Andy Bids Farewell

For the past 17 years, I have played each soccer game with the mentality that I will be having another one in less than a week. I cannot even begin to understand that that is not the case today. Soccer has been a big part of my life and it is hard to see it come to an end. First and most importantly, I would like to thank my parents. Mom and Dad you were there since day one, signing me up for Rec Soccer in Coral Springs, Florida when I was 4 and the memories that occurred since then. The one that immediately comes to mind is when I scored my first goal and I ran off the field to tell Dad, come to find out 17 years later that he has it all on camera. Or Mom, making sure that I was always well fed before a game and always on time. Mom and Dad, thank you so much for having so much faith in my abilities. You guys believed in me when I thought no one else did. Every time I was nervous before tryouts or before a big game you two were there, instilling your confidence in me and making sure that I believed in myself. Most of all, I am happy to know that your son made you proud, whether it was on or off the soccer field. Gina, you have been the most supporting sister a brother could ask for. I know you were busy with hockey and soccer, but anytime that there wasn’t a conflict you were there rain or shine supporting me and letting me know you care. It meant so much to me that you flew into Chicago from New York and drove up to Minnesota with Mom and Dad just to surprise me at St. Thomas. It was the things like that which make you such a caring and irreplaceable person. I am so happy to have you as a sister and I know you will have a great four years playing college hockey, in which I will be in attendance as much as I can. Aunt Tracey, Uncle Mike, Maxwell, Carter, and Zachary. Thank you for all of the times you made the trip down to Winona to watch my games and all of the games we had in the cities in which you were always in attendance for. It meant so much to me how you guys as well as all of my grandparents put my soccer games at the top of their lists. You were all very supportive of my team and I and I couldn’t ask for more from my relatives. Jaimie, you have been such a terrific part of my life, truthfully I cannot even imagine my life without you being a part of it. You are not only my supportive girlfriend and my other half, but you are a caring and outgoing friend. I am so appreciative of you and your amazing qualities that not a day goes by where I am not grateful for having you. You have made it to as many games as you were able to and I am thankful for all of your support. As you were always there supporting me, I will always be there for you in whatever you need. Matt, what can I say? You were basically my training partner for the past three years. Your perseverant work ethic and athleticism pushed me harder and harder everyday to make me a better player today. We compromised your football training program and my soccer one to prepare us both at the same time. All of those countless hours working out finally paid off and I am grateful I had someone to push me every summer. Luzzi and Benny, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the both of you for letting me be a part of such a wonderful family that is also known as the Saint Mary’s University men’s soccer team. Coming in four years ago as a walk on, I didn’t know what to expect. And I would like to let the both of you know how grateful I am for getting the chance to continue playing soccer in college. Thank you both for being great teachers, coaches, and also friends. BoBo and Ennessy, Boland it is strange to think that I will be playing my last game on the same team as you soon. I have been playing soccer on your team for the past eight years and let me tell you there has never been a dull moment. Everywhere from “antiquing” Reddish in Gilmore to reminiscing about Carmel Soccer, it was all a blast. I think it all started here at Saint Mary’s with Mick waving us around third base at the door of Brothers freshman year. Ennessy, you were at every home game we had and Boland and I appreciate all of your support and dedication to us and the team. You have been a great friend to me and I appreciate all that you have done. Reddish and Bob, you both have been truly amazing to me. If there are two people that I met at Saint Mary’s that I can depend on 100% you are them. I could always talk to the both of you about anything and it meant the world to me. I was very grateful that I had the both of you as teammates as well as friends. We had a lot of good times during practices playing 5v2 with you Bob and the moves you seemed to always pull off. And I always was grateful when I wasn’t in the wall when Reddish was taking free kicks. Thanks again to the both of you and I appreciate all you both have done for me. Kunick and Matyas, first off I would like to say that you two are the most respectable people that I have ever met from Wisconsin. Just kidding, I had to slip one more in. It has been truly an honor being a part of the same team as you two. I strongly feel that I gained two good friends in the last four years throughout many of the struggles we may have had, the beep test and interval runs to name a few. You two are both very good people and I am proud to say that we were a part of the same program, which is so special to us. To the rest of the team, it has been another great year with you guys and however we may finish in the end, I wouldn’t change a thing. You guys always played hard and understood how important this game is to us all. I appreciate all of the hard work and I wish you all the best of luck in years to come.