Home Stretch

This weekend I traveled with the whole fam to go watch Michael play in the NCAAs.  Mom and Dad picked me up off the metro and we drove up near Philly to Swarthmore College.  CNU played that evening and we had enough time to get a nice dinner and were happy to have J.M. join us at Carrabbas.    We then went to watch the game.  It was an intense match, but CNU ended up coming out on the short end of the stick.  They lost 2-0.  It's always hard to watch seniors play their last soccer game, and this time my brother was one of those seniors.  It was very emotional after the game, but I'm glad the whole family got to be there to support him.  You had a great run, Zimm.  I can't tell you how much you impacted me with your constant persistent attitude and I salute you.  It was a great run for you, and now you have bigger and better things to move on to.  Congrats on a great soccer career.

So I ended up coming back to campus on Sunday and had time to do some homework and get ready for the week.  This week is extremely busy with Thanksgiving coming up next week.  Teachers are trying to get big last minute papers and projects in by the end of the week.  Six days left..  I got this.

I also bought my Redskins vs. Eagles tickets for this weekend! I'm so excited to go to my first NFL game.  We got lower level seats for around 60 bucks so I hope it'll be fun.  Even though both teams are struggling to be last place in the league, I remain true to the Eagles.

Lastly best of luck to Gibbons soccer tonight against Jacksonville in the state semifinals.  I know that the game is going to be a battle; these two schools have developed into quite the rivalry.  Especially after what happened last year at their place...  That story is for another time.  But go get em Gibbons! End their season once again.

Keep working hard, it's almost Thanksgiving

-TZ

Back to the Gym

To be honest, I have somewhat enjoyed this week with no soccer.  Don't get me wrong, I would much rather be playing in the NCAA's this weekend but nothing we can do now.  I hit the gym everyday this week and it's great getting back to the weights.  Monday was upper body, Tuesday lower body and those two day left me extremely sore for Wednesday.  After not lifting for the entire season, my body wasn't used to feeling soreness.  So then Wednesday I just decided to run and I got on the treadmill and just starting running.  Didn't have any goals or distance in mind but I ended running four miles in 29:30.  It was actually a decent pace for that distance after I thought about it considering I got faster each mile to end with a 6:40 pace.  Then Thursday I went back to upper body and Friday I burned the legs.  Soreness currently on entire body.  But its great.  

Friday night a group of us went to see the new James Bond movie, Skyfall in Chinatown.  We got dinner at Chipotle and then watched the movie.  It was great.  Much better than the second Bond movie and about equal quality as Casino Royale.  

Now today I'm going to watch Michael play NCAA's first round.  He is playing at Swarthmore College and the fam is passing through DC to pick me up and then the entire crew will go watch the game.  Let's go CNU! 

Have a good weekend,

-TZ

My First Season Comes to an End

So this weekend was the Landmark Conference Tournament.  We entered as the number 2 seed and played University of Scranton on Saturday at Susquehanna at 11 am.  We were the cause of their first and only loss earlier this year when we played them in the season.  It is always so much harder to beat a team two times in a row.  Anyway I was pleased to get the start and we came out strong and put together some solid chances.  Even with a wide open goal, we just could not finish it.  We got unlucky.  The half ended 0-0 with Scranton getting the better chances late into the half.

Onto the second half, we just couldn't get our style going.  Scranton got more chances and eventually scored off the crossbar off of a corner kick.  We went down 1-0 with about 20 minutes and then we started freaking out on the field.  It took a while for us to settle down and we got a free kick at the top of the box.  Ian Smith hit a great shot that went upper ninety and tied up the game with about ten minutes to go.  We had momentum and I thought we were going to be able to put in another goal until Scranton had a breakaway and their forward hit a great one-time shot that just got passed Torston with about three minutes left.  We battled for the rest of the time, but we just couldn't get anything else.  We lost 2-1 and the entire team was stunned.  It's weird how fast your season can come to such a fast ending.

