End-of-Season Banquet

Please note the following:

What: JV/Varsity Soccer Dessert Banquet
When: Tuesday, June 3 at 6:30 PM.
Where: HS Cafeteria
Who: JV/Varsity players and respective families
What to bring: dessert to pass, personal beverages, place settings.

Hope to see you all there in order to celebrate a successful season!

9-0 Win vs. Comstock Park

Girls!

First, as mentioned after the game today, what a distance we've come as a team since April 2 at Middleville when we fell 6-0 in our first game of the season, huh?!! Man…seems like soooo long ago. You guys have improved by leaps and bounds throughout the course of the season, and WE CERTAINLY FINISHED STRONG!! Way to go. A coach couldn't be more proud.

More to come tomorrow at our team meeting right after school as well as at our program-wide banquet tentatively set for Tuesday, June 3 at 630 PM.

Keep the great work as overall good human beings, girls! :)

It was a pleasure…dot dot dot.

0-0 Tie @ Holland

Ladies!

Ready for our last JV practice of the season today?? :) And don't forget about our last team dinner at Kirby's afterward (@6)!

Regarding last night's tie @Holland , I don't think it was the worst result for us. As mentioned, Holland had a handful of dangerous chances that we managed to weather, so they deserve some credit as well. Plus, we've still got our team goal of finishing with an overall winning record going for us heading into our final game tomorrow!

Let's end this thing right, huh??!!

See you all soon!

Last Week of the Season!

Greetings, ladies! Hope all is well and that you're all enjoying the beautiful day??

Here goes with the schedule for our last week coming up here (grab the kleenex…haha):

**Monday: rematch game @ Holland (5 PM)…"dress up" in school…bus leaves at 415 PM…WIN...Katlyn = video…ride bus home with team.

**Tuesday: last practice of the season…3-5 PM…captains = lead…last team dinner at Kirby's (6 PM).

**Wednesday: last game of the season…home vs. Comstock Park (4 PM)…WIN…Grace/Kora = ball girls…Yaz = video…more details to come.

**Thursday: brief team meeting after school in my classroom…finished no later than 330 PM…please bring all clean uniform items if you can! And please let me know if you cannot make the meeting!

Note: Congrats again to Lauren for her team voting her as the last "alternate" captain of the season this past Friday!

Girls, let's end this season with a bang. We've got three team goals still in play here--one of which is ending the season with a winning record. At 6-6-2 currently, we've got to win out this week!

See you all soon!

0-0 Tie @ Unity

Hi, girls!

You all have MUCH to be proud of regarding your collective efforts last night at Unity. Overall, you made JV history! As mentioned, the result of the game was the first time ever that a Hamilton JV team has ended a contest with Unity with something other than a loss. And as I mentioned last night, the score was a WELL-EARNED, DESERVING one: not the result of some fluky, pack-it-in, survival-mode, sloppy soccer mentality that some teams play against talented opponents. Your coach is very proud of you!

Now, with two games left, we've still got more work to do, right???

See you all for practice today. Bundle up!

4-2 Win vs. Zeeland West

Girls,

As a coach, it's certainly a joy to watch you all continue to improve as a team and "finish strong" (as I mentioned after the game today). Today, you certainly won the battle on the field vs. Zeeland West to even our overall season record at 6-6-1.

NOW the challenge is winning the battle IN OUR OWN COLLECTIVE HEADS as we prepare for Unity on Wednesday at their place. As I mentioned today, if we don't even BELIEVE we can beat those girls, the game is already lost! You all know by now that soccer is a crazy (beautiful) sport in that any given team can win on any given day.

Let's make it happen on Wednesday…after putting in the necessary work in practice tomorrow!

See you all soon.

2-1 Win @ Wayland…and more!

Hey, girls!

Hope you're enjoying the weekend, the nice weather, all of it.

Great job last night at Wayland. As I mentioned to you after the game, that was (in my opinion) easily one of the best games of the season for us simply regarding POSSESSION. You guys were dominant at times. As a coach, it was great to see. Keep that up here with four games left! Speaking of that, remember that one our new team goals for the remaining couple of weeks on the season is to finish with an overall winning record! At 5-6-1 currently, we can do it!!! Keep visualizing success…and making it happen on the field.

