Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Goal Post by Brian Dooley
11/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 18, 2003
A Great Year
Penalty kicks. It came down to penalty kicks. After 110 minutes of exciting play, after an hour lightning delay, after having a lead, losing it, getting a tying goal in the last 3 minutes, it came down to penalty kicks. This was a game that I will never forget. The fact that Central Florida took better penalty kicks than us is insignificant. It was a great game and we had every chance to win it on the overtime periods. The clock ran out before we could score.
Our team was ready, even after a very difficult game the night before vs. Georgia State. We had to physically battle for 90 minutes on Friday night. Rhonda was playing on one leg and I wasn't sure if she could go for the final. But then I remembered that Rhonda isn't human and she would play in the final or she would physically hurt me. The courage that this woman has is limitless. She is truly an inspiration. Central Florida had an easier game with Stetson than I thought they would. Stetson played and beat Campbell on PK's. They were drained and never really were able to pressure Central Florida. This allowed them to rest their players.
The final started on time with great pace. End to end play and a typical FAU-UCF intensity. This was our third final in four years and we were determined to get the result. Lauren Lucena scored a tremendous goal to give us the lead. UCF battled back and scored the tying goal when we miscleared a ball out of the penalty box. UCF would score again to take the lead after a rebound from a brilliant save by Molly Keating. We would continue to press and we pushed more and more players forward to try and get the tying goal. Kelly Hoffmann would get her first goal of the year with less than 3 minutes to go to send the game to OT. The crowd was going wild! We could not hear each other on the field. The loudest I had ever encountered at home. All of our teams were there to support our team.
We started the first OT and with 2 minutes left, lightning strikes. Clear the field. About an hour and tem minutes later we are allowed to finish the game. We had the better of the play in the overtime. We did not give up a shot on goal and just couldn't get the ball to go in the goal. Just over the top, just wide, a keeper save. The whistle blows and now we are going to PK's. We will leave it at they took better PK's than us. I believe we were the better team that night. Saying that doesn't make it any easier, but I am proud of how we played.
It was an emotional time after the game. It is the worst way to lose a game. You train and play as a team all year and it comes down to individuals. It would be like ending a football game by picking five guys to kick a field goal. It would be like ending a tie baseball game with a home run contest. It is like ending a tie basketball game with a foul shooting contest. It would be like, well, you get the idea. The tears were flowing like free beer at the coach's convention. The team did not even consider the possibility of losing. Our loyal ball girls saw how upset the girls were and they started crying. This team has an incredible resolve for winning. At this point I finally realized something important. It is the elusive element that separates the successful programs from the unsuccessful ones. It is the big difference between developing a winning program from a losing program. It has taken many years for me to realize this fact.
It is not about the end result. It is the process of getting there. Only one team will end the year with a win and the national championship, but not all teams end as losers. The four years of experience that the seniors put into the game is what lingers. The hard work and growth that I witnessed over the four years is what makes us winners. It is simple. Believe in yourself and trust your teammates. If you can do this, regardless of results, you have learned more than any class can teach you. Can't wait for next year! Another team to coach, another group to grow. Thanks for being with us this season.
Brian
