Annandale Express History
Memorable Moments in Annandale Express History: Part 5 of 12
I began coaching the rising U-16G Annandale Express (formerly Arlington) in the Spring of 2005. This is the fifth of a series of twelve posts outlining the ups and downs that the players went through during this period of time to become the team that they are. The purpose of this series of posts is to inform new players and parents about the history of our team, while at the same time bringing back some fond memories for our returning players and parents in preparation for the Fall 2008-Spring 2009 season.
Spring 2007: U-14 ODSL D1
After finishing our first season in ODSL D1 together with a winning record of 4-3-1, the players had sort of solidified their own personal confidence in themselves. I genuinely felt a sense of, “Ok, we can really win this Division 1 championship in the spring” from the players. There was additional motivation for all of us, because we knew that we would be entering WAGS in Fall 2007.
The players wanted to leave ODSL as Division 1 champions. The arrival of Vasthy Delgado strengthened our team tremendously and clearly improved our chances to achieve this team goal. The addition of Vasthy to an already strong defensive team, allowed us to give up only four goals during the entire league season and win the ODSL Division 1 championship with a record of 7-0-1. There are many things in soccer that can be measured (speed, strength, etc), however, things such as desire, heart, competitive spirit, accountability, and a true love for the game often cannot be measured. Vasthy has all of these immeasurable qualities along with tremendous talent which makes her the player that she is.
After defeating defending champion FASA Impact on Courtney Herbolsheimer’s two terrific goals, the road was paved for a championship. The team continued being unbeaten for the remainder of the season and celebrated beating the Alexandria Inferno to clinch the ODSL D1 championship. The team celebrated with a cookout at the Bruno’s house (see below).
Vasthy Delgado and Katja Butts are all smiles at the postgame celebration after winning ODSL Division 1 in Spring 2007.
Memorable Moments in Annandale Express History: Part 4 of 12
I began coaching the rising U-16G Annandale Express (formerly Arlington) in the Spring of 2005. This is the fourth of a series of twelve posts outlining the ups and downs that the players went through during this period of time to become the team that they are. The purpose of this series of posts is to inform new players and parents about the history of our team, while at the same time bringing back some fond memories for our returning players and parents in preparation for the Fall 2008-Spring 2009 season.
Fall 2006: U-14 ODSL D1
After winning their first league championship, I could feel that the players had a new sense of confidence in their abilities. I think that actually believing you can do something is a tough mental obstacle for soccer players (and soccer teams) to overcome, and I think the players really started to believe in themselves entering the preseason in fall 2006.
The arrival of Alejandra Espinoza and Courtney Herbolsheimer certainly made our team stronger heading into ODSL Division 1. Along with current Annandale Express members Clare Terpstra, Carol Balshaw, Alika Johnston, Lindsey Treweek, Molly Ramey, Claire Bruno, Carrie Dawkins, and Katja Butts, Courtney and Alejandra were very motivated to show what they could accomplish on the field.
This season had several memorable moments for me. In our second game of the season, which we won 2-0 versus Ashburn Wildfire, I found out a few things about one of our new players, Alejandra Espinoza. Like other new players who have joined the team, Alejandra was not in the starting line-up this early in the season as I felt that she needed time to learn what we were trying to do, adjust to the team, and things of that nature. Alejandra was standing next to me on the sideline, about a foot away, for nearly the entire first half.
I remember thinking to myself, “My goodness, this girl really wants to play……what a great quality to have in a new player.” Alejandra entered the game with about five minutes left in the first half and we were leading 1-0 after Carol Balshaw’s goal off of Courtney Herbolsheimer’s corner kick.
Alejandra began the second half on the bench again.
She re-entered the game with about twenty minutes left and scored a very pretty goal to seal the game 2-0. Here was a player who kept herself ready to play for her teammates. Being a new player, I was impressed that she did not show her frustration outwardly, and was able to mentally keep herself ready to play when her time came.
The remainder of the season had many ups and downs, but the team was able to finish the season on a very positive note, after defeating Braddock Road NV Umited, 1-0, on Courtney Herbolsheimer’s first goal with the Express. Courtney’s first goal would be a sign of things to come. I felt that although our team did not win the Division 1 championship, the players felt like it was possible after finishing with a winning record of 4-3-1. This was also the fourth straight season that the team did not allow more than EIGHT league goals in any given season (the current streak is at seven straight seasons).
