Year-End Freshman Reflections

contributed by Alex Litofsky '12, civil engineering major from Columbia, MO

Whoosh!  The year whirled to a stop as frantically as it had begun back in August.  Classes wound down with that one-last-test that each professor managed to squeeze in, and then finals preparation loomed nearer.

While we were wrapping up all our class work, we also found a way to fit in some fun.  The weather granted us a beautiful day to enjoy Springfest, a campus event in which every organization can host a booth and provide games and prizes— snow cones, water guns, mini golf, and fencing all added to the mix.  I helped run the booth for the Student Sustainability Council; participants answered sustainability trivia questions and threw aluminum cans into recycling bins to win buttons, Frisbees, and shot glasses, which were the hottest items there, in my humble opinion.

Then it was time to study for finals, at least for as long as our rapidly diminishing attention spans could tolerate.  We had a few opportunities to get away from the books and release some pent-up energy during the weekend.  We got down on the dance floor at the Spartan Spirit formal (except for those of us who instead agonized over the Bulls’ game seven).  Then it was back to studying for those few remaining finals.

All exams completed, we celebrated with a journey to the beach for a quick dip in Lake Erie—where quick means dive in, lose feeling in your legs, and run back out onto the sand, all in the space of thirty seconds.  We also found some other ways to enjoy spring in Cleveland, now that the stresses of courses had at last disappeared: going for a bike ride, strolling through the Botanical Gardens, dancing at the Girl Talk concert.

Then, the dawning realization that the stuff strewn around our dorm rooms somehow needed to find its way into vehicles or storage led to the exhilarating process of packing.  As I stripped my sweaters off of hangers and folded my jeans into suitcases, I marveled at how quickly the year had passed.

Though I could see vividly that day in August when my roommate and I cheerfully opened our boxes, hung up our clothes, and rearranged our furniture, that first day at school seemed almost a lifetime ago.  The first week of two-a-day practices and feeling lost on campus seems so distant now that we have lived here for essentially the last nine months.  My uncertainties and fears of the first couple months of school have faded as I have settled into routines, become familiar with the place, and found that I can trust the friends that I have made here.

Though there were nights when it seemed the semester would never end—as I sat staring at the first two sentences of an eight-page paper, perhaps, or drowning in an impossible calculus problem—and some weeks seemed to last forever, in the end, the year fairly flew by.  Certainly, the first semester was over before I knew it.  I was stunned as each month passed, and by the time I had grasped that soccer season had ended, it was Thanksgiving and finals and home for winter break.  But the second semester slipped away even faster than the first, thanks to the flurry of activities exploding in the vacuum that daily soccer practices had left behind.

Having survived—and enjoyed—the first year of college, I feel well-prepared and enthusiastic to take on the second year.  That edge of confidence and familiarity will help me step up my play on the soccer field and take even better advantage of opportunities at school, particularly those extracurricular and social opportunities that must be balanced around schoolwork.  I just have to make sure not to over-commit myself!

There is a lot to look forward to next semester.  I’m excited to see the friends I’ll be missing all summer, and will get my first taste of classes specific to civil engineering, my recently-declared major.  I am certainly looking forward to the upcoming fall soccer season.  The season will bring a new set of freshmen, a new opportunity to train as a team, another shot at UAA games, and new cities to travel to (including St. Louis, in my home state).  I get excited just thinking about all of it!  And then I remember the summer workouts I have to do: ugh.  But then I remind myself that it’s all part of the deal: if we all come into the season in good shape, we’ll be that much more prepared to play.  And I definitely want to be prepared to play.

See you in August, Case!  I’ll be ready.

Pictures:  

Top:  Freshmen (L to R) Alex Litofsky, Jackie Guttman, Laura Gabster, Becca Vaughan, and Sammy Sarrett get ready to attend the first annual Spartan Student-Athlete Formal sponsored by CASA (Case Association of Student-Athletes)

Bottom:  Freshmen Kristina Vaci, Anna Selser, Sammy Sarrett, and Anna Kennedy enjoy the activities during SpringFest Weekend.