Take a look at this coming week's schedule:

**Monday: home game vs. Z.West (4 PM)…dressed and ready on the field by 3 PM…Yaz and Helana = ball girls…Lauren = video.

**Tuesday: practice 3-5 PM.

**Wednesday: game @ Unity (5 PM)…bus leaves at 4 PM…Ayla = video.

**Thursday: practice 3-5 PM.

**Friday: practice 3-5 PM.

Note: Congrats again to Ayla for her teammates voting her as the next alternate captain for this coming week!

Take care and see you soon, all!

2-0 Loss @ H.C.

Hey, girls!

I hope we're all recovered --mentally and physically--from last night's emotional contest at H.C.? As I mentioned at the conclusion of the game, they deserved to win that game. There's no shame in that. They were better than us on THAT day. It's that simple.

We still have much to play for here in the next two weeks: a couple of team goals to fulfill, five games, one last team dinner, etc.

Let's keep improving! See you all for practice today at 3 PM.

2-0 Win vs. Byron Center

And the beat goes on…….

Well done today, ladies. I'm proud of you all for contributing to a team goal partially met in our rematch win vs. a conference opponent. And now i'm looking even more forward to this Wednesday at Holland Christian when we have the chance to continue toward the same team goal but also do what no other JV soccer team has done before at Hamilton: beat Holland Christian.

If today didn't give you even more confidence (on top of our last strong effort vs. H.C. on our field a few weeks back), I don't know what will!

Let's get better in practice tomorrow and then BEAT H.C.!

1-0 Win @ Zeeland East…and more!

Girls! Hope you're enjoying the weekend…and Tulip Time?! :)

Regarding last night's game, you ladies should be very proud of your second half effort especially--all around. That was a hard-fought win…a well-deserved win in my estimation. Way to go. And now we've got an important rematch vs. B.Center at home on Monday. If you recall, they beat us 2-0 at their place not so long ago. One of our team goals is to beat every conference opponent at least once, and here's our last chance vs. that team on Monday! Let's meet that challenge!

See below regarding more details for this upcoming week:

**Monday: game vs. Byron Center (4 PM)…dressed and ready outside by 3 PM…Morgan/Kirby = ball girls…Kora = video.

**Tuesday: practice 3-5 PM…team dinner #2 at Katlyn's @ 6 pm.

**Wednesday: game @ H.C. (530 PM)…bus leaves at 430 PM…Maryn = video...more details to come.

**Thursday: practice 3-5 PM.

**Friday: game @Wayland (5 PM)…bus leaves at 330 PM…Mikayla = video…more details to come.

Note: with only three weeks left in the season, our team theme for the remaining weeks will simply result in girls nominating fellow teammates for ANY positive contribution to the team during that respective week. Let's all strive for this!

Take care, all, and let's keep improving and moving forward!

0-0 Tie vs. Holland

Girls, 

I was proud of your overall effort today in a game we mostly dominated--possession and offensive chance-wise. It was certainly evident until the final horn that you ladies were fighting and desperately trying to punch one of those balls in the back of the net. I enjoyed watching that effort. Let's all be honest with ourselves though: that's a game we simply need to win. Remember, "good" teams take care of business against the lesser teams every time, and we didn't fully get the job done today. Let's file today in our collective memory banks, and revive the memories the next time we play Holland at their place, right?! 

I look forward to working with you in practice tomorrow…especially offensively! 

3-0 Loss to Unity

Hi, girls.

Well, in my opinion today was another situation (like our last home game vs. H.C.) where we played a traditionally tough program tooth and nail for the most part and yet couldn't come up with the "extra stuff" to prevail. Since we play both aforementioned teams from above yet again at their respective places in the near future, what can we ALL do to finally take that next step as a team/program??!! I know we have it in us…(dot dot dot)….Varsity as well. And you saw how they took on H.C. the first time!

Hang in there, and let's get better tomorrow in practice!

2-0 Win @ Hopkins…and more!

Hi, girls!

Another job well done yesterday vs. an opponent that we needed to take care of, all things considering. A good team (which I think we are) takes care of business vs. a lesser opponent (no let-downs) and once in a while shocks a team that, on paper, is "better" (i.e. Unity on Monday!).

I look forward to seeing how we handle a bit of success as of late! And remember, POSSESS POSSESS POSSESS!

