I transferred into Saint Mary’s two-and-a-half years ago, and it has truly been a life-changing experience. Saint Mary’s has not only helped me discover myself, but it has brought me back to playing the sport I love-- soccer. I grew up playing soccer since I was seven years old and stopped playing after high school. Deciding to join the Saint Mary’s women’s soccer team is one of the best choices I have made here at Saint Mary’s. Although our record hasn’t been everything I wanted it to be, I have met some lifelong friends, developed skills that I can incorporate into my everyday life, and fell in love with soccer again. The following people I want to thank for supporting me and making my last two (and only two) years of collegiate soccer so amazing.
Dad, where do I even begin? You are the reason why I even started playing soccer in the first place. I know we already had a huge heart-to-heart in front of my whole soccer team about how much your support has meant to me over all these year, but I want to thank you again for everything! I love you so much and thanks for being the best dad and best friend a girl could ever have!
Andrew, I want to thank you for always being at every home game even when it’s freezing out and for being so supportive of my school, soccer, and life in general. I have had some rough days after a game, practice, or school and every time you are there to completely turn it around. You make me a better player, leader, teammate, student, and person and I you have no idea how much I appreciate all that you do for me. Thanks for being such an amazing friend and boyfriend. I love you!
Coaches: Neil Cassidy, thanks for making these last two years of soccer ones to remember. You have helped me create some amazing friendships and find my love for soccer again. You’re always so fun to joke around with until you hold your serious face for too long because I don’t know how to , and the situation just gets awkward. Haha. Thanks to you, I know I will always have a family whenever I come back to visit Saint Mary’s. Jeff Halberg, or should I say the “silver fox”, you are so awesome and upbeat. You always make us laugh and are also really easy to talk to. Thanks for all the hard work and dedication you both put into this team.
April: You are one of the biggest reasons why I am so happy that I decided to play soccer for Saint Mary’s. I still am not really sure how we became so close, but I am so thankful we did! You are such a great person, and such an amazing friend. You always have my back, and I know I can truly count on you to be there for me in any situation. You were my biggest support when my grandma was sick, and you will never know how much everything you did during that period means to me. We have had so many good times/laughs and have been in only one fight that didn’t even make sense haha. I miss going on long road-trips with you to the cities, Milwaukee, or even to your cabin and singing our hearts out. I know this year has been a little different than last year, but I want you to know that no one can ever take your place as my best friend! I love you so much!
Heidi: You were one of my first friends when I transferred here, and then the next year we sort of lost touch because of our conflicting sports schedules. I am so happy you decided to play soccer this year because we not only became friends again but became even closer! You are always down for anything and always there for me (esp. when I forget my wallet…typical move). I am going to miss you so much when you’re in Italy, especially because now I don’t have anyone to take me to Dairy Queen every night. Hehe Love you!
Cassie: I am so glad we became friends, even though I’m not exactly sure how it happened (like most of my friendships). You are one to always keep me in line with schoolwork because I never know what’s going on in class and when assignments are due… so a BIG thank you there! Whenever we are together we always have a great time, so it needs to happen a lot more before I graduate.
Teri: MY ORANGE. I am sad that we don’t hangout as much as we did last year because those might have been some of the best days of my LIFE. We need to have another “Tuesday” before I graduate, or at least another night where we flip all the furniture in the lobby... who are we? For as crazy and dramatic as we are, we can have so very in-depth conversations that we both completely understand even when it doesn’t make sense… like our preseason talk about fate in the plaza. I don’t know what I’m going to do without my other orange next year, but we need to figure something out. Love you!
Rachel: Roomie!! I am sosososososososososoooooo beyond happy we became roommates! It’s so funny to think about talking on the phone with you last and comparing it to how things are now. You always make me laugh and tell me the funniest stories. I love how we can have serious talks and understand each other’s situation completely. You are one of the sweetest girls I have ever met and even though you claim that you can be mean, I will never believe it. I love you, and I hope we will always remain great friends!
