The Lee Family: Olivia's First Soccer Game

Olivia had her first soccer game with her new team, the Rockets, on Saturday at 9am. When we signed Olivia up for soccer this season, we requested that she be transferred to a new team after Coach Ryan decided not to coach the Pinkalicious team. Olivia did well on that team and enjoyed it, but there were two girls on the team whose parents would bribe their girls into scoring a number of goals each game for ice cream. Because of this, those girls would often strip the ball from Olivia as she was headed to the goal so they could score or they would fight their team mates for the ball mid-field. Olivia noticed this behavior and was really upset by it by the end of the season. Likewise, except for one set of parents, I never really felt like I had a connection with anyone on the team. Coach Ryan is such a sweet man audit seemed like a perfect opportunity to switch teams when he decided to coach softball instead.

Olivia was placed on the Rockets soccer team and she went to her first practice two weeks before their first game to meet Coach Matt and the five other girls on the team. She was very reluctant to go to her first practice and meet the new girls and didn't want to go at all. CK actually took her to practice and we all ate a quick dinner before they headed off to the 6pm-7pm practice. Sofia disappeared and returned to the dinner table a few minutes later with the sweetest card she made for Olivia. It read: "Olivia, You will score so many goals, the coaches won't no wat to think. You are the best sister ever. You can do it!! And remember, spread your wings, take up the challenge, be strong, and always, most important, believe in yourself or no one else will. Your loving sister, Sofia" Of course, Sofia explained that she got her inspiration from dragons. It was so sweet and thoughtful and it really helped Olivia to have a good attitude for her practice.

It was really a perfect day for soccer and five of the six players showed up so they each had a lot of great playing time. The game got started and Olivia actually took the ball and scored within the first five minutes. She's so cute to watch and very good at going after the soccer ball. Oftentimes she gives the soccer ball a good kick or two but then doesn't continue with it down the field when she really can and should. But, she always has such a great smile on her face and really enjoys playing. Coach Matt is fantastic with the girls and is very quiet and calm with the girls and always giving them excellent advice on strategy and where they should be standing. He also really knows how to play soccer and the girls are really lucky to have him as their coach. Olivia ended up scoring four goals and the coach's daughter, Lucy, scored a few as did one of the other girls. There was one girl on the other team who was really very good and would take the ball and score, but the Rockets would have won if we'd kept score. After the game, the girls gave each other high fives and then got a capri sun and a granola bar. It was so fun and the girls were really good and had fun. After the game, we walked over to field 12 where we met up with Olivia's best friend, Hannah, and another friend from Noah's Ark, Collins. Collins and Hannah are on the same team, the Unicorns, but they are both a year older so they are playing in the U7 league.

After the game ended, Olivia took off her cleats, socks and shin guards and we headed home to change. Such a fun morning and I'm excited for a great soccer season ahead of us!

Sofia's incredibly thoughtful and sweet note for her sister