Leave Your Legacy

We have been in full swing of SUNYAC play for the last few weeks and we could not be more excited for the best to come! We have had quite a few laughs on the bus rides, practices and meals together and all in all this season has been going so well :) While we were not on the field practicing hard, our "Fresh 10" (yes that is what they call themselves ... we just let them be) created a fun dance for our team picnic to compete in the sports talent show.  Sadly, they didn't bring home the trophy but their dance moves captured the hearts of the crowd.


We had a little rough end to our non-conference games but it only made us hungry for our first conference win against Potsdam!  Currently, we are fourth in our conference with a 4-2 record and we still have a lot of work to do. This upcoming weekend we will face the fierce competition of Buff State and Fredonia. During this past week, we have been mentally and physically preparing with what these games will bring & I could not have more faith in our team that we will give it everything we have! Tomorrow is also senior day which means I AM OLD.  I feel like my senior game of high school soccer was yesterday and I thought I was old back than ......... Now all of us seniors rely on Advil and icy hot to get through the day! I still have the same baby face I've had since middle school so there's that.

High School Baby!!!

But looking back on this picture I have realized how much I have learned in my past four years being a member of the Plattsburgh State Women's soccer team.  Being apart of this team has given me lifelong friends, great relationships with our coaches and the best laughs (as well as dance parties). I'm listening to Justin Bieber's album right now so you know the feels are coming out so be prepared for this semi sappy/motivating post.  This post is dedicated to my wonderful senior class that has been there through thick and thin.  You guys are da bomb!!!! Here's a little timeline to enjoy:

When I was a freshman, our class started out with 12 people (TBT below).  Everyone always said these next four years would fly by but I never truly knew what they meant until now.  Like all of us on this team, soccer has always been our passion and that is what has brought us together from the beginning.  I remember freshman year we all were starting to get into the groove of college ... Making terrible TERRIBLE fashion choices, sitting in the Clinton vortex for hours after practice and just being "typical freshman" with not a care in the world.  Also before we entered the "lifting weights" world. Spot our chicken legs yikes!!!!

Freshman year!

Sophomore year we started out the season with World War III when about 32423442345 people came into preseason and it was truly a battle I will never forget.  But sophomore year was also the turning point for our team.  Coach Tania, Frantzy and Gene were the new leaders of our squad and I could not be more thankful to them for making the most out of our next 3 years.  They turned our team around and made us the most successful we have been in a while.  They are one of the best groups of coaches I have had and even better people.  The three of them push us to be the best people and players we can be everyday because they believe in us.  The game day texts from coach, the lessons and sayings ("ONE MORE!") they have shared will truly be something I will take with me for the rest of my life.  This picture was at the SAAC picnic at the beginning of the school year.  We don't usually dress like cowgirls since we learned from poor outfit decisions being a freshie!

Sophomore Year!

We had the best record we have had junior year and it was a great year full of memories!  We started to make a name for ourselves in our conference. The laughs, dance parties, bus rides (not going twice to Buffalo) and the memories are unforgettable!

Junior Year!

Ahhhhhh and last but not least senior year.  Senior year has truly been a blast so far.  We have the greatest group of girls and I'm so honored to be apart of this team.  Looking back at these pictures, all of these moments are now memories that are cherished and the moments we are creating now will be even greater memories. It seems like yesterday I was a freshman looking up to the seniors (shoutout Lalone and Grandma!!!) and thinking senior year was very distant.  Now freshman are looking up to us?? Don't know when that happened!  Every ounce of blood, sweat, tears and hard work is completely worth this rewarding experience.  It's incredible how the love of a sport can have such a great impact on your life.  The times I have spent in the library, at the field, on the bus and the locker room with my teammates will always hold a special place in the my heart.  Of course winning is important and we all love to win.  But winning with your family by your side is something even better. And we are NOWHERE near done yet! Our senior class has worked towards winning a SUNYAC championship these past four years and we will not go down without a fight. That's one of many things I admire about our senior class. We have faced many adversities throughout our college days but at the end of the day we know what to do in order to achieve success and we will do whatever we can to get it done. I've had the privilege to "do college life" with these 5 girls and Gram Cam! Every one of these people has had an influence on making college the best four years.

Senior Year!

These next few weeks of SUNYAC play try to remember why you started playing soccer.  Remember why you continue to play soccer.  Remember who you play soccer for.  Take all those feelings and play the best soccer ever and support one another to be better every day.  One important lesson I have learned at Plattsburgh is the importance of taking one day at a time. Do the best you can in the moment you are in and the rest will follow.  In order to win the whole thing we must do just that. We have to dig deep in order to get the result we know we can earn. Keep Plattsburgh State in people's minds and make it known we are here to stay. Leave it all on the field and leave your legacy in this program (even if it's "Lucy With The Red Socks") to be the best team in the conference. We got this ladiesss!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVITEhqsGy8

Let The Good Times Roll!

Hi everyone!! The 2016 soccer season (and blogging season) is officially in full swing!! My name is Lucy Wedge and I will be taking care of this lovely blog for one last season :( I know I'm a little delayed but here is what we have been up to so far :) The lady Cards started off this year with a great preseason where everyone worked and played their tails off everyday.  It was great seeing new and old faces on the pitch after being apart for the summer. To end a fairly hot preseason, we cooled off and took a white water rafting day trip with the volleyball team!

Team GoPro selfie!

Ash with all her friends!!!

