Oct. 27, 2008

23 October 2008:
It seemed like it had only been five minutes since we'd packed our bags for the last trip. Here we were preparing for our biggest weekend of the season. After two fantastic wins the previous week, team morale was high. We threw our bags on the coach and tucked into our subs on the way to the airport. We all knew the importance of this weekend and we weren't willing to settle for anything less than a win, as we prepared to face two top teams in the A10 Charlotte and St Louis.

After a short coach ride to Dayton Airport everyone began to check their bags in. I wondered why it was taking me so long at the self check in desk as my teammates kept coming and going. As a lady watched me struggle with the machine she kindly pointed out that I had spelled my name wrong!! Soon enough I was able to check my bag and head for the departure lounge. After setting off on time and we had a smooth flight where we landed in North Carolina. Soon after, we arrived at our luxurious Hilton hotel that seemed to be hosting some vintage car show.

After checking into my room with my fellow freshers KO and Kenyon, it was off to the coach's room for a match report from Tucker and a motivational team talk from Megan, our senior women's administrator. Finally, we headed off for supper at a nearby Applebee's before crashing out for the night.

24 October 2008:
Waking up in the morning at 10, I was obviously slightly disappointed that I was missing my 8 AM math and 9 AM visual arts, but managed to put it at the back of my mind as I tucked into breakfast, a bagel and peanut butter (I've learned since being in America that peanut butter is the American's favorite food!!). After breakfast we headed for the University of Charlotte for a light training session. Stepping out of the vans we were greeted with rain and clouds making me feel right at home. After loosening our legs on a jog we practiced some finishing and corners before getting back in the vans and heading for the hotel for some down time prior to the game.

After a couple of hours rest, people prepared their things and once again we headed for the vans. There was an air of confidence as we warmed up and the enthusiasm was electric going into the game. It was obvious that both teams meant business from the start and it was clearly going to be a physical match. At half time we were down by one and this was not a reflection of how we'd played. Still attitudes remained positive and we knew that with patience we could easily get this back.

After an absolute cracker from my roommate KO which soared into the top corner we were level pegging, the game was on! Unfortunately after a small mistake in midfield Charlotte punished us and scored the perfect goal. Battling to the very last seconds we just couldn't put the ball away.

After the final whistle went we were left slightly deflated as the score board did not represent how we'd played.

As we headed for dinner at a local Max and Erma's all we could do was put the disappointing result to the back of our minds and put all our concentration into Sunday's game against Saint Louis.

25 October 2008:
Unfortunately, it was an early start on Saturday, getting up at 8am. We grabbed some breakfast from Panera before heading to the airport to catch our flight to St. Louis. As we boarded the plane I closed my eyes for the take off and completely crashed out. I was woken rather abruptly by the air hostess shaking my arm and telling me to put my seatbelt on for the landing.

As we drove to our hotel, we stopped off for some lunch at TGI Fridays. I was starving and ordered the chicken parmesan sliders, however, they were disgusting and as I watched my friends eat their various lunches I was left disappointed with my choice. Before arriving at the hotel we saw the St. Louis Arch/ The Gateway to the West. I had never heard of it before and was pretty impressed, there certainly aren't any big arches like that in England! Our hotel, the Hyatt, was located in the middle of a busy mall which we enjoyed trekking through with our large heavy bags. We certainly got some stares from the nosey shoppers.

After checking into our rooms we had some free time to do as we wished before having a team talk at 9. Myself, Kenyon, Kathleen and KO decided to go and explore what turned out to be a very disappointing mall. Unfortunately, we bumped into Serg walking out of The Sweetie Shop. He had invested in some disgusting flavored jelly beans and couldn't help himself from cracking up in laughter as Kenyon and I bit into a rotten egg flavored one; possibly the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted.

After a team meeting at nine where we went through some different formations, everyone headed to their rooms for an early night. I got little sleep as KO, who was sleeping next to me, snored consistently the entire night!!

26 October 2008:
Everyone woke at around 9 and headed to Einstein Bros and Bagels for some breakfast. Eileen, Caitlin and Mandi found it pretty amusing when the lady announced my name to the entire cafe as "Juicy"! After Lisa, our trainer, taped various people, we packed up our things and headed to the lobby to check out and once again headed to the vans.

As we got out of the vans at Saint Louis, we headed to the pitch where the sun was glistening off the grass. The game started well with Mac scoring a goal from Kelly B's corner in the opening minutes, a dinky header chipped by the keeper. We were still one up at half time and maintained this lead until the 90th minute after a goalless second half. Happy with our win, we headed for a bite to eat, before our journey home. I ate at the Hard Rock Café with the other freshers where I shared a large hot fudge chocolate brownie supersize chocolate sundae with Kathleen, served to us by the worlds strangest waiter. Feeling really full, we once again got in our vans to head for the airport for what we thought would be a smooth ride home.

After boarding the plane slightly behind time we began our flight back to Dayton. The plane was really small and in the wind we had a couple of bumps but nothing to unusual. As we came down to land we appeared to be rocking side to side slightly, we all jumped as we hit the runway. The plane landed on one wheel and we bounced up and tilted to one side.

It was an unpleasant landing, but we all got of safe and sound! Plus nothing could beat seeing Serg so sacred!