No problem, Manoj, Coach D, Kim and Steph Wurth played Euchre while everyone else just hung out. Kim and Manoj can play Euchre in any circumstance; all they need are two other willing participants.

If things aren't already bad enough, our bus gets lost on the way back to the hotel from the Charlottesville airport. We did some key song battling on the bus though which was fun. So basically we get to the hotel and pass out in my "Part B" most comfy beds in America. It was just Kuntz and I in a room (usually there's 3) so we chatted for a bit before getting the best sleep of our lives. So today, soooo busy. PS, don't wait until THE DAY OF to start writing a paper that's due at 3 PM that afternoon. Honestly, I have no idea why I gave you that advice, except for, oh yea, I did that today! So team breakfast, straight to a walk (as in NOT a walk THROUGH because we weren't allowed to go to the fields), straight to a video session (the video program crashed halfway through), then to rushing brilliance on an English outline (ha-ha), and finally to team lunch (bad service, bad food, and bad portion size for us big girls ha). Whoa right, so then it's time to leave for Klockner field except... THE BUS NEVER SHOWS UP... like... ever. I mean like, the bus company still doesn't know where the bus or the driver is - creepy. We did get to the field courtesy of our many fans (our parents) - who are always around us like and make us feel like the rock-stars we are!

However, our luck seems to be changing when we absolutely pound the #25 Ranked William and Mary in the first half. We're up 1-0 at halftime and I have never felt and seen so much confidence in the locker room; it was radiating and I knew that the second half was going to be scary. Well I thought it would be scary for them, but turns out we decided to come out and not play as well as we could have. We had opportunity after opportunity in the second half and the overtimes, but couldn't seem to put one away in the final minutes like we did last weekend. Even though it wasn't a "W", it definitely wasn't a loss and I'm feeling really good about our potential right now. Next thing to focus on is Virginia on Sunday and like I told the team earlier, it's going to have to be a bloodbath because right now the Cavs are ranked #6 in the country. I guess I am going to have to try a new goalkeeper outfit even though Kuntz and I looked ridiculously hot in the orange today (as opposed to the usual baby blue)... but it still didn't get the shut out. Oooo Sunday, Sunday, Sunday... I can't wait!!

Saturday - September 10, 2005
So I gave you some advice last entry... here's the advice this time--do not give Reba the opportunity to dance in an elevator. So today was clearly a continuation of "our travel difficulties" when our bus showed up 2 hours late to pick us up for training. Yup, you got it, 2 as in HOURS. But, we are awesome at improvising and not getting down at the little snafu's that can sometimes be a part of life on the road.

We played "Soccer-Tennis" and actually had a blast in training. It was fun, but we also set forth a game plan to deal with UVA. After training, life quickly got amazing though, when we went to the mall and did a little damage. My dad got me a shirt from American Eagle that said "I'm a Keeper." Ha get it?! So obviously I wore it out that night to dinner at Outback because I'm that lame. Dinner was solid nonetheless and it was tempting not to get a "thunder from down under" brownie sundae, however I was trying to capitalize on the Tucker Bucks (the best thing that will ever happen to your life, but you can only find out if you're a Dayton soccer player!!) and I knew there were cookies waiting for me back at the hotel for free. The University sets us up so nicely!

So good news... 10:30 wake up tomorrow!! Thank youuuu Coach Tucker... that gives me a couple of hours tonight and tomorrow morning to catch up on my homework! Highlight of today though was for sure the never-have-I-ever, not-so-friendly, highly-embarrassing game of team PING (or 10 fingers). Then crazy Amy Berbary who is in high spirits because her Georgia Bulldog football team won tonight, decides to call the room and tell us she's from the front desk and that we need to calm down or else she'll call Coach Tucker. Gullible me picks up the phone of course, and COMPLETELY buys it. So the rest of the team is telling me I'm an idiot and that I need to call her room, so sure enough I call and she picks up panting from laughing so hard. I let out the hugest Bride of Chucky cackle of my life and I'm pretty sure that's the only conversation I've ever had where there were no words spoken, just laughter and then we hung up ha ha. So Virginia tomorrow!! I am stoked... what an opportunity to play such a great program. I wonder what people will be saying about us when we beat them? I guess it's only a matter of time :o)

Sunday - September 11, 2005
The team thought the airport seemed a little dead this evening, but that makes sense since "September 11th" occurred 4 years ago today. We are sitting in the very small Charlottesville airport with an hour plus delay. Luckily there is free wireless internet for all of us whom are a little behind on our studies (or those of us with AIM addictions!). We are all beat though and even though we tied Virginia 2-2, getting scored on with 1:24 left in regulation, we are all astounded with the Flyer team that was on the field today (and off for that matter). I know the coaches haven't seen it yet, where all eleven players are on the field playing 110% not only for themselves, but for each other as well. We were getting into tackles, winning 50/50 balls, and possessing against one of the best teams in the country. The win would have been nice, but that sort of atmosphere is the preparation we need in order for us to go undefeated for the rest of the season and being at our peak when the NCAAs roll around. It was a long, tiresome weekend, with 40 extra minutes of soccer we weren't planning on playing, but I can't wait to get back to campus!

This was a huge weekend for the team and no words that I can write will explain to you how much closer we girls and coaches got this weekend. You can check the rankings and our record for what we've gained soccer-wise, because from here on out we're only getting better.

By: Niki Reed #1