We knew we weren't high enough ranked to get a NCAA bid, and since we lost in the conference tourney, we were completely done.  The goal for the entire year was to win the conference and get into the NCAA tourney; we did neither..

Although that was a great disappointment for the season, personally I couldn't have asked more for my freshman year.  I constantly worked hard to help the team and I got multiple starts, and played consistent minutes in each game.  I see freshman, sophomores, and even juniors that struggled with playing time and I am happy that I got the chance to get out on the field.  I had a blast playing for my school once again and am glad I got the chance to play.  I really enjoyed all the guys on the team and I think this was a great fit for me to come and play at CUA.  I had a great time in my first season. Now next year we are only losing one senior.  We have a huge returning class, so we are looking ahead.  With this years' abrupt ending, I know we will be motivated next year to avenge our losses and work even harder to make the NCAA.

Now it is time to start training for next season.  I didn't know what to do without practice yesterday, so I hit the gym hard with my lacrosse bud Zach.  We did upper body and it felt great to get back in the weight room.  I was actually pleased with my bench and hit 95 X 10, 115 X 10, 125 X 8, and then 115 X 6.  Then after lifting a group of 8 guys most from the team came to the Duf and we played indoor soccer, 4 on 4 with trashcans as goals.  Even on our first day off, we continued to play soccer.  It was fun just to get a few touches on the ball and just have fun with soccer again.  I really feel the soreness today, but it is worth it.  I will be going back to the gym with our keeper, Cam today for some legs, core, and plyos.  Offseason training and body-building has begun.

Now congrats to Michael and CNU mens soccer for making the NCAA tourney.  Even with the shocker vs. Greensboro in conference tourney, they received an at-large bid and will be playing this weekend.  I look froward to traveling with Mom and Dad to go watch them play.  This will be the first game I will get to watch CNU play this year and it will be good to get to watch them again.  Best of luck to Michael and the team; I think they could make another deep run!

So here's to the offseason and working for next season,

-TZ

Let the Postseason Begin

It's been quite a while since I last posted.  This past Saturday we traveled to Drew in NJ and won a very important conference match 1-0.  It was great to see Lisa and Grandma out there supporting us again.  Very nice of them to make the trip.  The win put us at a three way tie for first place within the conference.  CUA, Scranton, and Susquehanna were all tied with records in conference and goal differential and everything.  We had to result to a "hat draw" to determine the seeds of the tournament.  We got the second seed out of the hat which has us playing Scranton again.  We are playing them at Susquehanna this Saturday at 11am.  We are traveling Friday afternoon to PA and spending the night and playing Saturday.  If we win we will play in the conference finals on Sunday at Susquehanna as well.  From here out it is single elimination; we have to win both games this weekend to enter the NCAA tournament.  It is a very important weekend.

Everything with Hurricane Sandy ended up "blowing over." LOL.  But seriously, we were lucky not to get hit too hard; we never lost power yet we got Monday and Tuesday off from classes.  Lots of wind and rain but luckily nothing too bad here.  Prayers go out to those that were hit very hard at home in places like New Jersey and New York.

Today we just finished up with a 7am practice.  Very early but I enjoy it.  It reminds me of those summer tour days.  Classic.  Now time to study for a big Calc test tomorrow and rest up for this weekend.  Here comes the postseason!

-TZ

Long Trip Ahead

It's Friday once again.  Thank goodness.  This is the first week that has actually felt long.  I don't have much time to write before class, but I will give a quick update.  We beat Salisbury on Wednesday 2-0; a convincing win over a regionally ranked oponent.  We are on a roll right now and it was good to keep that going.  Thursday we had a 7am practice on the turf because that was the only time we could get on the turf and Drew plays on turf.  We ran a good bit and had a decent practice.  It was weird not having to do anything at night tho.

