Game 5: Belmont vs North Carolina Wesleyan - Year 2

The Belmont Abbey boys won 2-0. This was an ugly game in that if the boys played for any longer they surely would have ended up losing the match. As our team deflated due to heat and having played the night before, their boys seemed to get better and better as time went on and did not seem to be affected by the heat. 

4th of July

For the 4th of July, Bobby, the girls, and I headed to a neighboring town in South Carolina to watch fireworks. The place we went to last year could not get a permit from the city of Charlotte to have their fireworks display this year, which isn't the worst thing in the world as their fireworks lasted only about 10-15 minutes and weren't much to write home about. 

This year there was a festival with games and rides and food vendors being offered in a town (I forget the name, Rock Hill, maybe?) just across the border (which is only about 20 minutes from where we live) and we decided to check it out. 

It was really crowded and lines were astronomically long which made me super glad we grabbed a bite to eat before we got to the festival because I didn't want to wait in a line for an hour to get fair food. That being said we grabbed a spot to sit near a curb and waited for the fireworks to begin. The show wasn't that bad. Fireworks went off for about 20 minutes or so and were pretty decent. 

I think we'll try some place new next year as none of us were in love with where we went, but it was definitely nice to have some place to go, and to try something new. 

 

Josh Game 2 - Year 2

To be honest, I am pretty far behind on posting about Josh's soccer season thus far that I do not even remember who his opponent was for his second game. What I do know is that the Belmont boys won, and that Josh had an amazing game. He is playing with some of the passion that he seemed to have lost last year adjusting to being one of many vying for a starting spot on the first team. 

Josh is getting ample play time this year which makes me happy. I would much rather see him play full games (or close to it) on the developmental team than watch him sit the bench on the first team. On another note - I know that the defense did not allow any goals this game giving them what is referred to as a 'clean sheet' for the game. 

Josh's First Soccer Game - Year 2 - Game 1

 

Every game Josh tapes up his wrist with his "Why?". Why does he play soccer? What motivates him to push through the really hard parts of a game/training? He always puts the same things: Sarah, Nana (my mom), Family, the area codes we've lived, the boys (his besties), and Coach Lar (one of his high school coaches who committed suicide). I love seeing that wrist band on his arm. 

Josh had his first game, a scrimmage, this past Saturday. This marks the start of his second year of eligibility for soccer. (Each collegiate athlete gets four years.) The boys played 3 thirty-minute halves so that each of the players could have 30 minutes of play time. The boys played against a semi-pro team from Florida who were absolutely amazing. Belmont lost to this team 2-1. There was some question as to whether Josh was even going to be called up to play in this game as 5 of the 11 recruits this year were defenders (which is what Josh was asked to learn how to play when recruited by Belmont). With two returning starters from last season that leaves on 2 open spots with about 8-12 boys gunning for those two spots, but he did get called up which was nice. 

It was so nice to see Josh play. He didn't get a ton of play time last year. (I think he played in maybe 3 games for a total of about 45 minutes all year.) He did have a roster spot on the first team last year, but I'm not sure how this year is going to go. Collegiate sports are pretty cut-throat and new players are always being recruited, so there is no wait in line and your turn will come type situations there. You could work your butt off all year and still not get any playing time because of size, speed, etc...With coaches being able to select athletes from all over the world there is always a good chance a player might never get a shot at a starting position. It's hard for these players as they are used to being the best on the club/high school teams they came from. To now have to deal with the best of the best from not only your own country, but internationally as well means that there is fierce competition for play time. Plus, what they don't tell you when recruiting you, is that there are always two teams of boys - the first team (the team whose games count) and the developmental/reserve team (whose games don't really count for much). Each team is stacked with 25-30 players, so you are looking at anywhere between 50-60 boys gunning for 11 starting spots on the first team. It is crazy - and definitely nothing like I thought it would (nor what Josh thought it would be like). 

The bright side of Josh not having a first team spot this year is that he will start on the developmental team and get a ton of play time. For me, if Josh cannot grab a starting spot on the first team I would rather he have a starting spot on the reserve team verse sitting on the bench of the first team. I'm not sure Josh feels the same way though. 

It will be what it will be. Josh does everything in his power to get play time on the first team. The rest is out of his hands, and time will tell what the future holds for him. 

That's him in the background with the ball. 

Kicking the free kick.

Giving directions to the defense. 

Right before kick off. 

Rooting for her brother.

Showing up for their brother.