Senior 2009 Farewell - Kirsten McClain

It’s been six months since our season ended. Six months since returning to my hometown, Rochester, for our final game. Honestly, I remember very little of that final game; it was a blur, a strange phenomenon coming full circle in the city where I grew up and learned the game I loved and where I ultimately ended my career. Looking back I can see vivid snapshots of goals scored and saves made in a variety of games in cities across the country. While the on-field events resulted in wins and losses and a range of sports statistics, it was the off-field relationships that define my experience with Case soccer the most.  For some I only got the privilege of playing with them for one year, while others played with me for all four years.

For me soccer is a game. One I have devoted 17 years of my life to because I love it, but like most players I have a love/hate relationship with soccer. Things that I will miss the most , besides my teammates, include (in no particular order- except winning games comes first) winning games, Buddy’s ever-continuous goalie drills, dominating Halloween practice, synchronized swimming, and being able to be laughing hysterically one minute and working hard the next. Things I won’t miss include running sprints, doing pushups, and doing yoga (all of which are not my forte), but having 20 some odd women along side me working towards a common goal definitely made me run faster, although never the fastest unfortunately.

My soccer life now consists of training for the alumni game by watching soccer clips on Youtube and watching the team practice from my room, so I can strategize the alumni team’s plan of attack. In the future I will definitely join a club league, but the level of play will never be the same. I am looking forward to seeing where Case soccer will go in the future. The talent and determination of the women on the team now will, without a doubt, take Case soccer to the top of the conference in the near future. I am honored to have played and been a part of rebuilding this program, and I wish all the best to the current and future Case women’s soccer team.

Kirsten McClain

P.S. GO ALUMNI!!!!!

Photos:  

Top:  Kirsten (left) "dominating" year 3 of the Halloween practices

Bottom:  Kirsten and her new teammates at this spring's Alumni Game

Relay For Life :The True Life Events

Each semester the team participates in a community service opportunity. This spring the girls participated in Relay for Life this past weekend held on the Case campus at our soccer stadium. Last year, in the first time on Case's campus, the Case community raised more than $60,000 for the fight against cancer. CASA (Case Association of Student-Athletes) led the charge in getting every varsity athletic team represented at this year's Relay for Life. Relay for Life is an 18-hour event in which teams raise money and representatives continuously walk the track. There are an array of activities going on at all times. Kristina Vaci, a freshman biomedical engineering major from Mentor, Ohio, blogged about this year's event.

It was Friday the 17th, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and people were walking. Yes, it was Relay for Life, the day hundreds of students, faculty, and citizens of lovely Cleveland come together and walk for the cure for cancer. The women's soccer team formed a group to walk all night. These are the events of that crazy night...

6:00 p.m. - Our team was asked to arrive to be there for the opening ceremonies (I know it's like the Olympics, right?!)

6:15 p.m. - The whole team finally arrived...time is problem

6:30 p.m. - After several speeches from people in charge and such, the survivor lap started. We clapped as they came around, and it was pretty awesome to see all those that fought and survived cancer.

6:45 p.m. - Everyone except the few and the proud quickly left for the ever important food...it is a basic necessity for survival. So, as many of the girls put the cure on hold, others walked on (cough...ME).

7:00 p.m. - Three laps later, walking got extremely boring and that's when the night truly started...

7:30 p.m. - I received a most critical of text messages. Four of the girls on our team were come over with madness as they decided to chop off their hair and donate it to another version of "Locks for Love." There was an urgent plea for all moral support, but alas, myself and 2 others stomachs grumbled, and though we would have loved to sit in the locker room and watch our teammates luscious locks get cut away, we were so malnourished we could barely crawl. Thus, we headed to Quiznos for a quick dinner.

8:30 p.m. - With our hunger sated, we were back to walking, this time with all the team in full force. It was great that they had a dj playing some of the hippest jams while we walked...it wasn't so great to have to watch some of my fellow teammates show me their "moves." The rumors are true, white girls can't always dance.

9:00 p.m. - The lights were turned out and we had a great luminary ceremony in honor of all those who had lost the fight and those who were still fighting cancer. We also celebrated those who had won the battle!