Take a look at the weekly schedule below:

**Monday: game vs. Unity (4 pm)…dressed and ready on the game field by 3 pm…Lauren, Ayla, and Taylor be ready for Varsity game duties.

**Tuesday: practice 3-5 pm.

**Wednesday: game vs. Holland (4 pm)…dressed and ready on the game field by 3 pm…Katlyn, Brook, and Grace be ready for Varsity game duties.

**Thursday: practice 3-5 pm.

**Friday: game @ Z.East (5 pm)…bus leaves at 4 pm…you may ride home with parents on this night.

Note: As mentioned above, our team theme for this coming week is POSSESSION. Simply put, the team that owns the majority of the possession in a given game usually wins the contest…usually. :)  Regarding our past team theme of MENTAL TOUGHNESS, congrats again to Taylor for her winning the captain award!

Take care, all! Let's keep this thing rolling in the right direction!

2-0 Win @ Z.West

Ladies,

Congrats again on a well-earned first win of the season last night vs. a conference foe! Well done. Now that we've tasted a bit of success on the scoreboard, it's time to get a bit greedy and keep this ball rolling--continuing today in a Hopkins match!

Remember though, we're going to have to continue to focus on communication, physical toughness, mental toughness…and our current new theme of POSSESSION. Simply put, the team that owns the majority of the possession during a given match usually wins the game. We CAN do it…and we can do it much better than we even did it yesterday!

Looking forward to seeing you again. Bus leaves at 315 PM.

1-0 Loss vs. H.C.

Hi girls,

I hope you are all doing well and keeping in mind that we very much DID take another positive step forward today in our match vs. H.C. As the coach, I couldn't be more proud of your overall effort. As I mentioned in our post-game talk, the performance today that you ladies put in vs. the Maroons was the best performance I've witnessed against a traditionally tough team in my nine years at the JV helm. Please focus on the positives regarding today!

And for those of you who stayed for the entire Varsity game, you witnessed Hawkeye success on the scoreboard as well as the field. That will be us someday in the near future if we stay the course!

See you tomorrow for 3-5 practice!

Upcoming Week

Hi, girls!

Here goes with the schedule for this upcoming week:

**Monday…practice 3-5 pm.

**Tuesday…first home game vs. Holland Christian (4 pm)…dressed and ready at the field by 3 pm…ball/vid girls, be ready!

**Wednesday…practice 3-5 pm.

**Thursday…game @ Z.West (5 pm)…bus leaves at 415 pm.

**Friday…no school…game @ Hopkins (415 pm)…bus leaves at 245 pm.

Note: This coming week's team theme is MENTAL TOUGHNESS. More details to come. And on a side note, congrats again to Kora Ruiz for her being named as "physically tough" by her teammates this past week!

Take care, girls. Let's be ready to get back to work on Monday outside!

2-1 Loss to Hudsonville

Checking in again, ladies!

PLEASE keep your heads up regarding where we're at currently as a team. A tough loss like last night (after a loss the previous night) can tend to take the wind out of a team's sails a bit, but we cannot let that happen. As I mentioned in our final huddle last night after the game, an overall positive step in the right direction WAS made in our game…despite the final score. WE WILL KEEP GETTING BETTER! Just stay the course…and get better in practice…starting today.

See you all soon, girls!

2-0 Loss to Byron Center

Hey, girls.

I hope we're all ready to bounce back yet again today with another match--especially after a tough loss last night in which I really thought we played mostly toe-to-toe with a pretty good team! As I mentioned in the final huddle last night, we need to all come up with some possible solutions to get us out of this early bit of a rut we're in. We'll chat today and hopefully enact the solutions on the field!

Keep your collective heads up, please! Remember, it's early…and we'll continue to improve with hard work and a positive team attitude.

Welcome back!

Hi, everyone! I really hope you were able to enjoy a fun, rejuvenating break!

At this point, it's about that time to get back to work inside the classroom and out, right??!

First, it'd be great if you all took a bit of time to review our team "core values" as well as our set of team goals to the right when you can…just as a bit of a healthy reminder. In addition, our past "team theme" has been COMMUNICATION and currently is TEAM UNIFICATION. We'll vote on the latter regarding an alternate captain tomorrow (Monday) at the conclusion of outdoor practice. In other words, you'll decide who has been doing the most sincere job of getting all of us individuals to gel as a team early on here in the season!

