University of Richmond Athletics
JJ's Journal
11/25/2002 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 24, 2002
In her fifth installment, Meredith Johnson discusses the day of the game.
It's all about living to play another day...
"A group of climbers were getting ready to set out to accomplish their goal of climbing up a mountain of great heights. Before starting out they were already facing challenges, but pursued on. After climbing for a length of the mountain they lost some of their members, faced avalanches, problems of morale, and inclimate weather. Finally, there was only a little bit left and the group of climbers achieved what they set out to...they were at the top of the mountain. After celebrating the clouds disappeared and they noticed that they were only at a peak and there was more of the mountain to climb. They knew how hard and difficult the journey was to get where they were at and they knew that they had done what they set out to do, but they could go even further. They are closer to the next peak than any group starting at ground level. They knew that the journey to the next part o the mountain would be difficult and they would meet many more challenges to that next peak, but they were so close to it so they were not going to let anything get in their way."
This story is my recap of one that coach told us in our team meeting after dinner tonight. He told us that the at the beginning of the year we all wanted to make it to the NCAA tournament and did not think about the possibility of playing in the Sweet 16, but we took this difficult journey one step at a time, sometimes stepping back, but knowing what we needed to accomplish. Now we are on the peak and climbing to the next peak hoping to come out on top. It was going to be a difficult journey but we can do it together, we have come this far so there is not point in turning back.
We started our day by after breakfast practicing at University of Portland. We walked on the game field and immediately you could picture game time. The field is beautiful, and there is grass which is something that we have not seen in a long time, the stands seat over 3,000 and they are expected to pack it in tomorrow. After getting adjusted to the field we set off to the practice field for a light intense practice with competition. After practice we headed to downtown Portland for some lunch and walking. Today it was amazing to see the support of this team through the team itself and our family. Approximately there are about 40+ family members that came out last minute to support us through this weekend.
After dinner we had a brief meeting where coach spoke with us about the game tomorrow and what we needed to do to come out on top. What it comes down to is our team, we are the only ones who can stand in the way of ourselves achieving what we hope to accomplish. I personally believe that the true "team" is going to be the one that comes out on top...
GAME ON!