10:00 p.m. - After such a serious ceremony, only one thing was left to do...yes, shenanigans in the center of the soccer field. We combined forces with some of the boys soccer team as we decided to show of our skills in a game of keep away.

10:15 p.m. - The girls lost our game of keep away as the boys realized they were strong and had the ability to pick us up and take the ball. We then realized the key to winning keep away = dessert. From there we went to get some snacks.

11:00 p.m. - A puppy was sighted and had to be played with. Ok, I saw a puppy and decided to play with it for 45 minutes, but trust me, puppies bring happiness when they're happy, thus making happy people. Happy people are usually optimistic, and optimistic people are perseverant, and perseverant people win the fight against cancer. Thus, by the mathematical transitive property...puppies cure cancer. This is scientific fact.

11:30 p.m. - As we walk around the track, we see people with giant tubs of plastic easter eggs. Seeing this, many of our team members went absolutely crazy and decided we must all collect eggs, combine them, and share the prize. As we lined up to run across the field and grab the eggs, the whistle was blown. Terrifying battle cries sounded as we all charged across the field, ready for anything. Our captain Soo Hoo tripped and screamed "Go on without me!" Ana Arruda dived in front of everyone, tackling 2 kids in the process as she went for the eggs. Alex Litofsky let out a whoop as she furiously picked up eggs. The dust settled, bodies everywhere, we reconvened, and counted the eggs. Turns out they only had change in them and we only made about 20 dollars. On a brighter note, Soo Hoo was alive, we thought we'd lost her.

12:30 a.m. - After sufficient rest from the Battle of the Egg, we went back on the track for a few more laps.

1:30 a.m. - With our rejuvenated spirits, we decided to have another go at some soccer. We started out with some 3 v 3, but this immediately turned in to a full out match on the same size field...the only problem was through the confusion several people thought it'd be great to be secret traitors and constantly switch teams.

2:00 a.m. - People realized there were traitors on both teams and soccer turned into wrestling. Lets say we were once again in need of a nap.

3:00 a.m. - A dragon came in and ate all the peasants.

4:00 a.m. - The night was starting to wear on many people as the walking slowed down, and people headed to their tents. Yet somehow the army reserve team kept someone jogging at all times. They are the few and the proud.

5:00 a.m. - Michael Jackson showed up! Who knew he was best friends with the dean of admissions at Case.

6:00 a.m. - Those who had gone home for some sleep were awoken as a corn hole tournament was started. And if I'm not sleeping...no one is.

7:00 a.m. - By this time, we were the walking dead. As cool as zombies are here at Case (apparent by the fabulous Zombie vs. Humans game here on campus), we decided to sleep.

9:00 a.m. - Several people reconvened to help teach all the young children of Cleveland soccer...there were only 2 kids in Cleveland that day. But that's ok, any chance to goof around with a soccer ball is welcome.

11:00 a.m. - Relay for Life finally winded down. It was a crazy night, but because of the lovely team of women's soccer, cancer is one step closer to being cured. What a great night!

**Since I am not capable of staying up for the whole 18 hours of Relay for Life some of these events may be dramatizations. You'll know which ones...

Almost There...

written by Kaitlyn Yule ('10)...Nursing major from Raleigh, North Carolina

I am a junior nursing student and a varsity women's soccer team member. My life is pretty much consumed by my major and my sport. I spend sixteen hours a week performing hands-on clinicals at MetroHealth Hospital in downtown Cleveland, and that's simply a required addition to the thirteen hours of classes I attend weekly.

But, despite the often chaotic schedule, I could not see myself doing anything else. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be right smack dab in the middle of an inner city level one trauma center dealing with emergency situations, life or death decisions, and gathering one of a kind life experiences which translate into jaw dropping stories. These past couple of weeks in clinicals has been a little more extraordinary than the usual...with three births, an emergency cesarean section to deliver a dying baby, and the not so everyday occurrence of saving my four month old patient from choking to death.