Seniors: Kate, I am so happy we became friends once I started playing soccer with you. We have some very… interesting (haha) conversations that no one would ever really understand. Sloane, thank god you came back to play one more year! You are one person I can always talk to about soccer, and I know you understand exactly where I am coming from because you feel the same way. I am so glad to have to chance to get to know you better. You are so amazing my little Mulan. Love you both!
Juniors: Katie H. you are one of the girls I can relate to most about soccer because I can tell how much the sport means to you. I love talking to you about soccer and the frustrations that go along with it. You and I are always one the same page with it all too. Beth, you are so hilarious and so Beth-ish. You are your own person and I LOVE it! Tessa, I know you have been sick a majority of the season, but you are still always there for everyone. You always try to look at the brighter and more positive side of every situation and I really admire you for that. You are so hilarious and I love how we get each other’s weird jokes (esp. the ones about Ben). I wish you all the best of lucky next year as seniors! Love you!
Sophomores: Miranda (ew, weird. MoMo*), you are my little baby. You are the prettiest and most amazing goalie I have ever met and such a great person, but let’s be real... it’s a Miranda thing. I always have such a great time with you, and I love you so much! Mandy, you are always so fun to be around and have become such a great player. I feel like you are becoming the next Amanda Rahman, coincidence? I think not. Adrianna, my mixed sistah, I am so glad you decided to play soccer this year and I got to know you more. You are seriously so funny, and I love joking around with you. You have become such a different player throughout the season and I love when you play as my right outside back. Katie D. I know you have had a hard end to the season, but I love how you are always so happy, cheerful, and give it your all. Melissa, you are such a sweet person and always looking to do what’s best for the team. I am going to miss you all so much, so please don’t forget about me when I’m gone next year!! I love you!
Freshmen: Kelli, I remember after the first half of our first game I was like “WHO ARE YOU?!” because you came out of nowhere and just killed it. You are such a great player, and I think we made a great team as center defenders. Caroline, you are one funny girl. The team is so lucky to have a player like you who is an all-around great person and soccer player.
Emily D., whenever I hear the line “when I was a freshman…” I always look at or think of you. You are one feisty girl and I love it. Erika, you are so sweet and are always in a happy mood. I want to hang out more like we did that one time (hopefully you know what time I’m talking about). Bri, haha the things I want to write for you would probably embarrass you. I think you are so awesome and funny. I remember when you told me that when you first met me you wanted to be my friend because I was tan. Hahaha you’re ridiculous but I love you. Meghan, I know we haven’t talked a whole bunch but I really appreciate all that you do for everyone and the team. You are someone who is always helping out to keep our practices going at a quick pace. Thanks. Emily B., my secret little buddy. The shirt you made for me in preseason was so funny. Thank you so much for that and writing me that poem or rap or something haha. You’re such a sweetheart. Kaitlin (Healy), you are the reason why I have gained 10 pounds this last week aka your mother’s pumpkin rolls are BOMB. You are one of my favorite freshmen because you laugh at all my jokes and because you’re funny haha. I am going to miss you so much! Lia, I always think you’re from Colorado when I know you’re from Arizona, but either way I am so glad you chose Saint Mary’s! You are so nice and hopefully all your injuries will go away so you can be the leading scorer next year!:) Katie S., you say the random, weirdest, funniest things ever. EXAMPLE: “I want his hair because it’s like Kim Kardashians” and the kid had like short, greasy hair. Haha you kill me. Savannah, my little recruit, you were my first recruit I ever had and I am so sorry for being such a bum when you stayed at my place! I remember falling in love with your right away though because you were so open and straight forward with everything. I am so glad you decided to graduate high school early to come to Saint Mary’s! I love you girls so much, and I am going to miss you next year! I know this year wasn’t exactly what you were expecting record-wise, but you have to look beyond the statistics. You are all the foundation of Saint Mary’s Women’s Soccer of the next four years and I honestly don’t think there could be a better group. I hope everyone is healthier next season because I know you have the potential to be so amazing. I can’t wait to come back next year to see you all play!:)
Thanks again to all of my coaches, teammates, family, and friends. I would have never made it this far without you.
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