“Clear eyes, Full hearts, Can’t lose”

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LCWS visiting Hershey Park in Hershey, PA

“Clear eyes, Full hearts, Can’t lose”

This motto from the television series Friday Night Lights could not be more applicable to the Lynchburg College Women’s Soccer team.  On November 16th the team traveled to Mechanicsburg, Pa. to play in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA National Tournament.  The team faced off against Johns Hopkins at 7pm on a frosty field at Messiah College.  After a tough battle and a couple of unfortunate plays, Lynchburg College fell 3 to 1-  experiencing their first loss in 44 games over the past two seasons.

As the team exited the field, plenty of tears were shed.  But these tears were definitely not tears of regret.  This team had battled through blood, sweat, tears, and broken bones to fight for every inch of the soccer field in every minute of every single game this year.  We live free of regrets.  The tears that were shed were tears of passion and sadness for seeing such a miraculous season, such a miraculous effort come to a close.

If you are familiar with our team, then you are familiar with the fact that we are more of a family than anything else.  There is an indescribable bond that melds each member of this team together.  During our time spent in Pennsylvania, each player and coach wrote what they were most thankful for regarding our team.  The overwhelming theme was family.  Here are a couple of excerpts:

“LCWS gave me the best four years of my life.  LCWS gave me a group of girls that turned into my 2nd family.  LCWS taught me to push myself to limits I never knew I could.”  Audrey Moore (Senior/Clifton, Va.)

“I am thankful for LCWS because they are like the sisters I never had.  Each girl brings so much joy to my life when I am around them.  I am glad to have a family I can count on when I need them.”  Nikki Rhodes (Senior/Stephens City, Va.)

“I am thankful to be able to play with such amazing and hardworking girls.  The opportunity to play with these girls has shown me what being a part of a team really means and how important it is to never give up.”  Nicole Kopsidas (Freshman/Rockville, Md.)

Closing the season 21-1-3, tallying 103 goals, winning the conference championship, and being one of the final sixteen teams in the nation left standing is amazing; these are absolutely remarkable accomplishments that label this team.  However, even more valuable than all of those accolades is the family behind them that embodies the quote, “Clear eyes. Full heart. Can’t lose.”

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The Second Season

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On the chilly afternoon of November 2, 1997, the Lynchburg College Women’s Soccer team captured their first-ever Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championship in program history.  Fifteen years later, Lynchburg has yet to give up their reputation as an ODAC powerhouse.  With ten ODAC championship victories under their belt coming into the 2012 season, there was an expectation for excellence that penetrated every pore of this team.  The pursuit was on.  And although adversity has cropped up at almost every turn of the journey this season, nothing has stopped this family.

On November 4, 2012, LCWS won their 11th ODAC Championship against Bridgewater College in a 2-0 victory.  This game sealed the 16th shutout of the season, placing the team in the LC history books for most shutouts in a single season.  With a record of 19-0-3 and a conference title, the team earned the right to host the first round of the DIII NCAA National Tournament this coming weekend on November 10th and 11th.  The first-round game time for Lynchburg is set for 5pm on Saturday; the Hornets will face off against the Frostburg State University Bobcats!  Come out and support your Hornets!

Check out the amazing testimony about Shellenberger Field written by Shelley Hoath, a current senior and captain on the team!  This is where the magic happens!

Shellenberger Field by Shelley Hoath

As I stand looking at what seems to just be a field of turf beads and artificial grass, I notice a surge of energy fills me. There is no other space that I know better. I know what time the sun sets to where it blinds your vision before it falls behind the dorm buildings standing strong like a shield surrounding and protecting the grounds. I know the hottest time of day is not at 12pm but at 4pm when the humidity reaches its peak. I have seen the turf lay in the worst of storms and withhold ice blocks being plowed away by machinery. I’ve sprinted the 120 yards over and over until I knew where to turn around without looking down at the end line. The field holds open arms to my spilt blood, tears, and sweat. I have dedicated my soul and my heart to protecting every inch of grass for it protects me. It is a home where my family stands strong counting on it as much as it counts on us.