This Wednesday I had more than I could have asked for while shadowing in the emergency department of MetroHealth, an eighty-one bed unit with eight trauma bays, its very own psych department, and a one of a kind life flight division that provides services to the entire state of Ohio. I was finally where I have always envisioned and where I have worked so hard to be. As the first trauma of the day was life flighted in, the staff prepared for her arrival. The patient was a middle-aged woman who had been struck by two separate vehicles. She had numerous fractures, no pulse in either of her legs, and internal bleeding. Here it was right in front of me, my first trauma and it all happened so quickly. It was organized chaos of doctors and nurses, yelling orders and status updates, frantically trying to find the answer to save this woman's life. Before I knew it she was stabilized and transferred to radiology to have a CT scan to try and find where her massive internal hermorrhage was located. All that's left after a situation such as this is a mess of a room and a collection of emotions that leave you in complete awe of what just happened. The adrenaline that comes from any emergency situation is indescribable.

As a nursing student, I still have so far to go before I get to the day where I'm the nurse working that trauma, but I can finally see that the end is in sight. I have just over a year left and I have worked so hard and sacrificed so much. There is no longer a doubt in my mind that I am doing the right thing. These past few years have been hard, with sleepless nights and days where I've just wanted to give up, but it's all about to pay off. I'm in the final stretch now and can't wait to finally reach the long awaited finish line.

There is another passion in my life that has absolutely nothing to do with sick people, traumatic injuries, or nursing in general. I have played soccer my entire life, never with an end in sight. But it has finally hit me that I have only one season left to play competitively. This fall marks the beginning of the end of something I have known and taken for granted my entire life. We have begun our spring season practices and it has only heightened my awareness that I'm going to be a senior next year. Going into this final season I have such high expectations for myself, and I feel this is my last chance to help the team achieve what I know capable. I have seen not only the team change, but I have also witnessed the entire program completely evolve. The caliber of each individual player is unlike anything we have had in the past years I have been here at Case. A large part of this transformation comes from our current freshmen and sophomore classes. Our freshmen class this year is remarkable. They have so much dedication and work so hard to raise not only their personal level of play but also the team's level. I have this one final season left before I hang up the jersey, but I can truly say I wouldn't want to play my last season with any other group of girls. I'm excited and nervous to begin this final season and also a little jealous knowing that this is the end for me but not for them. The dedication, leadership, intelligence, and athleticism of the girls in the classes below me will impact Case Women's soccer for years. I am jealous that I will not be a part of the future of this team, which I have no doubt consists of conference championships and multiple trips to the NCAA tournament. At the same time, I am proud to say that I am here in the midst of it, that I have a hand in what will some day be known as the powerhouse women's soccer program at Case Western Reserve University.

The Argentine Adventure

As reported by Anna Selser (2012, Biomedical Engineering)

This spring break, I had two options. Option one: I could return home to Iowa and sit around my house while all my other friends were busy attending school. Option two: I could find an exciting alternative. While Iowa is a lively, exhilarating, fantastic place, I decided to check out a place I had never been. Conveniently, Case offers spring break study abroad trips, and it just so happened that the bioethics department offers a class in Buenos Aires, so my decision was made.

Although I was initially a little apprehensive about not knowing anyone else on the trip, we bonded quickly. It probably helped that Allysen (Case junior soccer player and former study abroader) put in a good word for me with her friends. Our first day there we discovered that Argentines are obsessed with dogs. Everyone has a dog, I have literally never seen so many dogs in my life. Small dogs, big dogs, dogs on leashes, dogs free, dogs in the airport, dogs in kiosks (convenience stores), dogs in dog parks, they're seriously everywhere. The second thing we discovered that day was that they have no problem with PDA. If you walk through a park you literally see couples on top of each other making out. Apparently this is because everyone lives with their parents until they're married, so they have nowhere to go besides parks. Third, empanadas are delicious and they are the equivalent of pizza. There are pizza and empanada fast food places that will deliver. Pure deliciousness. And the final thing we learned that day, some of us the hard way, is that Argentines like to eat the organs of animals. A few boys unfortunately thought they were ordering a platter of meat, and realized halfway through the meal that it was a platter with a little bit of chicken, intestines, liver, and kidneys. It was an interesting first day.

