This past weekend, the Case women’s soccer team battled the Ohio Northern Polar Bears in a very physical and spirited game. This is one of our biggest non-conference games every year so it is no surprise that the game has a heightened level of intensity. The game this year, however, had even more reason to be so passionate: we were playing for a cause. As part of our yearly community service, we decided to raise money in support of the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
Each player helped contribute to the cause by either accepting pledges per each shot taken or through flat donations. The team also sponsored a bake sale during classes the previous week and held a 50-50 raffle during the game (with help from the Volleyball team!) While the final tally still has to be calculated, hopefully we were able to accomplish our goal of raising $3000.00. Thanks to the Alzheimer’s association we were able to wear T-shirts supporting the cause during warm-ups.
The game was just as demanding as we expected. ONU fields a very athletic and hardworking team every year so we were prepared for a battle, and a battle is was. Furthermore, the weather was very conducive to a hard-fought game: lots of rain, a little wind, and the first “cool” game of the year. Both teams were fairly evenly matched with a majority of the play occurring in the midfield. After a very back-and-forth first half, half-time arrived and we found ourselves down a goal.
The second half was just as physical and tightly contested as the first. Every single Spartan who stepped on the field contributed all the effort they could, but we were quite in sync and despite putting lots of pressure on ONU, including a few free kicks and corners, we were unable to net the tying goal and ended up falling 1-0.
This loss is particularly difficult to suffer because the game was so winnable and should we have another opportunity to play them, the result could very well be different. However, we came away from this game focused and ready to enter our “second” season – the conference season. With only one more game until our UAA conference games begin, we are focused and ready to take the next step to becoming the best team we can be. With so much potential, this conference season looks very promising. Hopefully the loss to ONU can serve as a springboard into our conference play.
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