Next, take a look at the schedule for the week below:

**Monday…3-5 practice…dress warmly…team dinner at my house at 630 PM.

**Tuesday…game at Hudsonville (530 PM)…bus leaves at 430 PM….more details later.

**Wednesday…game at Byron Center (5 PM)…bus leaves at 4 PM…more details later.

**Thursday…3-5 practice.

**Friday…3-5 practice.

Note: our team theme this coming week is PHYSICAL TOUGHNESS/AGGRESSION…something I think we'd all agree that, based on much of our last performance vs. Middleville, we need more of from here on out in order to help us reach our goals! More details to come...

Take care, all, and very much looking forward to seeing you all again and getting back to work.

6-0 Loss to Middleville...

Hey, ladies.

Regarding our first game of the season last night, let it simply be a valuable lesson learned early on here…namely that we can ALL be much more physically tough for the ENTIRE course of the game vs. ANY opponent. Exhibit A was our second half of last night's game compared to our first half. In other words, it was a much better all-around effort that second half, all things considering. But as I said last night, there's no need to overreact since the season is so young!

We've still got a lot of season left……:)

Take care, all, and please enjoy your break, be safe, stay fit, get some ball touches, and recharge the ol' batteries!

Upcoming "pre-Spring Break" Week!

Hey, ladies! Really hope you're enjoying the sunshine today and being outside and active?? Love it…

Speaking of weather, can't wait to be outside tomorrow for practice FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON!! Woowhoo! :)

See below regarding the shortened week's events:

**Monday…practice outside from 3-5 PM. Bring running shoes just in case.

**Tuesday…practice outside from 3-5 PM. Bring running shoes just in case.

**Wednesday…game at Middleville…bus leaves right after school…more details later.

**Thursday/Friday…no practice. ENJOY SPRING BREAK!

**Monday, April 14…Stieper and I would like to host our first JV team dinner after practice…more details later…hope you can make it!

Miscellaneous: Congrats again to Mikayla and Brook for their team captain picks on Friday…as well as Teagan for her "team award" win regarding her communication skills!

Miscellaneous (part two): Our "team theme" for this coming week (piggy backing on one of our team goals below and to the left) is TEAM--in other words, we need to all strive somehow to include EVERYONE as part of the team…complete acceptance and unification. How can you, yourself, help with this??!!

PS. Reminder that our Z. East cancelled game from last week is now rescheduled for Friday, May 2.

Take care, all! And we'll see you all on the practice field tomorrow!

JV Week #2!!

Hi, ladies! Hope you're all having a great weekend thus far??

Here goes with the schedule for this upcoming week:

**Monday…practice (NO GAME) 445-7 in the HS (with Coach Stieper/Varsity as I will be absent).

**Tuesday…practice 445-7 in the HS

**Wednesday…practice (NO GAME) 3-5 in the HS

**Thursday…practice 445-7 in the HS (team meeting at some point in my classroom)

**Friday…practice 3-5 (team pics at some point…stay tuned)

Miscellaneous: We will continue our important team theme of COMMUNICATION this coming week and continue to find effective ways to reach each other! And don't forget to "study up" regarding that player packet! :) In all seriousness, it's simply a good way to learn a bit more about each other as we head into the beginning stages of the season. Hope you agree!

Take care, girls, and let me know if you need anything at all!

Upcoming Weekly Schedule

Hey, girls!

I hope you're having a great weekend?!

Please see below regarding some soccer news/notes/updates:

**Monday…practice in the HS gym from 5 to 7 PM.

**Tuesday…practice 5-7 PM.

**Wednesday…practice 3-5 PM…parent meeting directly after practice (more details to come)

**Thursday…practice 5-7 PM.

**Friday…practice 5-7 PM.

Note: Keep in mind our current "team theme"--EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION! We can all strive to get better in this department on a daily basis, yes??

Miscellaneous: Be reminded that you and a parent should read and sign the attendance policy page you received in my classroom…both sides…by tomorrow!

See you all soon!

Welcome to JV Girls Soccer 2014!

Girls,

I'm really looking forward to working with all of you this season! Let's get this thing off to a great, positive start. Please at ANY point let me know if/how I can help you all with anything and everything!

Take care!