Dodgeball

Both teams before the matches!:

It is common knowledge that if you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.  However, after the Centre Women’s Soccer Team played this past Wednesday night, it is now known that if you are legit at soccer, you most definitely are legit at dodge ball.  Because of the number of girls on the team that are still at Centre and were not out of town for field trips or studying abroad, we had 20 players who wanted to play.  This turned out to be the perfect number considering you could only have 10 people on a team.  So, we had two teams: Centre Women’s Soccer Black and Centre Women’s Soccer Gold. 

We were most definitely the most high energy teams out there! 

Kelsey and MT ran around with the flag supporting both CWS Black and Gold and getting others to cheer too!:

CWS Black started us off on the right track beating the “home depot” quite easily.  Next, CWS Gold owned one of the sorority teams on campus.  CWS Black played another one of the sorority teams and took them down quite handily once again only allowing one of our players to be considered “out.”  CWS Gold followed suit beating the last final sorority team there.  So, in the championship CWS Black  faced of CWS Gold.  We started our grueling match at 2:15 am.  Once we were down to Holly Shiels on the black team versus Christina Giles on our gold team, we decided no one was going to win in our lifetime, so we asked from our referee, who happened to be Jessica!, a re-match.  After discussing the issue at hand with her fellow referee, Coach Jessica Chisley, thought it be advantageous we played a rematch.  We did.  In the end, it was two girls from the black team facing off against Christina Giles.. again!  So, finally, at about 2:53 am, Giles threw an incredible ball, but it was caught.  Game over.  Black won.  However, I commend everyone’s efforts and feel it was a successful night.  Winning first and second places was pretty bonzer and quite a feat for our team.  Congrats, girls!

Some highghts from the night:

Giles and Marina

Chelsea Stanley “the great” made sure all of the members of CWS Gold were painted up with tear drops: 

Heather and Aubrey putting together our flag!: 

Winter Wonderland

Some of the girls after speed and agility:

During the cold winter months, the Centre Women’s Soccer Team still gets out and plays hard.  This past week there was a speed and agility training session held and above are some of the girls who attended.  Not only do we play soccer outside, but we have started to play “futsol” about every other day.  Futsol is like soccer except it’s in a gym and we have small goals, no goalie, and we play with a smaller, heavier ball.  Futsol helps us as a team both tactically and technically. 

However, besides soccer, we like to get out and have a fun time.  In honor of the spirit of the team as well as the weather, this past Thursday we had a “Midnight Sledding” event.  At midnight, we went out to the lawn of Old Centre and sled down the hill.  It was a night fun and cold for all!! (:

Written in the lawn of Old Centre is “Centre Women Rock”:

 

 

(Photograph made possible because of Sarah Hall digging the words out with her feet.  Her dedication is a true inspiration to us all to represent.  As Hebbs would say, “Holler!”)

NCAA Rankings

After the 2009 Centre Women’s Soccer Banquet:

The NCAA rankings came out, and as a team, the Centre Women’s Soccer Team finished 29^th in the country (out of 100 teams) for goals against average with an average of 0.614.

Also, as of December 6^th, Rosie, our senior goalkeeper,  was ranked 14^th in the country (out of 100 goalkeepers) for goals against average!

Centre (12-4-4)
Women’s Soccer National Ranking Summary
Thru Games 12/06/2009

information from: web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/ranksummary

CONGRATS TO ALL ON SUCH AN AMAZING SEASON!

It’s Christmas Time in Danville

So, even though the season is over and finals are in our midst, on Friday night we had the annual Secret Santa Gift Exchange.  We all drew names throughout the week and got our secret person gifts.  This year there were many creative gift ideas.  We had picture frames, stockings, monogrammed bags, tye-dye jackets, and even a 20 question game.  All gifts were appreciated and adored by their recipient.