Buenos Aires was beautiful. It's a big city encompassing different neighborhoods, all known for something different. It's interesting to look at because there is a huge contrast between new and old. You will pass a building that has a beautiful marble facade and the building next door across the street might look like somewhere you would never want to enter. Another interesting feature is the amount of green space in an urban setting. There are the most beautiful parks, almost every block. And there are trees everywhere and not just small trees you might see lining streets in America, but big ones. Some streets even have a natural canopy as a result of these.

Although we spent a huge chunk of time in class, we were able to do some awesome things. We were lucky enough to go to a soccer game, La Boca against Indenpendiente, a huge rival game. I've been to professional games abroad before where soccer is a bigger deal than it is in the US, but this was seriously amazing. Apparently right before we got to the stadium there was a riot in the streets, on our side of the stadium, and there was tear gas and police with batons and everything. Unfortunately, we arrived too late to witness this, but the team spirit was amazing. It was an away game for La Boca but there were enough people there to completely fill at least a fourth of the stadium. Everyone is constantly singing songs, they have huge flags they hold up, it was such an experience. And the devotion never died, even though La Boca lost, there was never a decline in enthusiasm.

Besides soccer we did a number of other things. Shopping, of course, was awesome because the exchange rate was fantastic. We shopped in stores and a number of craft type fairs with goods made by Argentines themselves. We also went to a great art museum call Malba, saw the beautiful Japanese Gardens, went to the cemetery with Evita's tomb, and saw a tango show in Buenos Aires' oldest cafe.

It's hard to sum up ten days in a short blog, but hopefully you can get an idea of the amazing time I had. It was cool to see a different culture, it was beautiful, and I had a fantastic time. I'm glad I was able to meet new people, Argentines and Case students, and I completely recommend the trip to anyone looking to get away next year.

Alumni Update - Bridget Mason

This post is by Bridget Mason, a 2008 Case Grad.  I had the privilege of coaching Bridget

her senior season.  She was the heart and soul of the 2007 team, the type of player that teammates play to honor.  As a centerback, she was the backbone of our defensive line and played all but 4 minutes the entire season.  She also scored the most important goal of the season against Rochester on her Senior Night.  She was a star in a game that was largely a defensive battle.  We earned a corner kick, much against the run of play, and Bridget, like Bridget does, came through for her team by finding the ball in the air and heading it past the Rochester keeper.  She then rallied her team for the remainder of the second half and for two exhausting overtime periods, thwarting everything Rochester threw at us.  It was so fitting of Bridget and her career at Case.  She is the most competitive and passionate player I have ever coached, an inspiration to all of us involved in the program.

Nine months out of college has seemed like nine years.  I somehow imagined that I would have infinite amounts of time and that life would be considerably less hectic than it was in college. Wrong.  I especially misjudged how great it was to have the opportunity to be a part of a team, and how much I would miss it.

My soccer career at Case had a somewhat rocky start.  I had trouble making the transition from high school to college, and started off my freshman season with mono, and decided that maybe the whole soccer commitment wasn't something I could handle.  My dorm room sophomore year had a view directly over the turf field, which made it especially difficult to pretend like I didn't wish I could still be playing.  By the end of their season, sophomore year, I decided that I couldn't live without soccer.  It was driving me crazy not being able to play and those sentiments far outweighed whatever it was that made me think I should quit in the first place. My junior and senior seasons were fantastic - not necessarily in the traditional sense of having a very winning team, but in the sense that I was able to escape totally into the game or practice almost every time I played.  It was as if nothing else mattered - tests, homework, job applications, everything else went on the backburner.  On top of that great escape, I made some of the best friends I had in college with the other girls on the team.  I doubt I'll ever have another experience like this one, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it.

I now work as an AmeriCorps VISTA (volunteer in service to America), and run a college-access mentoring program through Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA).  I recruit Drexel and UPenn students to serve essentially as college counselors in two of the West Philly public high schools. The students we work with have often been deprived of an even moderately decent public education and have constantly been subjected to less-than-ideal educational environments.  We work to help them formulate plans for graduation and expose them to a variety of post-graduation opportunities.  Although this job has been extremely challenging, I love it and am incredibly lucky to have been exposed to many different, and often ignored, perspectives on the state of public education in the U.S.

