Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Goal Post by Brian Dooley
9/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 2, 2003
Fear Factor
Our first weekend of games has come and gone. Right now we stand at 2-0 for the season. Couldn't be better! I think we learned quite a bit about ourselves this weekend. A 2-1 overtime victory in our season opener vs Loyola College of Maryland and a 1-0 win over an Indiana University team that will win many games this season. We have never started a season against such a quality pair of teams. Loyola has been to the NCAA Tournament the past three years and Indiana was a pre-season #25 team from Soccer Buzz.
In the Loyola game, I was banished from the sidelines because of my red card in the conference tournament last year. I am not proud of what happened and have apologized numerous times. It did, however, allow me to see things from a different perspective. I was not allowed any contact with the team or the coaches once the players took the field. I was then forced to turn over my cell phone, my walkie-talkie, my radio broadcast equipment, my scrolling marquee board, my flying ad airplanes, my messenger pigeons, my dry erase boards and my sky writers. I was then forced into a burlap sack and beaten with a palm branch the entire first half. At half time, I was permitted to use the restroom (thankfully, the burlap sack would not have held up). At this point I was transported to "the box". This is the place we put our players who do not meet their study hall requirements. It is a 3X4 cubicle with a few holes poked in it for air and no light at all. It is then suspended 30 feet in the air by a fraying rope. At this point, 500 pounds of mole crickets are poured in the box and I have to make sure that the air holes do not get blocked. If I can withstand this for the remainder of the half-time break, they will let me out of the box and move on to the next phase of punishment. (Slow fade back to reality)
The first half showed that Loyola is a very good team. Their possession of the ball created all kinds of problems for us. We were forced to chase more than we like and the pressure eventually led to a goal by Loyola and a 1-0 lead. Our team did not get down; we just worked hard to get to half time. It was very apparent that we were going to have to find a way to get back into this game. (Slow fade back to fantasy)
After my escape from the box, I was now facing the culinary challenge of eating a raw tongue of a giant squid. I didn't even know that a squid had a tongue, let alone that I would taste something that might taste me back! But I would do it for my team. (Quick fade to reality, thankfully)
The second half showed a much livlier Owl team. We were more competitive for the ball and we were able to establish more of an attack. Christina Chang scored the tying goal on an assist from Cristina Rodriguez. We had several other chances that eluded us. As luck would have it, we were going to OT. We lost in the conference tournament last season in overtime and now we are starting our season with the same challenge. The results would be different this time as Dee Dee Castro launches a free kick into the box looking for Rhonda Jones streaking into the target area. Confusion reigns as the defenders and the GK misplay the ball and it finds its way into the goal after bouncing over the GK's head. Game over! (Fade back into fantasy)
The green color of my face has slowly faded. The excitement of the win has eased my stomach. I am now allowed to walk over to see my team. They have finished their cool down and are in a huddle. As I approach the team they turn to greet me. But something is not right. There is a strange gaze to their eyes. I see a ballot box. A vote has been taken. It seems I have been voted off the bench! I demand a recount. After all, it is Palm Beach County! (Fade back to reality)
Indiana poses many problems for us. They are big, fast and organized. The heat of the day will also present problems for both teams. It is a windy day and of course the first half finds us facing the wind. Indiana comes out attacking and misses three great chances in the first 10 minutes. I don't think we have crossed midfield yet. We are tired from Friday and we are doing everything to hang in the game. I am on the sidelines this time and I should probably go to the other side! The game begins to even out and we are feeling a bit better, but we are still very tired. We bring on Meredith White, Karyna Espinoza and Kelly Hoffmann to add some fresh legs. It pays off with a great play from Meredith to Karyna who gains the end line and serves a cross to a back post run by Janine Aylward. Our first shot of the game turns into the only goal! We win 1-0. Rhonda Jones scored a terrific goal that was called back. I did not even argue! I did not want to go back in that box!
The team is now in a great frame of mind. We will have to duplicate the high work rates and effort in tonight's game vs. Miami. They had two victories this weekend as well against Loyola and Indiana. After tonight, we will have a day to rest and then travel to Chicago for two games at Northwestern. Who made this schedule? Anyway, got to go. Fear Factor is on. Brian
