Wow……what a start to our college soccer season!!

Home game against the reigning conference champions, actually they have won the conference for the last 8 years.

They have beaten us for the last 21 games straight.

Until last night that is!!!!

Last night had to be the best game of my life as a coach. I know it was the best game for our players, absolutely brilliant.

All the hardwork, stress and the ups and downs were worth it.

We asked the players to give us the best 45 minutes they have ever played. We wanted them in the locker room at half time throwing up and looking like they had just been in the ring with Mike Tyson. We asked them to defend as a team for 45 minutes, work hard and adjust our shape eveytime the ball moved six inches. We asked them to defend in packs of 4, to pressure the ball, provide cover, balance and support. We asked them to play safe when they needed to. We asked them to win the second ball. We asked them to defend from the front, to close the space down, to win back every throw in.

They gave us an incredible first half, yet we came in down 1-0. We couldn’t ask for much more from them…except for a never say die attitude and maybe an extra gear in the second half.

With less than 2 minutes to go we tied the game 1-1 and went into overtime.

We needed less than three minutes to win the game which led to scenes of euphoria with the fans invading the pitch and the players in absolute ecstacy.

All credit to the opposition, they accepted the defeat with class and integrity.

I was crying, my wife was crying and so were the players. The kid who scored the winning goal was crying and throwing up at the same time!

That was an incredible display of effort, determination, teamwork and desire. This is now a platform for the rest of the season and one we need to use a catalyst for our next performance.

Now that’s soccer!!