The team knew that Spring 2007 would be our last season in ODSL Division 1 because we would be entering WAGS in Fall 2007 at U-15, but I felt the players wanted to leave U-14 ODSL the right way…….by winning the ODSL Division 1 championship in Spring 2007.
Note: Alejandra Espinoza has started every WAGS game that this team has ever played and is a team leader by example. In addition to several important league goals, Alejandra has recorded numerous assists in both league and tournament play. Currently one of the most technically gifted girls’ soccer players in Arlington, Alejandra’s constant effort to improve sets the standard high in practice sessions for this team. Alejandra plays for Yorktown High School.
Memorable Moments in Annandale Express History Part 3 of 12
I began coaching the rising U-16G Annandale Express (formerly Arlington) in the Spring of 2005. This is the third of a series of twelve posts outlining the ups and downs that the players went through during this period of time to become the team that they are. The purpose of this series of posts is to inform new players and parents about the history of our team, while at the same time bringing back some fond memories for our returning players and parents in preparation for the Fall 2008-Spring 2009 season.
Spring 2006: U-13 ODSL D2
After a disappointing fall season, the Express entered the spring with high hopes after winning the MCSA Fall Classic Tournament and an indoor league title during the winter months. The players knew that they had to finish in the top two of the division, or else it would be yet another season in ODSL Division 2 as U-14 players in the fall. The arrival of Katja Butts and Claire Bruno made the team stronger, and in addition to their on-field talents, the pair brought leadership and character to the team. I could sense very early on that they cared about preparing well during practice sessions for their teammates, and their teammates took notice of that as well. This allowed the new girls to earn the team’s respect.
After starting the season off on a fantastic note by beating EPIC Thundercats 3-0, the Express would have another “turning point” type of moment the following week. We had to travel to Sterling for our second game of the season and we were feeling quite good about ourselves after our victory the previous week. However, due to some unexpected road work, the majority of our team arrived very late for our pre-game warmups because of the traffic delays, and it showed in our team’s play. We played our worst game of the season, losing 2-0, and found ourselves with little margin for error if we had any hopes of moving to Division 1. There were still six games left in the season…….and we pretty much needed to win all of them to have a chance to go to Division 1. I remember urging all of the parents after this game to do everything possible during the next six games to get the players to the games on time for pre-game warmups and practices.
They did.
After two wins by only one goal each, and then a tie, we entered a rematch against Manassas Force, who you may remember defeated us 1-0 in the season opener in Fall 2005. The team avenged its loss from the season prior, winning 2-0, and setting up a match against EPIC Quest with a chance to clinch a top-two finish in ODSL Division 2 and move to ODSL Division 1. Claire Bruno’s goal, which made the score 2-0, pretty much sealed the deal in that game, and I got my first cold shower on the sideline as coach of the Express because we had secured going to Division 1
It was a very happy moment for the entire team. Claire’s huge goal was a sign of things to come in the future.
The following week, at Kenmore Middle School, the Express had an offensive explosion in beating Clarke County Kicks 4-1 and clinching the ODSL Division 2 championship. The players had worked hard the entire year to get to Division 1 and they had finally achieved their goal. The joy that the players felt became evident to me when the players gave me a lift (see the first picture in the “pictures” link on this blog).
I felt the confidence in the players grow on this day, and felt that they would be ready for the challenge that ODSL Division 1 would present.
Note: Claire Bruno’s huge goal against the Epic Quest was the first in a series of tremendous goals that she has scored during the team’s history. In addition to numerous league goals during the course of the past year, Claire has also scored in numerous tournaments including a goal in the finals of the 2007 Arlington Invitational to help win the title 1-0 against Burke Fusion. Claire was a starting midfielder for Holy Child High School’s Varsity as a freshman.
Memorable Moments in Annandale Express History: Part 2 of 12
I began coaching the rising U-16G Annandale Express (formerly Arlington) in the Spring of 2005. This is the second of a series of twelve posts outlining the ups and downs that the players went through during this period of time to become the team that they are. The purpose of this series of posts is to inform new players and parents about the history of our team, while at the same time bringing back some fond memories for our returning players and parents in preparation for the Fall 2008-Spring 2009 season.
