Crazy Week

I realized I haven't updated this blog all week since Monday.  Sorry to all my followers.  Anyway it has been an eventful week.  I've had a cough for about two weeks now and it just started getting real bad midweek.  I had a fever in the nights and just really didn't feel good at all.  I finally went to the doctor on Friday and got two cough prescriptions.  Hopefully by Monday I'll be feeling better.

On Wednesday we traveled to McDaniel College in Maryland.  They have a losing record and to be honest, we were supposed to win handily.  We lost 3-0...  They scored on three set pieces and we could just not get lucky with a goal even though we basically dominated possession in both halves.  It was also very unfortunate that earlier in the week coach established a rule that if we get scored on, on a set piece, we would have to run a lapper.  (A lapper is when the team splits into two groups and as the first one jogs, the second group sprints around the field to catch the first group and then the other group goes.  You basically sprint a whole field and a half.  It's awful.)

So Thursday practice came along and we ended up running three lappers and more: hills, full fields, pushups, sit-ups, etc.  We scrimmaged with a lot of intensity and the team was really working hard.  Practice ended up lasting about three hours and the whole team was exhausted by the end.  Hopefully that work effort will show up in today's game at Juniata.

Juniata is a very important conference game.  It's three and a half hours away just for one game.  I heard their field is awful, the refs will be awful, and its just going to be a sloppy, but we have to win.  These next three games are the most important with three conference games and we need to be undefeated this week in order to set us up for a post-season Conference tournament run and hopefully NCAA bid.

Classes have been going well.  Calculus is the best I would say.  In Engineering we designed a prosthetic foot and wrapped it in composite materials.  It's is going to be put in a vacuum and then hopefully we will have created a prosthetic foot.  It was cool because we were working with carbon fiber and glass fiber and the stuff was really cool.

Now I need to get ready and head to the Duf to get on the bus.  Here comes a long day of travel and hopefully all for a victory!

-TZ

Columbus Day Weekend

This weekend was a long one with Monday off from school and soccer.  If we didn't have a game on Saturday I probably would've gone home or somewhere else.  It seemed like everyone else went somewhere else; campus was dead.  Anyway Saturday we played Merchant Marines at home.  I didn't get the start unfortunately and only played about 25 minutes in the first half; I didn't get in in the second half.  All three other outside midfielders scored our three goals.  Maybe that is what coach is looking for me to do.  I had like three shots when I went in, but I just couldn't put the ball away.  I am still happy I got some time, I just need to work to get more for this week.  Anyway we won 3-2 which is most important to get a win for the team.  We needed that win very bad which put us 2-1 in the conference.  

Sunday was a usual day of relaxing and watching football while a little bit of homework got done.  Catching up on sleep was more important.  Now today I have off from soccer and school.  Another good relaxing day but a lot of work to get done in preparation for the week.  Our second big Calc exam is this week and another big Philosophy Tutorial Essay is due Friday.  This is together with an away game on Wednesday.  I have to stay on top of everything and not get behind.  So here's to a short four day week ahead.  Looking forward to seeing Grandma and Lisa at Juniata on Saturday!

-TZ

Friday At Last

It seems like these weeks fly by here.  Every time I turn around it seems like its Friday.  I'm not complaining!  I think it has to do with the midweek soccer games we have that make the midweek seem to go by fast.  Anyway it's Friday again and I'm looking forward to a long weekend with Columbus Day off from classes.

Today we had our first huge midterm in Philosophy.  Everyone was freaking out about it and I studied a lot for it.  It was a very long test and I barely finished but I think I did well on it.  I really hope it helps my grade out in that class.

Now later today is the CUA Career Fair.  I'm not really sure what to expect.  I will probably wear a shirt and tie and just walk around trying to not look too lost.  Haha maybe I'll give out a resume or two which has very little on it.  At least I'll be able to see what it's all about.

Later tonight we have a pregame practice and then another team dinner at the Junior's soccer house.  Always great to have lots of team bonding.  Tomorrow we play Merchant Marines who is a big rival of ours.  It's a big conference game.  We NEED to get a win.  No excuses this time.

Here's to the weekend ahead,

-TZ

Back to Winning

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning brought a lot of rain.  Because of the wet conditions we were stuck playing our game on the turf field instead of the grass game field.  I personally would rather play on the grass but I had no choice.  We dominated play and possesion against Washington College the whole game and we ended up winning 2-0.  It was good to get back to winning after the tough loss Saturday.  I played solid, got the start, and had a couple shots on goal.  Still just waiting on my first goal.

Nothing else all that exciting to report for yesterday.  I got a new poster which completed my room decoration.  Rocky all the way.  

