Agen Heffernan, Redshirt Freshman, Lake Forest Park, WA

This past week was highlighted with the rocky indoor tournament and a much needed day off from winter sprints. Both MSUB teams had a lot of fun in the tournament, and it was great to see so many alums come back to Billings for the weekend. I look forward to coming back and playing in it as well once I graduate!
For the upcoming week we are really going to take our new motto, “Out Last”, to heart. We have two more early morning sprint workouts and the reps are climbing higher and higher. These last two days will certainly test us, but I know the team is up for the challenge! We continue to get faster and stronger every week, and we are anxiously waiting to go outside and practice to prepare ourselves for a tough spring season.
Spring break is coming up next week, and I plan on driving home to Washington to see my family and friends. Though I don’t have the most exciting of plans, I know some of the other girls will have a fun break traveling and I look forward to hearing about it!

“Out Last”

Jaucelyn Richter, Junior, Billings, MT
Jessie Mancilla, Freshman, Aliso Viejo, CA

One more week down of winter conditioning and the Rocky Indoor Tournament is on the rise. Luckily, this last Wednesday Wojtek cut us a break and we didn’t have to do our winter sprint program…best day ever. Ha! Our team finally decided on a team motto, ”Out Last.” It stands for “Out Hustle, Out Work, Out Think, Out Play, OUT LAST!” ~unknown. We are really excited for the Rocky Indoor Tournament this weekend and we’ve been preparing by playing indoor the last couple Sunday’s on our individual teams. It’s Team Infinity vs. Team Kikiminda and we tend to get ridiculously competitive, even in dodge ball during jump program! But it’s all in good fun. Our annual team ski trip was postponed due to weather, so we went ice skating as a team instead. Needless to say it was a hilarious adventure and the trip to Wendy’s after capped it off nicely. 
We’re really looking forward to the Rocky Indoor Tournament and three day weekend ahead!!

Janae Remsberg, Redshirt Sophomore, Oceanside, CA
Elisabeth Eriksen, Freshman, Calgary, Alberta

The spring season is just around the corner, we have officially finished over half of the morning sprints...Thank goodness. We are now on the downhill slope to finishing fitness February, we just need to push extra hard these last four and remember we are all in this together. It’s been a couple weeks where we have been “mottoless” so hopefully within the next week or so we should have our new inspiration, it’s down to “Good, Better, Best” “Make it Happen” or “Out Last”. Janae and I are so excited to be going to Red Lodge Montana for our annual ski trip this Saturday, about half the team has been counting down the days and praying for good snow while the other half has been dreading any site of a snowflake. All in all this month has been flying by so fast, with the Rocky Indoor Tournament next week and March following shortly behind.

Keep up the Good Work girls!

First week of conditioning

Adrienne Biglow, Junior, Yakima, WA
Jennifer Johnson, Freshman, Wenatchee, WA

As we moved into the first week of February, the winter conditioning program has really started to pick up. Throughout the week we have been lifting, running sprints, and participating in the AMP program. I think we have all forgotten how hard the winter season can be and not only that, but how hard we can push ourselves and each other! As tough as the workouts can be to get through, we really come together as a team to reach our full potential. We know the work is worth it and will all pay off come spring season.
This week was an exciting one because our Rocky Indoor teams were drafted and we were able to play together for the first time last Sunday. Both teams looked great and are soooo excited to compete in the tournament coming up on the weekend of February 18. Our goal is to have both teams fighting for the championship! Hopefully we should be able to fend off our MSUB alumni team who are the returning champs. Go MSUB!!
We just want to encourage everyone to keep up the hard work—the pain will pay off 

“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.”

Coach Carter

Whitney Siler, Sophomore, Monroe, WA
Jackie Hill, Sophomore, Boise, ID


Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. –Coach Carter

Last week we got the privilege to watch the movie Coach Carter as a team along with the company of all the other athletic teams here at MSUB. Right after the movie we got to hear Coach Carter himself give one of the best motivational speeches I have ever heard. It gave our team the right attitude going into the rigorous winter conditioning that was soon to come. Like he says, “as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.” That means when I am giving 110% into every morning sprint workout, I know that my teammate next to me is working just as hard. We put the hard work in now to prepare for the future. We work together as a family and push each other through every demanding sprint, jump training and weightlifting session we participate in and get better as a unit.

Another great thing that happened this week was our coach, Wojtek Krakowiak, was solidified as our head coach; BIG SHOUT OUT goes to him, congratulations. (:

Bitter-Sweet End

Courtney Harvey, Junior, Billings, MT.

"Anyone who has played a sport at any level will tell you that you can't focus on the bad things that might happen in a game or you won't be able to function properly when you are in the moment. You must be able to relax and compete aggressively while approaching the game with great confidence. It is the fear of failure that drives you, but it is visualizing success that gives you the positive mind-set and confidence to feel like you can accomplish anything."
~Drew Brees

For those of you who don't know, Drew Brees is the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. Although I am not a Saints Fan (GO BRONCOS!!) I found his book very inspiring and would recommend it to anyone who plays or is interested in sports and has faith. As I sat down to read Drew's memoir for the second time this year, the above quote seemed to jump out at me with a heavy importance. Over the past couple years I have realized how important the element of confidence is to any aspect of life and most definitely to soccer. With that being said, I believe the best way to achieve confidence is to be as readily prepared for the task at hand as possible and to surround yourself with people you can count on to do the same. I know that is exactly the case for the team and family at MSUB. That is why I will undoubtedly say the achievements and positive possibilities we can accomplish are endless!

I have also learned to dedicate my hardwork to and be motivited by those who have faith and believe in me rather than trying to prove the naysayers wrong. No matter what I'm doing... running sprints in the scorching heat or the early mornings in the upper gym (sorry to bring that up girls, I know it's a sensitive subject to most of us), lifting, kicking long ball after long ball with my left foot, or practicing my defensive headers... I think about the various people in my life who have inspired me to get where I am today. Consider the teammates, coaches, family members, and friends who have helped you and believed in you along the way. Allow that to motivate you through the remainder of the summer and into the fall. It's more rewarding than you could ever expect!

Although I may be kicking myself in a couple weeks for saying this (hehe), I have never been this excited for pre-season to start! The end of summer is always bitter-sweet but I can't wait to see everyone and begin the 2011-2012 season. I am eager to start playing with old and new teammates and to see all the positive ways the incoming freshmen class will impact our program!

Hope everyone's summers have been all you hoped them to be and we will be seeing eachother soon!

Progress

Danielle Gordon, Senior, Atkins, IA.

As I sat in the same spot that I sat in twelve years ago during the '99 Women's World Cup Final, I clenched my teeth, held my breath, and kept my eyes glued during every break away, every shot, every save, down to the final PK that determined the fate of the US team. Memories from the previous, victorious game flashed through my mind and I sat on hope that the same result would transpire. Unfortunately this was not their year to repeat history and the bitter taste of a loss will flood their senses for time to come, but all that matters now is the progression towards the next opportunity for advancement.

Progression is something that the MSUB Women's Soccer program is consistently striving for. From the beginning of the program and our first season to the very last second of the 2nd game in the NCAA Division II Tournament, fifteen years after the birth of the program, we have made progress. The upcoming season is drawing near with high expectations and the only thing that can continue the progress in an upward direction is work that has been put in throughout the history of the program and will continue to be put in for the future of the program.

I am looking forward to our team persisting and making further strides in the program this season. From the words of Benjamin Franklin: "Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning."
With that being said, I look forward to progress this next season and in turn, success.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and I cannot wait to see you all here in a few weeks!!

Danielle