Soccer Player Blog

Entry #5, Erika Menning, So., George, Iowa

Spring is coming to a close with two games and only a handful of practices left, and looking back, its flown by. I still remember sitting in a classroom on the second floor of the DakotaDome wondering how in the world I was going to be able to function at a 6:30 AM practice. But, here I am, a much improved soccer player than I was just a few short months ago.

Brianna Scurry once said, “A champion is someone who does not settle for that day's practice, that day's competition, that day's performance. They are always striving to be better. They don't live in the past.”

Everyone on the team knows that I’m a sucker for quotes, but I think that this one really sums up the Coyote mindset. Coming off of the fall season full of high points and low points, we could have forgotten about the bad games and clung to our moments of brillance. And yet, here we are. A gang of weary-eyed Coyotes arriving at the Dome before the sun is up. A bunch of girls pushing themselves everyday, and putting in more work than is required, finding a careful balance between friends, soccer, and school. A group of women who drive each other crazy at times, but who at the same time appreciate the unique contributions that each personality brings to our team. A set of sixteen players who can be best friends off the field, and yet walk on the field and be fierce competitors, pushing each other to be their best.

Looking ahead to games versus Kansas and South Dakota State University, I think that we can expect good things from a group of Yotes transformed by a spring of hard work.

So, back to Brianna Scurry. Champions aren’t satisfied. And Coyotes aren’t either.

*Keep following us also at www.usdsoccer.com where we will be posting pictures and videos from this spring activities.

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