I have a mandatory Honors College meeting this evening and I might have to miss practice which is unfortunate.  At least coach is understanding.  

That's about it.  Looking forward to Friday and another big game this weekend against Merchant Marines. 

-TZ

Soccer is Fun?

Monday brought a great surprise when I learned my English class was cancelled.  What an excitement.  I'll take any extra time I have to get a quick nap in.  It's amazing how much an hour nap can help things.  Besides that, the day was a normal one.

Everyone thought coming in to practice that Coach was going to be angry and it was going to be a hard practice after our poor loss on Saturday.  Turns out, Coach had a different idea.  We spent the day playing a session of handball which is like soccer except you throw the ball around.  We then played small-sided four on four tournaments.  Even the four coaches got in on the play.  Coach took the approach that we needed to return to our roots and try to have fun.  That's the real reason we all play soccer is because we all enjoy it and sometimes it just gets too serious.  It was nice to have a fun practice and reaffirm why we all truly play the game;  It's simply fun.  You should always remember why you work so hard at something.  If something you generally enjoy gets to be too much of a job and is unenjoyable, you should take a step back and have a good time every once and a while.

Of course today will be back to business in preparation for Washington College coming to play us Wednesday.  We need to get back to winning.  Refocusing engaged.

Have some fun,

-TZ

A Bad Loss but a Good Weekend

I keep falling behind on my blog.  I should just accept the fact that I'm probably not going to post all that much during the weekends, if at all.  Especially during season.  Anyway Mom, Dad, and Nelson all drove up to DC on Friday and I met them for lunch in Dupont Circle.  Even though there was some stress with their hotel choice, it was nice to visit for a bit.  I then had pre-game practice followed by a team dinner that night in the Cardinal Room.  It would've been nice to have dinner with the fam but team dinner was a requirement.  I just chilled on campus that night and got some good sleep for our game on Saturday.

Saturday I woke up early and met the parents for breakfast and an early lunch in Dupont Circle at their new hotel because they couldn't stand the first one.  Mom gets picky with dirty hotels.  I then headed back to campus because we played Susquehanna at 3:30.  They are in our conference and they are also ranked #16 in the nation.  Our goal was to never lose a conference game and it was a big game for us.  They scored about midway through the first half on a very crappy corner that somehow got deflected near post.  It was disappointing.  All they would do is kick the ball and run and win head balls.  Anyway even with multiple chances, we could't put one away and we ended up losing 1-0.  Very disappointing to say the least and everyone was pretty bummed about it.  Hopefully we will have a chance to face them again in the conference tournament.

After the game we had a tailgate and introduced Jacob, a young boy with brain cancer that our team is "adopting" to the rest of our fans and family.  Here is his website if you're interested.  He is a really amazing kid and he has been through so much:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacobphelps

I then met my first recruit, Ian, who spent Saturday night with me.  It would've been nice to hang with the family some more Saturday evening but I hung out with the team and Ian and showed him around school.

Sunday I dropped the recruit off with coach and headed back to the city to say goodbye to the fam.  It's always great when they come up to visit.  I always enjoy it.  After that I went back to campus and watched football basically all day and cleaned up my place.  I always enjoy relaxing on SUndays.

Now it's Monday and back to the grind.  Another tough week ahead with two big games and a couple exams.

And here we go,

-TZ

Convincing Win

Tuesday flew by.  Only one class (a long lab) and practice.  I got a lab back from last week and did worse than I thought I had done.  My TA graded much harder than all the other TA's as well which I don't know how to confront the situation.  Especially since I've done all these labs before in high school, this lab should be very easy and an easy A for me.  It's disappointing.  

On to Wednesday.  I got a solid nap in between my classes and our game vs. Marymount.  Always good to get extra rest.  We left school around 5pm to play Marymount in nearby Arlington, VA.  Due to traffic it took like an hour to get there when it only took like 20 minutes to get back without any traffic.  Anyway we played in some park off-campus from Marymount with a nice turf field.  I started right mid, which is different from my usual spot of left mid.  It took some getting used to, but its not all that different.  I played solid and I was pleased.  We ended up scoring three goals in the last five minutes of the first half which really just put the momentum in our hands.  We ended up winning the game 6-0 and convincing and confidence-boosting win.  We now turn our attention to a big game this saturday vs. #16 Susquehanna.  Home game, family is coming, I'm looking forward to it.  

I keep sending mom things to add to her list to bring me.  It's so nice that she spends the time to bring all this stuff up for me.  It's really convenient that I don't have to go shopping in the city; it just shows up whenever mom comes to visit!  Tomorrow Mom, Dad, and Nelson come up to the city.  It will be nice to spend some time with them this weekend.  

Today is just another daily grind, but always looking to improve.

-TZ