Soccer Player Blog

Entry #8, Coach Marcia Oliveira

New season, new challenges, renewed commitment.

This year pre-season was different. NCAA decided to start the season earlier by one week and everything was pushed back. Upperclassmen were here earlier and newcomers came in, a bit shy, to the new territory.

It was a long training period. In three weeks we worked together before classes started and we had a few exciting opportunities in pre-season that we want to cherish.

Among our exhibition games were two special moments: SDSU and The Alumni. Both were new to us, and both were to renew a long time relationship between them and The University of South Dakota. It was important to reunite our current path from the past. The Alumni had the opportunity for the first time in program history to come back home. SDSU also came to restart and relive the old days of a tremendous rivalry between both schools.

Now in season, we can look forward to the type of commitment that we want to build on for next year Alumni, USD-SDSU, and many other encounters. Our focus, discipline, belief, and development will increase as the competition of these encounters increases, and this will help as we face other important Division I opponents.

As we sail in some waters never seen in 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, we want to work on reinforcing our arrival in 2011 in the new league, in a more experienced and stronger way. We will need to work in ways to learn, improve, reflect, and deliver in order to develop the type of future we want; the future we feel we deserve and that we work for.

Certainly we know that nothing worthwhile comes without sacrifice and many lessons learned. Late in the season when USD meets Great West Conference opponents there will be new scenarios and opportunities to uncover the direction we are going. The conference opponents for the next two years will be very important on helping to shape the way we want to land in The Summit league in 2011.

2011 is still far away, but the moment is now. It is today. One day at time. We want to hold our own luck and face challenges positively while sustaining a strong commitment to mature and grow, game by game, seeing opportunities, learning and applying lessons. This way, our journey becomes very interesting and dynamic. It is with this dynamic that we look forward to great alumni relations and renewed USD-SDSU battles. One game at time.

I hope you enjoy the readings of our blog as we go thru the seasons. For now, a big hug to you, and it is my strong desire to see your continued relationship with USD Soccer.

God bless you now and always.

Take care,

Coach Oliveira

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

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