I miss Case and the soccer team very much, but I am finding new passions and am fortunate to have the foundations that my time on that Case turf with my coach and teammates provided me.

Pictures

Top (L to R): Bridget Mason, Kelly Goris, and Katie Skillin at the Annual Halloween Practice

Middle: Bridget playing her senior year versus Carnegie Mellon

Bottom: The 2007 team in downtown Chicago (also Bridget's hometown)

Captain's Corner

This week I've asked Jen Soo Hoo, our junior captain from Berkeley Heights, New Jersey to write our blog. Jen is one of the most remarkable student-athletes I have had the opportunity to coach. She loves soccer and is the member of our team I see most often in the athletic building for workouts. She's one of the most talented players in the UAA (Honorable Mention UAA in 2007), but she's also one of the most intelligent and driven student-athletes in the country. She was accepted into Case's PPSP program upon her undergraduate admission. This program is highly selective and competitive (Madeline VanGunten and Ana Arruda are also in the program in their respective majors). Admission to the medicine PPSP program requires Jen to keep a 3.6 gpa in her math and science courses (she has maintained a 3.831 cum gpa) and grants her entry to Case Medical School following her graduation. While that is impressive in itself, Jen has also put herself in position to graduate in 3 years from Case this spring and has gained acceptance to Case Med School starting this summer. Next fall, she will attempt to play her senior year of soccer while balancing her first year of med school.
Jen's blog...
As a junior on the team, I should be used to the usual routine of the off season workouts. However, I'm surprised to find myself just as excited and nervous in preparing for next season as I was my freshman year. Maybe it's the fact that next year will be my last season (something I do not want to admit), but, regardless, I'm extremely pumped to see what next year brings. This team has definitely changed for the better since my first year. I'm happy to see that there is a strong team commitment toward keeping up a routine of working out despite being in the off season with an increasing amount of academic commitments. I'm especially proud of the dedication of the freshmen class. It's been really cool being able to walk into Veale and know that I will see at least a couple of my teammates there.

Balancing academics with soccer has always been a huge part of soccer season. Although I'm excited for next year's fall season, I'm also extremely nervous about how I'm going to balance my new academic load. As I've been accepted into Case medical school a year early, I will have to try and handle all the medical school commitments while trying to make time to play my final season. Although it may be impossible to do, it is definitely something I will try. Besides the fact that soccer has always been a huge part of my life and I'm not ready to give it up yet, I am also not ready to give up playing with this team. This team is by far the nicest team I have been on.
It is the first time I can honestly say that I like everyone on the team, and I've formed some really strong and interesting (Maddy) friendships. The girls I have met and the bonds I have formed have made my time at Case much more enjoyable and fun. These girls mean so much to me, and I really want one last season to enjoy with them before I officially commit myself to treating soccer injuries instead of being the one that constantly needs treatment! I have a really good feeling about next year, and I am really looking forward to being a part of it as much as I can!!!


Pictures
Top - Jen playing in our final 2008 home game versus Washington University
Middle - (L to R) Jen Soo Hoo, Bridget Mason, Caroline Garber, Caitlin Miller, Kaitlyn Yule, Ana Arruda in St. Louis prior to our game versus Wash U (2007)
Bottom - (L to R) Jen Soo Hoo, Kaitlyn Yule, Liz Altenau, Caitlin Miller - Teammates and roommates in the Village at 115th

Ballin' Outta Control

contributed by Anna Kennedy '12 (Evanston, IL) and Anna Selser '12 (Bettendorf, IA)

Box out! Post up! Zone! Rebound! Layup!

"What?" "What's that?" "Where am I supposed to be right now?"

That is the Case Women's Soccer team's response to most basketball terms shouted from the few players that actually know what they're doing on the court. During this offseason the team

divided to make two intramural basketball teams. Along with bonding and conditioning, the team also had the chance to realize how uncoordinated their teammates are, specifically at basketball.