 

Then, on Saturday morning, in the spirit of the Holidays, one of the sororities on campus, Kappa Alpha Theta, sponsored a “Jingle Bell 5K run” for their philanthropy.  Members of the sorority on the team were there (Marina, Kat, Cindy, Stan, Giles, Anna, and Kelsey) cheering on a few of the freshman girls who came out to run.  Proudly, Eisner, Hebbs, MT, and Kelsey Lloyd ran the entire way and a couple even placed.  Way to go, girls!

Some of the girls after the race.  The snow was cold, but VERY beautiful.

Missing: Marina and Cindy

 

Cindy missed the picture with the group, but we got her: (:

Normal Life

With soccer being over for almost three weeks, it has been an interesting feeling not having practice daily and games weekly.  However, just because the season is over, not much has changed.  We all still go out on the weekends together, study during the week together, and even work out together.  Last week, in fact, we decided it had been too long without playing with each other, so we reserved one side of the indoor gym and played soccer.  It was so much fun!  Last Monday, we even had a meeting called.  Jessica stood up in front of all of us and acted upset, then, she turned on a video and she was just kidding!  She had spent the past couple of weeks working REALLY hard on a video of our year together.  The video she showed us only lasted 3 minutes or so, but she made it into a “trailor” or a “preview” for an even larger one that we will see at the banquet.  Needless to say, we’re all very excited!

The E.N.D.

Even though we had an amazing run and a great season this past fall (12-4-4), we did not impress the NCAA committee enough to earn an at-large bid.  Because of this, we were denied a spot in the NCAA tournament.  However, not having an invitation to the tournament means nothing to our program this year as a whole.  This year, many records were broken and many honors were received. 

First record: Shut Outs. We ended up having 11 shut outs, the most recorded shut outs for a Centre Women’s Soccer Team in the history of Centre Women’s Soccer.

Second record: Home field advantage?  For the first time in Centre Women’s Soccer history, we never lost a game at our home field. So, was it the home field advantage or the rad skills of the team?

Third record: Longest Regular Season Play (aka OVERTIMES).  We played a total of 11 over time periods this year.  Whenever we won in an overtime match, it was a nail-biting experience where we would win in the last 32 seconds, or 3.1 seconds.  All and all, we played an extra game and a quarter because of all the OT periods. So, after coming back to score on DePauw in the last 2 minutes of the game, it seemed very suiting that we would end our regular season play in an overtime period.

Fourth record: SURPRISE! Definitely celebrated the most surprise birthday parties (Jay, Sarah, Eisner, Jessica)

Rosie preparing for Jay’s Surprise:

Just to mention a few honors: We had an SCAC Defensive Player and Offensive Player of the week, a Character and Community Student-Athlete of the Week, and a player named to the ESPN: The Magazine All-District Team. We were assisted by the best team manager ever, Anna, and hope to have her again! We also got to see a player earn a hat trick.  We saw a player in back to back games score in the last 30 seconds of the game to give us the lead.  We had many quad, knee, leg, and back injuries that we overcame. 

  

Chloe and Kelsey (:

As a whole, we played, fought, laughed, and loved as a team.  Our team is truly unique.  This past weekend was our final game, at DePauw.  The drive from Centre to DePauw is about 4 hours.  Because we travel with the boy’s team, we can only take 22 players on the team.  As we were preparing for our game.  In the distance, upon the horizon, we saw a crowd of girls with neon signs saying “Centre Women Rock” and “We Love OUR Centre Women!”  The girls who did not make the travel team had taken their Saturday day and night off to drive 4 hours there, 4 hours back, just to support their team.  That says something about our team.  Jay’s comment was, “If someone came up to me and asked me why this team is so special…. I would say this.  ‘If you can go out and find another team that loves and supports each other the way that this group does, I would be very shocked.  I am so proud of the group that found a way to come and support the 22 players that played on Saturday night.  That is heart, dedication, and that shows just how special this team is to each other. THANK YOU!’” 