Fall 2005: U-13 ODSL D2
The Express got a rude awakening at the higher level of play. The first two games of the season left the Express in a difficult situation. After a 1-0 loss to Manassas Force in the season opener, the Express entered a game against BRYC NV United needing at least a tie to have any realistic chance to make it to Division 1 the following spring. In the first few minutes of the game, the Express were dealt a huge blow when fullback Molly Ramey was lost for the season with a badly fractured arm. Ramey, along with current Annandale Express members Lindsey Treweek and Carrie Dawkins were the key members of a defense that allowed only 7 goals in Division 3 the season before. The Express ended up losing to BRYC 1-0 in the last two minutes of the game and fell to 0-2 in ODSL D2, which made the team goal of getting to Divsion 1 virtually impossible.
In my three-plus years coaching this team, this game was our “rock bottom” moment in my opinion.
I knew that replacing Molly Ramey would be difficult, and I was correct. In trying to fill the hole on defense left by Ramey’s injury, our offense suffered tremendously. We scored only three goals during the entire season and finished with a record of 2-4-2 (see standings below). However, we were able to keep the majority of the games close by playing pretty good team defense. My “rock bottom” moment gave way to a feeling of hope with a late season 1-1 tie against Division Champion Stafford Liberty at Kenmore Middle School. Stafford finished the season undefeated with a record a 6-0-2 and an impressive 26 goals for, and only FOUR goals against.
That game, during that season, made me believe that there were better days ahead. We entered the off-season humbled by our sixth-place finish in Divsion 2, but the players were determined to work hard in the winter and try to do advance to Division 1 by winning Division 2 in the spring.
Note: Molly Ramey’s return in Spring 2006 was a significant reason that the Express were able to turn things around and win four out of a possible five league championships, including three league championships in a row. Molly was a starting defender for the Washington & Lee Varsity as a freshman, and helped the team reach the regional playoffs.
Memorable Moments in Annandale Express History: Part 1 of 12
I began coaching the rising U-16G Annandale Express (formerly Arlington) in the Spring of 2005. This is the first of a series of twelve posts outlining the ups and downs that the players went through during this period of time to become the team that they are. The purpose of this series of posts is to inform new players and parents about the history of our team, while at the same time bringing back some fond memories for our returning players and parents in preparation for the Fall 2008-Spring 2009 season.
Spring 2005: U-12 ODSL D3
This was my first season coaching this special team. We had a roster of 14 players, thanks to Andrew Balshaw’s efforts in assembling enough players to form a third team, or “C” team, in the U-12G age group. We formed a roster just in time for the start of the Spring 2005 outdoor season. Through our first five games of the season (see standings below), we played five close games and managed to come away with a record of 3-1-1. The current members of the U-16G Annandale Express who went through this first season were Carrie Dawkins, Carol Balshaw, Lindsey Treweek, Clare Terpstra, Molly Ramey, and Alika Johnston.
This took us into our game against PWSI Courage White, who were undefeated at the time with a perfect record of 6-0-0 and had 21 goals scored and only 3 against. This was a must win game for the Express if they had any hopes of advancing to the next division in ODSL, and it was a tall order based on the Courage’s results throughout the season.
The Express played their best of game of the season, and after Alika Johnston’s splendid goal put the Express up 2-0, the players began to celebrate. The Courage mounted a late rally with a goal, in addition to several opportunities for a second goal, but the Express held on and kept their hopes to move to ODSL Division 2 alive by beating the unbeaten.
The next week, the team was able to defeat FPYC Freedom 2-0 and clinch a top-two finish in ODSL Division 3, advancing to ODSL Division 2 for Fall 2005. This set up a rematch against PWSI Courage for the ODSL Division 3 championship.
The road to get to this game was quite difficult for players, parents, and coaches. These players had been practicing three times a week for the first time. These practices included running hills at Reed Elementary School after practice on a regular basis. I vividly remember getting the “are you serious?” look from our players on a number of occasions during this period of time. I also remember the players never being afraid to step up to any challenge that was presented to them in the practice environment when we first got started.
We entered this game missing two players, including our starting goalkeeper. This left us with only one substitute on a very hot, 95 degree June day. We ended up losing the game 4-0 and settled for 2nd place in ODSL Division 3, but were nevertheless proud of moving up to Division 2.
Note: Our back up goalkeeper on that day of our 4-0 loss to PWSI, making her first start ever for the Express, was our present day starting goalkeeper Alika Johnston. Alika became the starting goalkeeper halfway through the following season and since the start of 2006, has posted an incredible 24 shutouts in 42 leagues games, helping the Express to four league championships in five seasons, never allowing more than 6 goals in a league season or more than 2 goals in any single league game.
