Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

To start things off I want to clear the air as to why I am writing a Senior Salute. While I am not, technically, a senior and do have two years of eligibility left, this is my last year at Saint Mary’s due to the major I am in.

These three years have been filled with memories that I will cherish forever and it’s hard to believe that this is my last year already. The people at Saint Mary’s, especially my teammates, make it extremely hard to say goodbye.
    
To start off, I want to thank my family who has been watching me play soccer for many years and have helped me overcome so many obstacles. Your support means so much to me and even though I went to school far away you still have all managed to come up and see my play which means the world to me. To my parents who have been my biggest supporters and have traveled many miles and gone to many games to support me. I love you both so much! To my littler sis Claire who became my slave during any knee surgery I had, I can’t, nor will I ever repay you for that. You have become such a smart, beautiful person and it’s so fun to watch you grow up. Can’t wait to see where you go to college, I love you so much. To my Grandma and Papa who braved many windy and cold games and always took me out to celebrate even if we lost. Thanks to you Papa almost all my games have been videotaped and I have my own personal scrapbook of my soccer highlights. I love you both so much and am so glad you have been able to watch me grow up playing soccer.
    
Shout-out to my best friends back home—Molly, Mia, and Carmen—who didn't know a lick about soccer before they became friends with me but still came to games or understood when I couldn't do things because I had something to do with soccer. I also want to thank my best friend Katie Nicosan because without her I don’t know how I would've survived. Being roommates freshman year brought us so close and I wouldn't have wanted to live with anyone else. Although you don't play soccer anymore you still came to all the games you could and supported me which I greatly appreciated since my family couldn't make all the games. Love you so much Katie. Hayley Ellingson, thanks for being my best friend and second semester sophomore roommate, I would've been so lonely if we wouldn't have became roommates. You are the funniest and most caring person I know and we have made so many wonderful memories. Countless hours of watching Grey’s Anatomy has proven that you are my person I can’t wait to make more memories with you! Love you girl and I am going to miss you so much next year. I also want to thank all my past coaches and teammates who taught me to be a better player and to have fun and enjoy the game, especially my club team, Adrenalin with no e.

To Neil Cassidy, who gave me a role on this team as a freshman even though I couldn't play, you always believed in me and I have to thank you for that. To traveling the world, going to your house, getting food for us, pulling jokes (mine were better) or just listening when we needed it you always made the team feel like family, and that made being far from home easier. To Jeff Halberg, your pre-game stories were amazing and also very insightful, as well as your post-game talks—River Falls was the best one by far. Your were the best tour guide on our trip, even when our van got lost but Neil’s didn't and he was following us. I still am trying to find the movie reference that you used for midfielders, I’ll let you know when I figure it out. To Richard, sorry Coach Appleby never caught on, we are only use to calling our coaches by their first names. You didn't spend a lot of time with the midfielders but you are a great goalkeeping coach. Frank, although we didn't get to see as much of you this season it was great when you were able to come to a game or practice. You always lifted everyone up with your humor and didn't mind the obnoxious nickname we gave you. My favorite memory was before a game, during warm ups, when we quoted The Three Amigos for five minutes and were cracking up the whole time, or when you would bring your kids because they were so cute. Luke, I didn't get to know you very well but I do know that you are super competitive. Prime example was when we were playing your team in 6 v 6 and you were coming at us full speed because you wanted to win, at one point you even shouted “this is for the MIAC championship.” No one had seen that side of you before and it was hilarious.
    
And now to my teammates. I know most of you wont read the above part and will just look for your name and that is fine but just remember you better not forget me in your salutes when you write yours, because this is the best part. I don't have wise words for each class but I do have to say that soccer does end and the realization is hard but the memories you make will last a lifetime so make the most of your time being on this team and being at Saint Mary’s, you wont regret what you have to look back on.
    
To the freshmen:
    
Janis-I am not going to bring up your age, we all know you are young. I love the braids you wore for every game they gave you your own personal look. Glad I could help you with excel your first week of college. Erin- You were the most talkative freshman at the beginning of the year and were always so nice to everyone. Also, I never said anything to you during season but your shoelaces on your cleats were never always pulled tight and it was so strange to me, it must be a Washington thing. Becca- You are so fast it is ridiculous and also a great dancer. I loved getting to know you better during hot seats. Hopefully I will see you in Omaha when you visit your family.  Jess- You are such a hard worker on the field and had some amazing saves. I remember when you stayed with us on the first night and we got to know you so much better. Also your moms cake pops were so delicious. Fiona- You are always fun to talk to and hang around. I’ll be sure to hit you up whenever I go to Chicago. Maddy- I love how whenever you see me you yell Vivi.  Your speed is unreal, keep scoring goals.
    
To the Sophomores:
    
MarCar- I’m so glad we were buddies your freshman year and became friends. You may be quiet on the field but you are one of the most sarcastic people I know and its hilarious. Love you buddy.
    
Sarah S-This year was so fun with you. We brought out the weird side in each other with our weird conversations or dance moves. Glad I didn't have to be weird alone.
    
Sarah E- You did amazing this season and are the queen of slide tackling. Being lab partners in Anatomy is always fun and I can’t wait for our VIDA trip this winter.
    