According to the very talented singing group named The Black Eyed Peas, the “E.N.D.” is actually an acronym for the “Energy Never Dies.”  I found this to be very suiting for our team.  Our energy has not died, nor will it.  Being a part of the Centre Women’s Soccer Team means so much more than being part of a soccer team.  Yesterday, even though we had no practice, a few girls went out and ran 20/40s, while others went to the gym to work out together.  Today, we will go as a team to the gym to lift.  So, what does that make us?..  A team?  I guess you could call it that.  However, it would not be giving us justice because there are limits to teams.  There is only so much someone on a team would do for another teammate.  They would not have their door open 24/7 for you to talk with them about something bothering you.  They wouldn’t call you after they noticed you had a bad day and say, “Wanna talk?”  The coaches wouldn’t worry if you had other stresses going on in your life, because most coaches would recognize soccer as being the most important part of your life.  There would be a lack of understanding for your needs.  However,  I would venture to say there is not anything you could ask of someone on the Centre Women’s Soccer Team to do that every single one of them would do for you.  We have those girls who won’t stop calling until they know you are okay.  We have those girls whom leave those doors open to life talks.  We have those coaches even making sure we have a balance in our life and we are not over-whelmed. So, I guess that would make us a step above a team.  After all, WE are so much more.  WE are a family. 

inconclusion,thanksforagreatseason.iwouldnthavewantedtoplaywithanyothergroup.neverletourenergydie.

thisjustmeansweworkharder.iloveyall.centrewomenrock!!!!

ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team

Centre College’s very own Rosie McAuley, senior, was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Soccer Team for her effort in the classroom and on the soccer field.  McAuley was selected to the District 4 College Division Second Team by the College of Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for the 2009 fall season.

McAuley is majoring in Spanish with a minor in Education where she hopes to be a speech pathologist when she is older.  She currently has an accumulative GPA of 3.7.  She started the first 13 games of the season, however, due to an injury, had to sit out the last few.  She helped the Colonels to an 8-3-2 record, allowing only 6 goals in 13 games and having over 28 saves.  

McAuley has always been a present for the team on the field.  During the 2008 season, she started all 19 games.  In 2007, she received the Coach’s Award, the Players Choice Award, was named to the second team in the Great Lakes Region, and was third team All-Conference in the SCAC.  

Since fall of 2006, McAuley has been a member of the Dean’s List every semester and has been named an All-SCAC Academic Athlete.  She is a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, and the Society of Future Educators.  

Knowing all of this about Rosie and knowing her as a person made it no surprise to us that she was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team.  Way to go, Rosie!  You are bonzer, and rock! (:

Halloween

Every year, the girls always get dressed up for Halloween.  It is always a surprise, because each class on the team does something special and it is kept a secret from the other classes.  This year, the freshmen dressed up as “Snow White and the 7 Dwarves.”  The sophomores were different high school stereotypes (we had a drama queen, a nerd, etc).  The juniors were all members from the game “Mario Kart.”  And, our beloved seniors were “Lady Gagas.”

(More Pictures to come)

Junior Class were the characters from “Mario Kart”:

Some of the Sophomore High School Stereotypes:

Senior Day, Hat Trick, and Undefeated Home in ONE DAY

Our Lovely Seniors

(Elizabeth Hooper, Marina Hoe, Cindy Bergstrom, Katherine MacMurray, Rosie McAuley, and Lizzie Hubbard)

After finding it hard to put the ball in the back of the net all season, the Lady Colonels found a way yesterday afternoon against Millsaps College.  Millsaps scored quickly against the Colonels in the first five minutes of the game.  Around thirty minutes later, Brittany Garr answered their goal with one of her three for the afternoon off of an assist from Amy Hebbeler.  The half ended tied 1-1.  

During half time, the senior festivities began.  This year, we are celebrating six seniors:  Rosie McAuley- GK, Lizzie Hubbard- 5, Marina Hoe- 6, Cindy Bergstrom- 16, Elizabeth Hooper- 18, and Katherine MacMurray- 23.  Each of them have had amazing accomplishments here at Centre both on and off the field.  They all hold a special place in all of our hearts and will truly be missed in the seasons to come.  Even though they will not be here playing with us next year, we will always remember them and hold a special place in our hearts for them because we are the players we are today because of them.  Because we knew them, we all have been changed for the better, both on and off the field.  

