USA Freedom Blog
 |
 |
 |
 |
It was obvious before the game that the Freedom were flat. The spark that was there before the games against Australia and PNG was missing. Later review had some comment that the recovery session in the surf made them more tired than normal, a few players had colds exacerbated by Sydney's wet weather, little injuries were niggling, and we'd been on the road for 10 days. Whatever it was, the Freedom didn't start well. And Canada did. A goal within 30 seconds against the wind was a dream start for them. To follow that up a few minutes later was a nightmare for the Freedom.
Under lights at the GWS training facility in Blacktown a vocal crowd came to watch the Freedom ladies take on the free-flowing Papua New Guinea Flames. What they got for their chants, blaring vuvuzelas, and strange dog-like barks was a scrappy hard-fought contest punctuated by several exhilarating individual efforts.
The Revos are playing Sth. Africa in a curtain raiser to the Swans v Saints game at ANZ stadium. This is huge for the US - from both a contest and a development point of view. The stakes are high in this game, and the intensity so far has been strong. Looking forward to watching this.
The Freedom play Australia Multicultural Indigenous team at 12 noon - the bus to the ground leaves in just over an hour. We're prepared, we're excited, we are ready!
Will send out an update later today.
USA USA USA !
How long is a 15 hour flight?
Four movies, three stretching sessions, two meals, and a looooong deep mouth-opened sleep. This was not just ANY flight but my first time traveling to Australia, playing an Australian sport, in the first ever Women's International Cup. What an opportunity! Feelings of excitement, anxiety, and I-want-to-kick-butt-NOW ran through my body throughout the flight. As a new player, and new to Freedom, I wasn't sure where I stood, how much paying time I would even get, and just how this whole crazy footy scene would be like. I've played various sports all my life -- football, basketball, ultimate, and ran track -- but never at this level. At the moment I stepped off that plane, I was now representing my country.
- ‹ previous
- 3 of 3
 |
 |