NACA Soccer Tournament 2012

     Ethan and I were blessed to be able to play in the NACA soccer tournament again this year.

Last year we came in 2nd in Division Two.  This year we came in 4th in Division One! (Our record was 3-2)  So this year our team played better than last year and we could have done a lot better if we would have had our whole team.  5 of our players were either hurt before the tournament or they got hurt during the tournament.  I started every game and played all of them in their entirety except one, while Ethan also got lots of playing time!

I was a little upset when the tournament was over because being a senior it was my last time to ever play soccer at Fort Bluff.  Now I just can't wait for the spring season to start!

Go Patriots!

Chattanooga Patriots

Chattanooga Patriots Soccer Season

     This spring Ethan and I are playing soccer for the Chattanooga Patriots.  (The Patriots are a home school soccer team in Chattanooga)  Last fall was the first time I had played soccer for the Patriots, but Ethan and Nic had played middle school soccer for them. 

     In the fall we came in second place in a tournament we were in and I thought that was great, but this season has been even better!  Our record is 10 - 1 - 2.  Our only loss was on a rainy, muddy night and the other team had a late goal for the win.  Our two ties were hard fought 0-0 ties.

     We play local public and private high schools.  We also play home school teams from Knoxville, Nashville, and Atlanta.  Most teams don't take us seriously until we beat them then they are like, "those kids can play!".

     Ethan and I get lots of playing time.  Ethan is the back up goal keeper and hasn't been scored on all year and I play defense and outside midfield.  Ethan has scored once and I have scored twice, including the game winner Monday night.

Our family are our biggest fans.  They come to all the games and I can hear them cheering us on from the field.  Eli and Nicholas love coming to our games.

     One day before a game Eli was looking through his closet for something to wear and he found a #18 jersey of his.  We had forgotten he had that.  The coolest thing is I am number 18.  He was so excited!

     We have 9 games left.  We have a chance to finish the season with only one loss.  That would be great.  We have our biggest game of the season coming up when we play Ooltewah High School. (The high school that is 2 miles from our house and some of our friends from church and also our neighbors go there.  AND, one of our Patriot players from last year's team plays for them now.)  It will be a lot of fun.  I can't wait!

Go Patriots!  
 #9 Ethan and #18 me

2011 NACA National Champions...ALMOST!

N  nearly
A  almost
C  came
A  away with a championship!

We lost!  It was so close and exciting.  We were losing 1 to nothing at halftime and then we scored with just 3 minutes left.  We went into overtime, and then double overtime, but still a tie.  Then we went into penalty kicks.  We made our first two and then missed our next two.  They made three and missed one.  They won and I couldn't believe it.

We were all upset.  We had done so well and came so close to the championship. We came in second again just like last year.  Second place is not all bad.  Our team got a nice trophy.  We can say we are the second best team in Division II, and there is always next year!        
     Even though we lost we are still giving praise and thanks to God.  He is with us win or lose!  God is always with us!  I want to thank God for a wonderful week up in beautiful Dayton.

Here are some pictures from Friday.

Even though it was cold, Clare still watched the whole game.  (and she has lots of new friends!!!)

Beautiful!

The tournament's location was amazing!  The drive up there each day was breathtaking.  I want to go back sometime soon!  We stopped on our way home after the trophy presentation and bought apples from an apple orchard and had the most delicious apple fritters I've ever tasted.

Tournament So Far

The night before the tournament Mom starts cooking food for us to take at 11p.m.!

We thought she was taking sandwiches, but no, she made CHILI!!!!

Breakfast...day one...early!

Tailgating between games

Clare has been the best little soccer sister!  Here's how she watched one of our games.

Mom - night 2 of the tournament...after midnight!

We played in the rain...what can I say?

We are headed back up to the tournament in just a little while.  We are playing in the Division II championship at 12:45 p.m.  We played 4 games to get to the championship...2 wins, 1 loss, 1 tie.  By the way, even though there are teams from New York and Alabama and Indiana and Maryland and Florida and North Carolina and Ohio and Georgia and Kentucky, and all kinds of other places, our team (Chattanooga) played our first game against a school from Blacksburg, VA.  They are from only a few miles from where we used to live. ( They were our tie.)

We are the only team not staying on sight and it has been exhausting driving back and forth which leads me to this thankfulness list...

I'M THANKFUL FOR:

Parents -who drive me, bring food, wash clothes at midnight, and cheer us on!
Our van - that holds our big family and other players when needed.
Safety- driving back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth to the tournament.   AND We've had no injuries on the field.
The opportunity to participate in the tournament and the gift that helped with that.
Healthy bodies
Our coaches
Christian friends on our team
My big cheering family and my adorable my little cheerleader sisters!
My 2 little brothers serving as ball boys for the games.
Being on the soccer team with my best friend, Ethan.

NACA Tournament

     The Chattanooga Patriots high school soccer team is participating in the NACA tournament tomorrow. (National Association of Christian Athletes)  Ethan and I are on the team and we are so excited about playing in the tournament.  I don't know if I will be able to sleep tonight.  The tournament is being held in Dayton.   There are going to be teams from Kentucky, Ohio, New York, Alabama, Indiana, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, and of course our team from Tennessee participating in the tournament.  The Patriots did really well last year but lost the last game in PKs.  Our coach says we have a chance to win it.  I hope we do!
     3.2.1........
Go Patriots!