Now today we are leaving for New Jersey and Drew.  We are traveling a day early for the game because it is a relatively long trip for a very important game.  We will have a light session before getting on the bus today after classes and then make the run up.  We will then watch the girls play a very important game vs. Drew before our game which is scheduled for 3:30pm.  If we win by more than a goal, we will get home field advantage for the first game of the conference tournament which would be much better than traveling all the way to Scranton on a Wednesday.  We will then travel back to school after the game and get back relatively late.  A very important business trip.

Grandma and Lisa might travel to Drew to watch the game which would be great to see them again.  Hopefully Lisa can make the trip again.  That's it for now.  Big weekend ahead.  Will give updates hopefully Sunday.

Take care of business,

-TZ

You are Now Defeated

This weekend was successful.  It was good to see Mom and Dad this weekend who made the trip up after visiting Michael on Wednesday.  They keep traveling all over the place.  We played Scranton on Saturday who was undefeated on the season and ranked nationally at #19 in the country.  I got the start and make a few chances but none yielded a goal.  We received a penalty kick early in the second half and went up 1-0.  We held on to the lead for the rest of the game barely.  I had to make a goal line save on a corner kick, but just doing my duty.  It was a great win for the team and everyone was pumped.  It felt good to be the reason for them to be now defeated.  It was especially good to get the win for Mike Brennan on his senior day.  That was the first time coach has beaten a top-25 time in his time as a coach at Catholic as well.  That secured our spot in the conference tournament and we will now be fighting for home field advantage for the conference tournament on Saturday when we play Drew.

It was nice to catch up with the parents at a sports bar in DC after the game as well.  Always good to hear stories on how everyone is doing.  They then headed back early on Sunday morning to make it to a wedding.  A shorter visit but good none the less.

Monday's practice went well.  It was a longer and harder one as usual Mondays but good as well.  Two of our very important outside midfielders are hurt and cannot play so that opens up both sides for a lot of time for me but we may be a little weaker without both of them playing.  We shall see how it goes against Salisbury on Wednesday.

That's about it.  Keep grindin through another week,

-TZ

Good Day for Team Zimm

Yesterday was a good day.  I had my usual classes and then at 3:30 we were scheduled to play Goucher College at home.  It was a conference game and it was very important.  Goucher needed a win in order to keep their  hopes of a postseason alive.  We needed the win to secure our spot in the conference tournament.

I luckily got the start and played well.  A couple of shots and a really nice one, which everyone said it would've been a goal, but a defender unfortunately blocked it.  We went into halftime up 1-0 which was not sufficient.  We had a very interesting halftime speech from coach and got back out to play the second half.  I fortunately got the start for the second half and played very well.  Made some great runs down the side for some very close crosses.  I did get free down the side one time and had a good ball across the box for a goal.  It kind of deflected off of two of our players so I wasn't sure if I got the assist or not but the box score report gave it to me.  I guess the coaches will rewatch it on the film to double check.  Hope I still have it!  We ended up winning the game 3-0 and everyone got to play.  It is good to get to see all the other guys that put a lot of hard work in at practice get in the game and get to play.  I'm just lucky and happy I'm not in that position.

Then CNU was scheduled to kick off at 7:00pm vs. NC Wesleyan.  It was Senior Night for Michael and the other guys on the team.  I didn't know they were going to show the Senior Night festivities on live video but I missed them before the game but got to watch the rest of the game on my computer.  CNU does a great job with announcers and quality video to broadcast online.  It's really cool.  It was great to see Michael score and get an assist as well.  I start cheering in my room and other guys come running in, like, "What's the matter dude!? You okay?"  Haha I guess I was cheering a little too loud.  It was really cool tho.  He played out of his mind good and it was great to watch.  Mom and Dad were cheering loudly in the stands and I could occasionally hear Dad on the broadcast yelling for the team.  Good to see CNU dominate the second half and win 3-1.

So overall it was a good day for Team Zimm with wins from both CUA and CNU.  More to hopefully come.

-TZ