After a very nice, emotional half-time, it was game-time again.  Three minutes into the half, Millsaps scored off of a corner to put them up 2-1.  Garr answered again by scoring off of a header from a brilliant cross by Cindy Bergstrom.  Three minutes after Garr scored to tie the Majors, Elizabeth Hooper scored off a cross from Katherine MacMurray to put the Colonels up 3-2.  Unfortunately, the feeling of security and happiness to be winning did not last too long, because shortly afterwards, Millsaps scored again less than one minute after Centre had scored their third goal.  For the next thirty minutes, the Colonels shot and pressured, and had opportunities, but just couldn’t find the back of the net.  

The Centre Women’s Soccer Team has become accustomed to playing under pressure in overtimes.  This year, they have played a total of 90 minutes in overtime minutes, which is equivalent to another game.  Needless to say, much like the other overtime periods they have been involved in, the Colonels came out strong and was on the attack for the majority of the time.  With almost 5 seconds left in the first overtime period, Katherine MacMurray dribbled up the sidelines and crossed it in to Brittany Garr who kicked it in with 3.1 seconds left for the win and to complete her hat trick.  The team rushed the field and dog-piled on Kat and BG.  

Scoreboard after the game.  It would say 4-3, however Chloe got so excited, she threw the controller and it broke..:

In the end, the Colonels had 21 shots, six corner kicks, 3 assists from seniors (2 from Katherine MacMurray and 1 from Cindy Bergstrom), 1 goal by a senior (Elizabeth Hooper), and a hat trick by their very own junior, Brittany Garr.  All in all, they had a very successful senior day.  

Not only did we have an exciting game yesterday, but we have at our field this entire year.  This is the first time in Centre Women’s Soccer History that we have gone undefeated on our home field.  This says something about our program as a whole taking a step into the right direction under great leadership with incredible players and talent.  

The seniors’ lockers were all decorated for their day:

“I’m glad to be at the triple C..”

On Halloween, we woke up and had a team jog around 10:45 am.  We talked about our game from the previous night and what to expect from Millsaps on the following day.  After we ran and had a team stretch, we went to the Alumni Recognition Ceremony as a team.  At the Ceremony, Sarah Morgan (‘99) was honored into the hall of fame.  Morgan, still today, holds every offensive record in SCAC history and had 96 goals in her four years of play at Centre College.  Here we heard some inspirational speakers, but one of the speakers said it best.  He said, “You may leave Centre, however, Centre will never leave you.”  

The tam with the hall of fame inductee, Sarah Morgan:

After the ceremony, at the half time of the football game, our senior Rosie McAuley was named to the Homecoming Court.  In honor of her, most of us attended the football game.  

Rosie waiting to hear the results:

Afterwards, we either studied, spent time with family, or participated in other various homecoming activities until around 8pm.  Centre College hosted a concert by Dave Barnes on the first floor of the warehouse.  Many of the girls attended this concert and stood cheering the entire time in the front row, as did Camille, Aubrey’s mom.  

Picture of some of the soccer girls at the Dave Barnes concert:

Ben Rector was the opening act, and also a surprise.  No one had heard of him before, however, he was very good.  He sang original songs, his own renditions to other songs, and came up with one song off the top of his head.  Before singing to us his random song, he asked us what our mascot was.  After hearing we were the Centre College Colonels, he sand, “If I had to choose any college in Kentucky, I’m glad to be at the triple C.”

Alumni Beth Faulkner and Junior Brittany Garr with Dave Barnes in the background:

Later on in the concert, Dave Barnes gave a shout out to the Centre Women’s Soccer Team and proceeded by telling us about his love for Arsenal.  This made Lizzie very excited, seeing as that is her team.  Then, after he told us a soccer story, he sang a song called, “On a Night Like This.”  We determined he meant for the song to be dedicated to us, which it clearly was.  What a great night.