Holly's first soccer game of the year.....

After the game.. Can you see her red face?





Holly in the Goal Box.......






Stretching before the game.......


Coach helping Holly with the goalie jersey prior to the game.....




Well this morning Holly woke up bright and early and very excited for her first soccer game. She came into my room and got in my bed and told me how excited she was. I asked her what time it was and she said 6:54. I told her that I am glad that she is excited but to go downstairs and share her excitement with her Daddy and come back and get me at 8:00. I didn't sleep too well last night for some reason. I got up and made her breakfast and then got ready to go to the game. Her game was at 10:00 so we left about 9:20 to get there with plenty of time for warm ups and all. Let me just say that it was already pretty warm this morning so I don't have high hopes for any cool down today. I guess it will be another day of 100 degrees. I can't wait for fall!

Once we got to the park the girls began to stretch and get ready to start the game. Holly was going to be the goalie today. She really likes to play this position. She played it a few times last year as well. She started to warm up there with some of her team mates taking shots at her. She seemed to be a little bit rusty too me. I was thinking she seemed a little bit intimidated. It made me feel really nervous for her. As I watched her I could see she was getting more comfortable in the position while practicing with her team. Game time came and the ref checked all the girls to make sure they were within regulation. The girls took the field and you could tell that they were all excited. The game started and our team was really playing well. Everytime the ball would come down towards Holly in the goal box I could feel myself getting a little nervous. She was really cute though because she really loves this position and she also loves cheering her teammates on. The team we played was pretty good. They scored a goal off of Holly and I could see her disappointment. I yelled over to her that it was OK and just shake it off. She yelled back to me " OK Mommy! " When the girls stopped at half time I wasn't sure if the coach would put her back in at goalie because last year each girl was only in that position for half of the game. When the game resumed she was back in at goalie. It was getting pretty hot and I could see her red little face. She had a great stop and I could tell it made her happy. There was one time the ball came up her way and she had a couple of different people yelling at her about what to do. One was saying " Kick it,kick it!! " Another was saying " Grab it, grab it! " The ref warned her to stay behind the line when she threw the ball back into play. I felt bad for her because the box wasn't marked real well at all and it was her first game in about 10 months. They do not practice this stuff or the rules so to speak at practice so it was basically like starting over from scratch. Well the opposing team got the ball up to her again and it came in the goal box and for a minute she looked confused about what she could exactly do. By this I mean she didn't know if she could touch it kick it or what. It kind of dribbled it's way right past her and into the net. Well I felt really bad for her. I actually heard one of the parents say " Our goalie looks scared. " I was so ticked off! The goalie wasn't scared she was just hot and a little confused about the rules. I then heard the coach's wife say " No she is not scared. She is really good. How would you feel if people were barking out at you to do 3 or 4 different things. All of that and she is only 7 years old! " I have to say that made me feel better. As we continued to sit and watch the game up the other team came, approaching the goal once again and this time the ball was being dribbled up by their biggest player. I sat there a bit nervous for my sweet little girl. The opposing player booted the ball very hard and there was my Holly ready and waiting for it. She had a GREAT save! The whole side of our field was really cheering for her. I could see her smile. A Mom from the team came over to the coach's wife and asked if the goalie had ever played softball. The coachs wife looked at us and asked if she had and we said no. The Mom asking said it looked like she has because she just hunkered down and caught that ball like nobody's business. We just smiled but the coaches wife told her " That is how Holly usually plays and it didn't surprise her at all. " She again commented on how this is just the first game for these girls and they will be up to form in no time.

After the game Holly wanted to go out for a special lunch. She got to chose the place so we had a very nice lunch. On the way there I asked her about the game. She said she was upset that they scored 2 goals on her but that she did try her best. She did ask why people were yelling at her with different instructions. I just told her that sometimes people get carried away and that she only needs to listen to her coach and his instructions. I then asked her if she had fun, she responed " Yes it was GREAT! " So with that I smiled and now onto next week. I would have to say I am secretly hoping that she won't be the goalie next week. It is alot of pressure in my humble opinion. I would like to see her rotate around a bit. Well our next game is next Saturday so we will see. Go Blue Lightning!!!!!!!