For the Love of the Game

Posted by Kari Foreman, Senior Midfielder

We traveled to my hometown of Lakewood Colorado this past weekend to play our last two regional games. It proved successful as we beat Colorado Christian University 4-1and tied Colorado School of Mines 1-1 (#8 in the most recent Midwest Regional Poll ). We are undefeated in regional play for the first time since I started playing for MSUB in 2007, a sweet start to my senior year.

The trip was particularly special for me because it was the first time a lot of my family and friends have been able to watch my team play. They were at both games, with high spirits and t-shirts that I have sent home, on numerous occasions, from the bookstore here on campus. I am blessed to have such a wonderful and enthusiastic support system back home. I was so thrilled to have my family be there to support my soccer family, and to those of you who do read the blog, thank you so much for being there for me throughout my ENTIRE soccer career and life. I love you all.

When I got to visit for that short time, one of my many supporters asked me all about my life as a college athlete and after I explained in detail to her the often overwhelming schedule we go through on a daily basis she asked me “Do you love it?”. Truth: I’m obsessed, completely head over heels, could even be considered soccer’s creepy stalker, LOVE IT. Former player Sara Gress once referred to soccer as a complicated relationship because no matter how many times it gets you down you always come back. You notch that one game winner and you can taste that sweet moment for a long time. I replay every bad day with soccer over and over again and contemplate how I could have done it differently, I lose sleep over soccer. I hate how soccer makes me feel. But the next day, on the road in Western Oregon, second overtime, two fans and a muddy jersey, I score the golden goal. The euphoric feeling is something you just don’t forget, the team laughing and cheering, you’re a winner, and there is no other feeling as addicting as being a winner. You can’t break up with soccer, because when you are with soccer you are better than yourself, you are a part of something bigger than you. Because for just that minute that you score that goal, make that save, stick that tackle, you go from ordinary to extraordinary.

The problem is, that eventually, competitively anyways, soccer will leave you. And you aren’t allowed to go back, because it moves on without you. Some of us will hang on, trying out our luck in older leagues, or coaching, but for all of us, who have been both recognized and scorned by the six letter hobby, the lessons we have learned while we were with it will be with us forever. And occasionally, when we step on that field again, as a coach, a rec player or a spectator, we can relive our glory days with those who are willing to listen.

For now, soccer is slowly trying to divorce me, but I’m doing everything I can to hold on for as long as I can. We all are. Tell us we aren’t even ranked and that we are facing # 8 in the region, see if we falter. Because, we don’t care who we have to beat, we want that feeling, we want to be winners. This is our time, to prove to soccer and ourselves that we are extraordinary. And we’ll do it all, for the love of the game.