NATIONALS IN ARIZONA

Hi everyone!
So I haven't been a great blogger recently-I'm sorry! I have been loaded down with school and physics and biochemistry and am ready for the semester to be over! But right now I am getting a pretty sweet break from it all, staying at an amazing hotel in Phoenix, Arizona with the UVA Club Soccer team. We are here for the NIRSA National Club Soccer Championships, and we had our first two games today.
We woke up a little too early for my taste (7:30 am, when it is still cold in AZ!) considering we got into the airport at midnight and to bed by 2 am (all in AZ time). But our team has been so excited for this tournament, especially after qualifying for the Championship Division by doing so well this year! Unfortunately I am still not playing (though I was cleared to run this week, and even clocked a few minutes on a treadmill on Monday!) I'm already so, so happy I came!
Our first game was at 9:45 this morning, against Texas A&M, who sounded pretty intimidating. But the fields are beautiful, flat and perfect (surrounded by distant rocky mountains) and the weather became perfect soccer-playing weather by the time we got to the sports complex. Despite the early morning wake up call, our team made me proud by hitting the field running. The other team was good, fast, and organized, and played a lot like we do, but we got on the board in the first half when Shayna slipped one in, and it was all over from there. It was 2-0 at the half, and ended 4-2, but I really think a score of 4-0 would be more reflective of the game. The two goals they had were unfortunately results of simple mistakes, but we held on to it for a good, deserved win.
We had a couple hours between games, enough time to take advantage of the coolers of food and drinks our wonderful parents (We have fans all the way in AZ!) brought us, and catch half of the Men's game. They eventually won 4-0 against ASU, after a red card on one of the ASU players, and rude taunting about oompa loompas from their fans.
Our second game was against TCNJ (The College of New Jersey in case you haven't heard of it) and for some reason-maybe we were tired, didn't expect much out of the other team, or didn't get a good warm up, but we came out pretty flat. The first half was frustrating for all of us, and at half we were stuck in a 0-0 tie. We self-coached ourselves at half time, told ourselves to pick up our energy and get some passes together, and came out on top with a 1-0 win. Thankfully Lucie scored that goal, because despite our scrappy and somewhat lethargic playing, we definitely were the better team. TCNJ was definitely okay, but they were very physical, and I think the pushing and over the top fouling got in our heads a bit. Now I'm not talking dirty playing like Elizabeth Lambert (Check her out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC-pF3OHY1c) but it was definitely too aggressive, and the referees did not do their job to protect our players. It is important for the refs to keep the game aggressive, but clean and fair, and these referees allowed too much, ultimately leading to one of our girls heading to the hospital with a badly twisted ankle, and taking her out of the rest of the tournament.
Our next game is tomorrow morning at 10, against the winner of the OSU, Arizona and Denver bracket. I'll be doing my part as team photographer and somewhat coach on the sidelines. I'll keep you updated, and hopefully get some pictures up soon!