Emily Loof- It seemed this season we would never listen to each other and then end up super confused and always laughing about what was going on. I loved how anytime we would talk it would end up with us cracking up. It always made my day.
    
Analiese- I loved being your buddy this year, you were always on top of things when we had stuff to do. I was also so proud of you when you passed your fitness test. I’m so glad we became closer this year and will make sure to stop and visit you in Ankeny when I drive by.
    
Rina- I would like to give myself credit for you choosing to come to Saint Mary’s since you stayed with me on your recruiting visit (just kidding). You are so smart and helped me greatly during Physics. You kicked butt in your ACL recovery and I can’t wait to see you play next season.
    
Molly- Molls balls. You and Abby were my first freshman friends and I’ve loved you since then. We always laughed when we were together and that always made my day. My favorite thing is when you were cracking up and said to me well Viv I didn't know how tired people got since I’ve never played this much.
    
Abby- I love how we became so close your freshman year. You always took charge on the field and it made me less worried when we were on defense. I also loved how you glowed when you talked about your niece or your brother it was the cutest thing.
    
AK- Although you were shy on the field off the field you were always so nice and had a great sense of humor. We were always laughing at things the team did.
    
Jordan- Playing center mid with you was always a good time, I loved how aggressive you always were. Your nonchalant attitude was refreshing when the team was stressed out.
    
Sofia- You are the spunkiest and nicest person I know. I loved having you for the t-shirt decorations, it was so fun to come up with a song for you. After that, I felt like we became closer and started to joke around and laugh at practice all the time.
    
To the Juniors: There are so many things I could say to all of you because we have shared so many memories together and just know that this is just the abbreviated version of all the things I could say to thank you for making these years especially special. Bridgett- You were one of my first friends at SMU and we became so close so fast at the beginning of Freshman year. I always remember us ordering dominos and having a sleep over; which I’m surprised happened so much because I hated sleeping with the TV on all night long. I loved going home with you and surprising your family, it was one of my favorite memories with you. I’ll miss you so much.
    
Marissa- You are one of the nicest and sincere people I know and I could always count on you to make my days better. I loved when we were getting ready for Timeflies at your house and you remembered an hour before the concert that you forgot your ticket at campus and I somehow brought the extra ticket I had so you were able to go. We always laughed and had a great time together and for the record we were the best backup dancers when Anna was singing.
    
Aubrie- I remember meeting you at orientation and when we got to campus we hung out since we already knew each other. I would have to say that we became really close on our six hour car rides home when you would harass me by turning down the music when I was singing so that you could video tape how terrible I sounded. But I think one of the funniest memories is when I was sleeping on you and Bridgett’s mattress on the floor and you came in and turned the lights on and I became so panicked that I had missed all my classes so I started to find all my stuff to leave when I realized you were just laughing so hard because it was only one in the morning.
    
Ellen- I remember when I Facebook messaged you before freshman year to ask you if you wanted to be roommates but you already had a roommate so the rest of the conversation was painfully awkward but at least we were able to laugh about it after. One of the best memories is when we went to the Sam Smith concert, it was one of the best concerts I had ever been to.
    
Emma- Well it is safe to say that you are one of my best friends. I’m so glad we both decided to go on the England and Ireland trip because that is where we became such good friends. I love our late night roommate talks or just when we watch Netflix for an embarrassing amount of hours. I could go on for hours but it will make me so sad that I won’t get to play in the midfield with you or be roommates again but don't worry I know we will always stay close. Love you so much Em!
    
Anna-You’ve been my day one best friend since I’ve got to SMU. Ed’s was one of the best years and brought us so close together. Although we sometimes fight like five year olds at the end of the day you are my best friend and I love you. You can make me laugh for hours and I cherish all the memories we've made. One of the funniest or not so funny memories for me is when you full on fought me in the entrance way of Ed’s and people walked by and did nothing and then at the end you just tossed me to the ground, it was secretly scary but hilarious.
    
To the Seniors-
    
E Don- Practice was always so funny when we were together you always made me laugh. The memory that will stick with me is how you put salt on literally everything during our Ireland and England trip, it was the strangest but funniest thing to see you always asking for salt.
    
Katie- Hands down the funniest moment is when you slipped flat on your back in the mud during the Stout game we were both cracking up afterwards.We’ve become a lot closer of the years and I’m so glad because you are such a fun person to be around.  
    
Carol- Being a captain isn't always easy but you were a great captain and always put others before yourself. You hands down had the best snapchat stories whether is was of coffee, in Italy or Chicago and it always made me jealous. I’m going to miss your high pitch yelling for the ball or cheering for Joe.
    
Bri- I think it is safe to say the La Crosse game this year proved how insanely tough you are, not only did you break your fingers but took a shot to the face and was still mad that you couldn't play. I can’t wait to go on the VIDA trip with you this winter!
    
Kelli- I love how close we have gotten over the last year. We are always laughing when we are together and I love when we get started talking about physics (you know who). I’m going to miss all the bus ride talks and all the weekends we had so much fun. Hopefully next year we will be roomies in Rochester!
    
Thank you to my family, friends, teammates and coaches for all that you have given me. I will greatly miss the game of soccer but mostly miss all the people who have made this chapter of my life so amazing. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for everyone.

Vivian Johnson #8
(I had to add the cheesy #8 because its the last time I can do this :( )