This year we were also fortunate to travel to Montreal for a preseason scrimmage! It was a great game and we also ate some pretty awesome poutine to end the trip. We traveled in creepy white vans that Coach Tania, Frantzy and Gene drove as we followed each other in a creepy line to and from Montreal.  There may or may not have been a race to get home but we all know who the winner was at heart (not Frantzy's van) .........

The coolest van

Downtown Montreal!

The first day of school is always exciting .. but our first game day is even better!! We started our season off with a great home opener and a 10-0 victory over Medaille College. Our second game was definitely a nail-biter with a 2-1 overtime win against Union.  Sarah Haight scored the prettiest goal that, in my book, should be on ESPN.  I think I watched the video of her scoring about 20 times the next day!!!!  Later, Mad Sac would put the final goal away for the W in extra time! We also collected a W from Sage College where Anissa scored a lovely hat trick, and another win from Lyndon State! During our game against Lyndon State, we wore t-shirts and collected donations in order to raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis.  It's always great to win but even better when we do it for a great cause!

Yesterday, we traveled across the lake to play Middlebury.  It was a very competitive match and although it did not end in our favor, I think we all learned something from it.  Two conversations I previously had popped into my head as the game ended yesterday.  One was during this past preseason, Cammey Keyser aka Gram Cam asked which one I felt more: hating to lose or loving to win?  I answered hating to lose. I think I can speak for many people when I say losing is not fun and it stinks.  But we also learn greater lessons when we lose, which I think is very important.  The other conversation that popped into my head was one I had, in a very,very similar situation, 2 years ago with my Dad after we had lost to Middlebury in another extremely close game.  He said:

Yes, you may think it's weird that I still have this but ever since sophomore year I have always kept this conversation close to me.  It shows how you must constantly work hard everyday in order to achieve something great.  Things do not always go your way and that is a part of life but this message reminds me of what to do next time to get things to go the right way.  Games you lose show you how you never want to feel this way again and exemplifies your character in how you pick yourself up to keep moving forward. Okay guys I'm trying to be inspirational and I hope it's working at least a little :)  Although this game is behind us, keep the fire inside you to hate losing.  We are so fortunate to be on this team and many people do not get this opportunity.  As coach says all the time, "We are all here for a reason."  While we are so lucky to have this opportunity, we must take advantage of it.  It goes by so fast (trust me) and to make the most of it we need to give everything we have.  We still have so much of the season left ladies and I cannot wait to watch us grow as a team together.  Give it your all in every practice, inspire each other to be the very best and always have fun doing it! This is our year and it is only the beginning! Of course I must add a little inspirational video!!!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0AxpHoRpNQ

P.S. Happy belated birthday shout out to Vina Win not Lose!!!!!!!

And We Are Back!!! (At I Again With The White Vans)

Lift at 7 am, wearing sweats to class after lift, sleeping after lift ... Only means one thing. Happy Pre Spring Season everyone! The Lady Cards have been prepping for a successful spring season in and out of the gym.  As the wise Tay Adams said, "If you can still feel your arms after arm day, you're doing it wrong."  Here is a brief reflection that our coaches put together of our 2015 fall season!!
 





Being being in "off season" is quite rough if you ask any athlete.  Just to describe the pain I have been feeling lately, here are 6 struggles of being a student athlete out of season and some pictures to help me describe our daily activities:

1. Going to class sweaty (and usually smelly) after lift 

Making an entrance into class isn't supposed to be glamorous in the off season.  We most likely will have a nice glisten of sweat dripping from our faces and trying to act like everything is normal.  Also, the whole "sweat is the new sparkle" saying ... Yeah we don't understand that. I look like someone dumped a bucket of water on me.

2. No more eating junk and "running it off later"

My favorite line of all time.  Although we are working out, it isn't the same as in season.  We actually have to watch what we eat, which at times may be the hardest part of my day.  Our brain may be saying salad but our hearts are saying pizza.

3. When we get free time we don't know what to do with ourselves 

The pure face of confusion.  What do you mean there's nothing else to do?  I really don't have anything left on my agenda today?  No practice, no more homework, this is not real.  The questions that race through my mind.  In the beginning it is really rough, but than you find your pure love for sleep ....

4. Forever catching up on sleep that you missed while in season

Napping is a must throughout the day that in the fall we did not get to enjoy, so might as well catch up on it now.  We all need some extra beauty sleep once in a while!

6. Being so sore it hurts to do pretty much anything

Oh you want me to pick up that pencil on the floor?  Simple tasks may become impossible after a solid workout session.  Sometimes breathing could be the struggle.  But hey we want some muscles, so if that means crawling to class instead of walking, I'll do it.

5. When you're teammates are actually dressed for class = shocked

Yes, it is possible that we can dress like girls sometimes ... I stress the sometimes.  We have other clothes in our wardrobe besides sweats believe it or not.  We just choose to be comfortable. We all have our inner Beyonce (cough Brooke Knight cough) :)

6. When the squad is back together, it is one big reunion

So grateful to be apart of team that I can truly call everyone a great friend.  Even though we don't see each other everyday when we are all together, it's like nothing has changed.  Can't wait to be back on the pitch soon #SquadGoals

Wishing everyone the best of luck with their midterms!! Study hard and we will all do great :)


We also have been working hard along side Autism Speaks on campus in planning the second Annual Color Run for this April 2016!! Get your tickets now at this website to get your spot now! More details to follow!! :)  http://plattsburgh.universitytickets.com/user_pages/event.asp?id=689&cid=32