Sunday, July 26, 2009

...awesomeness...


FC BUCKS VIPERS ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Saturday, July 25, 2009

Pre-Championship thoughts...

The Vipers have been a team for a very long time. We have won 7 of the last 8 EPYSA State Championships, 2 Regional Championships, are currently ranked the #1 team in the country, and are now going to face Ohio Elite in the finals of the 2009 US Youth National Championships. The Vipers, especially Mr. Leigh, have had a tough 6 months with John's death and Kimmie's pregnancy, and that has made this season into something more than just our last season together, it has made it more meaningful. Tomorrow's game is going to be played in honor of quite a few things: the memory and history of this team, the bonds this team shares, the years and years of hard work, and especially for Mr. Leigh and Kimmie, and in memory of John Pawlowski.

The Vipers are an absolutely incredible team, period. It has honestly been a whirlwind for me since I joined the team a year and a half ago, and it has been nothing short of amazing. The Vipers are not just a team, we are a group of best friends, a group of sisters. Sometimes we fight, and sometimes we yell at each other, but mostly we laugh, we have fun, we look out for each other, and we love each other. There are so many words to describe the Vipers: crazy, hilarious, unique, skilled, intense, passionate, fun-loving, persevering, sexy (suggestion of Clare), and so many more. For some of the Vipers, this team has almost always been a part of their life and for the rest of us, we have been warmly welcomed. This team is special to every person who has been involved with it: the players, the coaches, and the parents. I know for a fact that my experience with the Vipers has changed me and benefited me both as a player and a person, and I don't know how to properly express my gratitude. I love the Vipers, and I'm sure all the girls feel the same way. No matter what happens tomorrow, there will be tears all over the place...I hope with all my heart they are tears of joy, but whatever they are, remember that this team is incredible. This is certainly not the last we will see of each other, but this game, for all intents and purposes, is the conclusion of our youth soccer careers and it will mean a lot. Let's make it a game we will remember forever, and lets honor all the things that we will be playing for tomorrow.




Day 4/5

The Vipers played Ohio Elite to a 2-2 draw on a wet morning yesterday. The result of the game didn’t affect the composition of the final match, so a few injured players were resting so that they could be ready for tomorrow’s game. Ohio Elite scored first at the end of the first half but the Vipers countered early in the second half on a Kait Kerr shot to the right corner. Ohio scored again on a rebound off a nice save by Tara Murphy. The Vipers scored a sick goal created by Colleen Williams and finished by Erin Galen. The Vipers saw great performances out of Clare Roche, Kim Menafra, Steph Lawall, Julie Bell, Erin Galen, and everyone else on the field! The Vipers split up to spend time with whatever family they had and relax. Yet another good day, and the Vipers are waiting anxiously for Sunday!


Today was the Vipers day off! All the girls were up by 10 at the latest for a short team meeting and most all of the girls went for some kind of run to loosen up their muscles. The Vipers split up to do a few different things...A few girls stayed near the hotel to relax and see a movie (The Proposal...Vipers approve), a few girls went into Boston (to eat at a restaurant called Dicks Last Resort (it is as weird as it sounds) and clare got an ugly doll -- see picture, haha), and a few girls went to visit Henry David Thoreau's Walden Pond and went swimming (which was refreshing and awesome).


The Vipers met up for a team dinner at a nice and small italian restaurant called Il Camino. We then headed back for the hotel for a little catchphrase (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBqwqP41Yuw&feature=channel_page) and are settled down for bed. T-minus 9 hours till game time. Vipers are PUMPED!!!!

Random thoughts/moments/quotes:
-4 people fit really well into 3 seats
-little dogs are really amusing
-Vipers are having serious dinner table conversation??? It couldn't be...
-Gabby is amazing...she will be sending Colleen daily inspiring texts
-Vipers make really good music videos
-"Well I'm going to put hair dye in your toothpaste Erin!"
-"Can you believe we are playing in the National Championships tomorrow?!"






clare is beautiful:) (<--clare wrote that :-p )

Friday, July 24, 2009

Pictures and Video...

As promised....






(Video by Alexa! =) )


















Thursday, July 23, 2009

Vipers are in the finals!