Shellenberger is not the first field that has been a home to me, but it carries a power that is unforgettable. It is the center of Lynchburg College; it holds the heart that keeps a steady beat. It sits low with high mountains watching over it. The black fence hugs the outer edges of the track that wraps around the field like an arena holding gladiators in. I have learned to fight to protect it, because if I don’t listen to my heart, if I don’t dedicate my soul to this ground, then it will be nothing but a green field with red painted lines. I refuse to give up and I continue to push a little harder than my body is capable of because that is what puts the magic in the ground. It is the years of people refusing to be tired and the years of athletes standing on a field believing it is too their home to protect.

It is not just me or my team – it is an extended family that represents Lynchburg College as if protecting Shelly really were a matter of life and death. This is why I stand here looking at a field I know so well, and I begin to feel a rush running through my veins. As I turn to walk away, my heart returns to a steady beat and the surge of energy waits beneath the field, ready for my next encounter.

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The Pursuit

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From the sun-scorched plains of Uganda and Kenya to the luscious rainforests of Costa Rica and Brazil, the Lynchburg College women’s soccer team and staff did its fair share of traveling this summer.  But after a summer break of learning, serving, and playing soccer across the globe, the team is coming off of pre-season fired up for an unbelievable 2012 fall. 

With a roster of 26 versatile players, the 2012 squad has more depth than any previous team in recent history.  The skill and fitness level of this team is off the charts, and every opponent that faces Lynchburg this fall is in for a battle.

The theme for the 2012 season is The Pursuit.  It’s funny how a simple word can bear so much weight.  The Pursuit represents the pursuit of an opponent, the pursuit of a starting position, the pursuit of challenges, the pursuit of a National Championship, and most importantly, the pursuit of excellence.  It also represents the fact that our team is constantly being pursued. No team can ever get comfortable. No team has the luxury of remaining stagnant. No team is ever safe. 

This weekend begins the Pursuit as LCWS kicks off the season at the Roanoke College Kickoff Tournament playing Maryville College Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. followed by SUNY Fredonia on Saturday at 5 p.m. in Roanoke. 

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Soccer, Service, and Community

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By Lauren Hammond

Soccer is a staple of the Lynchburg College Women’s Soccer team, but it definitely is not the only one. Community and service are not simply side activities that we try to incorporate every once in awhile into our program. They embody who we are at the core.

On Saturday, April 21st we hosted our annual Spring Play Day at two locations: Liberty University and Lynchburg College. The Virginia Military Institute women’s team traveled down from Lexington, Virginia, to participate with both the Lynchburg College and Liberty University women’s teams. The day started off with beautiful weather as Liberty faced VMI followed by Lynchburg facing VMI in two hard fought battles.

What happened next was a beautiful picture of soccer, service, and community wrapped up in one. The three teams gathered in Wake Field House for a brief lunch before packing 4,000 meals of millet, rice, vitamins, and vegetables to be shipped to the Philippines. Each of these meals feeds a family of 4-6 people. A meager twenty-five cents covers the cost of one of these meals for a family of six. The experience was ever more powerful because all three teams, VMI, Liberty, and Lynchburg, each raised the money used to purchase these meals.
After packing the meals, our Lynchburg team played Liberty in a tough, sloppy match in the pouring rain.

Statistics and scores are fleeting, but sharing the experience of making a difference in people’s lives is unforgettable. The whole day was a glimpse into the power of the soccer ball and how a simple ball has the ability to transcend rivalries and bring people together. This is the real beauty of the game that we love.  (To see more photos, visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lynchburg-College-Womens-Soccer/167822523326052?ref=ts

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Alumni Game, April 15th

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It was old home week at the Alumni soccer game.

This past Sunday, April 15th, the Lynchburg College women’s soccer players, both young and old, gathered for the annual spring Alumni game. The game proved to be quite an even contest, ending in a 1-1 tie. Michelle Stevens, a current sophomore on the team and transfer from Grove City, slotted a goal at around the fifteen minute mark in the first half. Siobhan Budine, class of 2006, answered shortly after with a shot 25 yards out that just dipped over the keeper’s head.

The Alumni team consisted of more than fifteen members from the class of 2001 all the way thru the soon-to-be 2012 graduates. Some brought their children and husbands along for the day, and it was an awesome time to catch up and have fellowship with former teammates. Following the game, all the players, parents, and alumni headed down to Beaver Point and enjoyed a picnic. It was and IS a great day to be a Hornet!