Any educated person would think that a collegiate soccer team would be pretty well-rounded in the sporting world. Sure enough, the Case Women's soccer team has surprised the public once again, not by making improving strides on the soccer field, but by giving a new meaning to the word terrible.

Now do not get the wrong impression by this blog, we do try. We play the full 40 minutes all out, just not well. Now, here is a recap of the games played by the team so far:

After a very physical game, including Katelyn Etscheidt almost killing a girl, team one suffered a heartbreaking first loss 11-27 to their rivals, the volleyball team. The second game against Phi Mu was much closer but the girls still fell short losing 22-27. The third game was cancelled due to weather, but had the game been played, Team One surely would have had their first win.

That was Selser (Anna) reporting for her team, and now she has handed the computer off to me, Kennedy (the "other Anna") to report on Team 2. The volleyball matchup was again a very physical game for our squad, but we fought through it. Yet, the much taller volleyball team came up AGAIN with a 36-30 win over us. Our following game was cancelled also due to Cleveland weather, but that just helped us prepare for our next game; the duel of the soccer teams.

The much anticipated game occurred Monday, February 9. Those in attendance witnessed an epic game. Highlights included Vaci and Selser unintentionally completing their "mongoose" play, Maddy being the MVP, flagrant fouls left and right, and Kennedy dunking on everyone (just kidding). Team two had a significant lead until Cici Fusco organized Team one into a zone defense. Team one picked up their level of play but not enough to win the game and end up losing 18-27.

Both teams have advanced to the intramural playoffs and have been practicing intensely. Surely their hard work will pay off and the teams will be ready to compete at the next level.

Another update...

This update is written by Annie Altenau, a sophomore nursing major from Cincinnati, Ohio. The picture is from our Halloween practice in the fall. Annie is on the left with her Mario Brothers partner, Megan Link (a sophomore nursing major from Columbus, Ohio).

"I am finally back into the swing of things after being home in Cincinnati for three and a half weeks for winter break. It was nice having time off from school to relax and catch up with old friends, but I was excited to come back to campus and start a new semester and meet back up with the team. Classes this semester will result in long days and countless hours of reading and other homework. This semester I will spend 16 hours at the hospital for clinicals, in addition to my other classes, which include my final university SAGES. I figured that it would be better to take an extra class during the spring semester instead of the fall semester during soccer season.

Besides classes, the team is working hard to prepare for next season. We meet in groups once a week to go through a lifting circuit, and are get together twice a week to play pick-up soccer and work on ball skills. Individually we do fitness several times a week, but rarely are we alone. Usually, while at Veale, I run into several teammates who are also doing their workouts. Another activity that we are doing as a team is intramural basketball. Although we are lacking in our basketball skills, everyone has a blast and is laughing the entire game.

Everyone is excited for the future of Case’s women’s soccer program and is extremely optimistic for the upcoming season. We all know that the work that we are currently putting in will pay off come fall."

Back in the routine...

I've asked several of our current team members to contribute to the blog this semester.  They, obviously, can contribute a more interesting perspective of the Case experience than I can!

This update is by Kristina Vaci, a freshman biomedical engineering major from Mentor, Ohio.  

"The second semester has just started and it's off to a great start.  Classes are relatively easygoing at the moment and the overall atmosphere is quite relaxing.  Offseason workouts just started, and I'm excited to say everyone is doing them at 100%.  It's nice to come to pick-up games every Friday and see how driven the team is to play and get better for next season, yet we still have tons of fun.  The real fun is in our intramural basketball games that started last week. We've split into two teams and my team had its first game last Wednesday.  We came out with high spirits, and though we may have lost (and not scored the whole second half)...it was still the best part of my day!  Besides, we're soccer girls, we don't know what to do with our hands!  

Formal recruitment started for sororities (if you're into going into a room of a million of girls talking at once and asking the same question).  Let's just say it was not for me, though everyone else seemed to have a fantastic time.  It's a great way to get involved in the school.

I'm happy to be back at Case after a great break because as much as I love home...nothing is better than being able to see all my friends at school.  It's even better to know that a short break strengthens our team because the weekend we got back we all hung out as per usual.  I'm excited to see how this semester goes!"