Yet another successful day for the Vipers! The Vipers defeated ESC Black ’90 from Oklahoma 2-0 and because the Ohio Elite beat the Pleasanton Rage, we have guaranteed ourselves a spot in the final! The Vipers were somewhat frustrated with our performance as we felt we couldn’t really fall into a rhythm and the first half ended 0-0. However, fifteen minutes into the second half Jen Hoy made a great individual effort and slipped a shot past the keeper into the right corner. ESC didn’t give up and it took some great defending from Alexa Carugati, Alysha Mallon, Kim Menafra, and Taylor Houck and some terrific goalkeeping from Gabby Pahktigian to keep them from putting one in the back of the net. About twenty minutes later, Maddy Evans scored again to put the game away. The Vipers came back to the hotel and split up to do various things for lunch/the afternoon. The Vipers went to UNO’s for dinner and are going to head to bed soon. Another great day up here in Massachusetts!

Pics are coming soon I promise!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Day 2: A Great Start!

Today has been a very successful day for the Vipers! We began the day with breakfast and a relaxing morning and we headed to the fields for our first game at Nationals against the Pleasanton Rage. The game was intense and exciting and the Vipers ended coming out on top 3 – 1! The Vipers scored early in the first half off a shot by Maddy Evans who took her hit from just inside the eighteen and beat the keeper near post. The Vipers missed some chances during the first half to increase our lead but managed to maintain our one goal lead. It is certain that the half would not have ended 1-0 if not for Gabby Pahktigian and some absolutely incredible goaltending. A little more than halfway into the second half the Rage were awarded a penalty kick and scored on a rocket shot to the right corner. The Vipers got it right back and scored a few minutes later. Taylor Houck hit a very long ball down the field which Heidi Sabatura chased down and took advantage of a miscommunication between the Rage goalkeeper and defender. Jen Hoy and Maddy Evans teamed up for a final goal and some closure to the game.

The Vipers returned to the hotel for our customary Olive Garden dinner, which we were forced to eat outside because the hotel will not allow us to bring this food inside due to Massachusetts health codes (hmmm….?). The Vipers have spent the rest of the evening going for ice cream and relaxing.

Random moments/quotes/lessons of today:
-Everything bagels should have the “stuff all the way through” so that splitting will be easier
-The Vipers watch way too much reality TV
-“Do you guys know how to wait in line, the line starts back there”
-“I just look at our roster, and were just really good”
-Massachusetts health codes do not allow us to eat Olive Garden in the hotel
-We should not sit in an area where there is dog poop
-Cold Stone is good…especially for ditching people…or not
-Clare Roche desperately wants to be on the Real World…she’s already planning her video

More coming tomorrow, including some photos and hopefully a video!
Also…follow my mom (Paige Carlson-Heim) on twitter for during game updates!

Hello & Day 1

So….the masses have asked me to blog, so I guess I feel obliged to fulfill their request. Here we go then…

Yesterday was officially day 1 of the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships, and the tournament began with the customary player luncheon at the DCU center in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Vipers arrived at different times with a few players arriving Monday night, and the rest arriving just in time for the luncheon on Tuesday. A few of the Vipers who arrived at the luncheon early (namely Carly, Heidi, Kait, and me) were asked to be interviewed for the National Championships Highlight Show on Fox Soccer Channel. The interview was an interesting, if awkward, and consisted of the four of us answering a few questions and Heidi learning a new word (camaraderie) and telling the interviewer that “ we have fun and our practices aren’t always about soccer, soccer, soccer and dah duh dah dah dah…” (approximately). The Vipers had a good time at the luncheon, the lunch was greeted with mixed reactions although most of the team seemed to enjoy the dessert. The Vipers had quite a few highlights on the Regionals highlight video – Alysha was practically the star of the show. After the luncheon, the Vipers headed to the hotel (which is very nice) to check in and headed out to the soggy fields for some practice time. After heading back to the hotel for a shower and a team dinner we watched an awesome movie put together by Alexa.

We are going to head to the fields soon, so I will check in after our game (which you can follow on my mom’s twitter I think) and let you know about today’s details. The Vipers are pumped to beat Pleasanton Rage!