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Soccer player visits Vietnam

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Senior Katie Gebhard of Wyckoff, N.J., had the adventure of a lifetime over winter break as she traveled with more than 20 LC students to Vietnam to explore this fascinating country in Asia. Over her three-week study abroad experience, Katie was introduced to Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage, while experiencing hands-on the reality of present-day Vietnam through lectures, visits, and interactions with the Vietnamese people.

“Everything about Vietnam was beautiful and pure,” Katie said.  While the major focus of the course was literature, centered around the American war and its impact on contemporary Vietnamese culture, the group was able to have a wide variety of experiences.

Katie’s favorite part of the trip was the opportunity she had to play “Pelada” on the streets of Vietnam.  For those of you unfamiliar with the term, Pelada was LCWS’s theme for this past season.  It is a Portuguese word used to describe pick-up soccer.  The literal meaning of the word is naked.  We chose this as our theme because we see Pelada as soccer stripped down to its core.

“Away from the stadiums and bright lights, there is another side of soccer.  It is found in the muddy side streets, atop the mountains, and in the dusty alleys. And it is played for no other reason than for the love of the game.”* Katie’s memories of playing in the alleyways of Vietnam will forever remind her of why we play this beautiful game.

*Quote from the documentary Pelada ( http://www.pelada-movie.com/).  I encourage each of you to check out this awesome film that follows two American soccer players to 25 countries to uncover the mysterious beauty of the game of soccer!

 

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Women’s Soccer Showcase Video

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If you missed this year’s Lynchburg College Women’s Soccer Showcase, here are video highlights for your viewing enjoyment.

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Women’s Soccer Showcase!

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The mixture of rain, sleet , and cold this past weekend was not enough to keep 230+ female high
school soccer players away from the 2012 Lynchburg College 7’s Women’s Soccer Showcase. Teams
and individuals from up and down the east coast traveled to play on Shellenberger Field in our 4th
annual 7v7 tournament. With 20 games taking place on Saturday, and 10 more on Sunday, LC was abuzz
with young ladies eager to showcase their athletic talent to various college coaches in attendance.
On Saturday afternoon, a College Coaches Panel was held in Schewel Auditorium where players were
given the opportunity to ask DI, DII, and DIII coaches about the ins and outs of college athletics. Overall,
the weekend was a tremendous success! A huge thank you to the current Lynchburg College women’s
soccer team for their hard work, enthusiasm, and tremendous hosting skills throughout the weekend! It
was (and is) a great day to be a Hornet!

 

 

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Family First: Life Group

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Success on the field is a staple of the Lynchburg College women’s soccer team. But more important than success is family. This fall the team launched a weekly Life Group that focused on taking relationships deeper than just on the soccer field. It also served as an investigative platform to discover who Jesus Christ is, what He did for us, and how this changes our lives. The Life Group met every Sunday evening throughout the semester and was open to any member of the team wanting to take part. The overwhelming participation from the team, the desire to learn and grow, and the intimate friendships formed on a greater level were absolutely remarkable. Our team is not just a group of soccer players. They take it to a much more holistic level. They are a group of confidants, accountability partners, teachers, and family members.

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Summer of Service in Africa

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This summer Coach Olsen and Coach Adams, along with four of our LC women’s soccer players traveled to Gulu, Uganda, to work side by side with Sports Outreach Institute and the people of Gulu. One of our primary projects was to dedicate a well in honor of Anna Wright, a former LC player killed in a car accident. The team helped raise nearly $25,000 to fund the project. The well will serve more than 4,000 people as it provides clean, safe drinking water. In addition to the well, we dedicated a Hornet Well in honor of the support Lynchburg College has given to Sports Outreach and the people of Gulu. Coach Olsen and group members taught a Community Public Health class to the local Sports Outreach staff who then taught the class to members of local villages. The team was also able to play several exciting soccer matches in the Gulu Community. The team played in a local tournament against a predominantly male team, winning the game 4-0 with three goals by Lynchburg College soccer players. A second game was played in a freshly machete-cut field against former male child soldiers; the team was defeated 2-1 as the Gulu team had an assist from a local cow. To learn more about Sports Outreach Institute and how you can become a partner please visit www.sportsoutreach.net.

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