asleep when I got to the bus, but as soon as I looked up I saw the one and only, Paul, the best bus driver in America. I instantly smiled and knew it was going to be a good day. On our way to IUPUI, we stopped for a pre-game meal in Terra Haute. Our game against IUPUI was slow and definitely below the standard we hold ourselves to. Nevertheless, we came out with a victory as we won 1-0. My best friend, Molly, was at the game as well as many loyal fans. Our trip back was uneventful, but Paul always makes it enjoyable.
Next week begins conference, which is the start of a new part of our season. Personally, I am extremely excited and motivated. We need to use this week to physically and mentally prepare, and get ready to win!
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Angela's Blog Entry #5 - September 23, 2007
My parents always taught me that if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all. So the only thing I am going to say about our game on Tuesday against Murray State is that we won 2-1. Our next game is on Sunday, so we actually have a few consecutive days of practice. We are taking this time to step back and mentally refocus. Playing a collegiate sport is extremely mental, and you have to actively work on improving that part of your game. As players we always focus on improving ourselves physically. But physical talent can only get you so far. It is the mental side of the game that has the greatest impact.
We have a game on Sunday against Indiana University in Bloomington. I have come to really value every game and every practice, since each is an opportunity that you only have once. You only have that one moment to work your hardest, to make an impact, and to ultimately have FUN. This season is already going by so fast. That is why it is so crucial to get the most out of everyday.
While I have not taken any NyQuil, I might need to get some from Rocky, so I can get some sleep. Balancing school, soccer, and all our other commitments is definitely time-demanding. I love doing everything I do; I just wish there were more hours in the day!!
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I cannot put into words how much I appreciate the updates from Angela. It really keeps us Aces fans up to date, and makes us feel like we are apart of the team. Thank you Angela for all of your hard work on and off the field.
Posted by Adam H
September 22 8:18 PM
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Angela's Blog Entry #4 - September 12, 2007
First of all, I need to send out an apology to the Pfau family. I accidentally omitted them from my previously blog, as they too graciously traveled to watch us play at Wright State. Coach was very hurt by this and has not talked to me in a week (just joking!). But seriously, we all greatly appreciate the continuous support from all our fans. It really means a lot to us.
So far this season, our practices have been few and far between. It feels like all we do is play games. Luckily, many of our games are at home, and like Rocky said, we love playing at home!! The constant playing may be taking its toll on us, but it is good for us to work through this both mentally and physically. Tuesday, we played SEMO and tied 1-1. Although many people played hard, it was still disappointing. But we just have two days to re-focus and get ready for DePaul, who we play on Friday night.
Other than soccer, the majority of our time is spent either in class or doing homework. As an athlete, you learn to manage your time very well, since your free time is quite limited. As for me, I have continued my tradition as a devoted library-goer. Some call it my second home! But I do not mind, because hard work on and off the field will pay off!!
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Angela's Blog Entry #3 - September 3, 2007
The Road Trips Begin...and the team bonds (maybe even a little too much)!
We arrived at Wright State late Thursday night and went straight to bed. On Friday, the team spent some time at the mall, ate our pre-game meal, and prepared for our first regular season game. We played Austin Peay and won 2-1, which was a great way to start the season. At our game, we had our loyal Evansville fans, the Kutzler's and the Smith's. We also had the Feltes' from Iowa, and the Grey's, all the way from the state of Washington. The crowd sported some foam fingers and pom-poms, which clearly made our fans the best at the tournament. The cheering and support was and is always appreciated.
On Saturday, we trained from 12:00-1:00pm where things got heated in our pre-game game (PGG). PGG is a game we play at practice the day before every game. We take this very seriously, and I will be extremely disappointed if my team does not win this year. In the afternoon, we drove to Xavier University, which was about 45 minutes away, to watch our volleyball team play at their tournament. It was a lot of fun to go and support the girls, especially since we were both on the road. After the game, we went out to a lovely team dinner. On the way back to the hotel, Coach McKendree entertained us with her first story of the season. For those of you who do not know, Coach tends to make up stories on the bus and tell them to us over the speaker. They are usually extremely random and pointless, but absolutely hysterical none the less.
We played Jacksonville State on Sunday, and won 3-2. We still have a lot to improve on, but it is always great to win on the road. The trip back to Evansville was uneventful. Everyone did homework, slept, or watched a movie. We arrived home safely and began preparing for the upcoming week.
I have to give a shout out to Paul, the best bus driver in America. Paul went above and beyond the call of duty and made our trip wonderful!!
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Angela's Blog Entry #2 - August 26, 2007
For the last days of preseason we focused on improving our game fitness. On Thursday, we had a scrimmage within our team. And on Friday and Saturday we were back to two-a-days. Saturday was the last day of two-a days, which means that for us seniors, we will never have a preseason again. Although I am not too upset about never having two-a days again, it amazes me how fast these fours years are flying by.
Right now our mindset is to take one day at a time. We are trying to focus on the present moment and what we can do each day to improve the team. It becomes very difficult to stay mentally sharp day in and day out, especially when you have a million other things going on in your life. That is why, this year, we are trying to mentally refocus everyday. Everyday, all we can control is our attitude and our effort.
On a lighter note, the Armstrong's cooked us a wonderful team dinner on Friday. We watched the documentary on the U.S. Women's National soccer team as we ate dinner. We were also entertained by an adorable two year old, Sophie, who is Dani B's niece.
On Sunday (my birthday!!), we played Valpo and tied 1-1. Our team is suffering a few injuries, but everyone's spirits are high. The parents put together an amazing tailgate for us after the game. I want to thank everyone for making my birthday so special. I love this team and appreciate all that you guys do for me! Now we are getting ready to begin school and soccer season.
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Angela's Blog Entry #1 - August 19, 2007
Friday was another day of two-a days. We started off with the second part of our fitness test, which consisted of doing push-ups and sit-ups for a minute each. Right now, our lives pretty much consist of eating, sleeping, and playing soccer. Although our lives are not too exciting right now, we have a few players who always to seem keep us entertained. But everyone knows that our hard work will pay off and that makes everything worthwhile. As a senior, I get more and more excited everyday for our season. This year our team consists of not only incredible athletes, but also amazing people. At the end of the day, the memories that I have with this team are irreplaceable. These girls are my teammates, my friends, and my family.
Our team had the pleasure to work with Greg Dale, a sport psychologist from Duke University. He was an excellent speaker and motivator. He helped us understand the mental aspect of playing a sport and evaluated our team's strengths and weaknesses. He also had us engage in several team activities. The activities were hysterical to say the least. The last activity ended up in a banana eating contest, which was quite entertaining.
Saturday was our first day off. Most of us used this day to do some important things such as sleeping, doing laundry, napping, and watching movies. Clearly this was an exciting and productive day! We also attended the men?s soccer game against Louisville. It was so nice to relax and hang out with the girls. But we are not getting to comfortable?we have a lot of work ahead of us.
