Beth Zubrzycki Senior / Defender So. St. Paul, MN	It’s amazing to me to look back at all of the years gone by in my soccer career. We started as youngsters playing a game — who knew that it would take us on a journey, which would last for 16 years, and quite possibly the rest of our lives?! At ages six and seven, we started playing this game because it was fun. As we continued getting older, and playing more soccer, we realized that it’s not entirely about fun anymore. I can honestly say that I love this game. After high school, I came to Saint Mary’s to get a college degree, and maybe play some hockey. I lived in Ed’s Hall and it was killing me to sit in my dorm on a Saturday afternoon and hear the whistles and the shouting outside my window. It was then that I realized I couldn’t stay away. If they weren’t going to let me play, then my only other option was to move into Skemp, where I couldn’t see the soccer field from my window, and where the whistles and shouts that haunted me would be muted. I talked to Coach Blank and he let me come out and play with the team. At that point I realized how much I loved this game. I want to take this opportunity to thank my mom and dad for everything they have done for me in the past 22 years. Paul Z and Polly Z are quite possibly the best parents that anyone could ask for. My dad was the coach of the South St. Paul Club team for many years. My favorite characteristic of my Dad as a coach was that he would make sure that we played our sport for the right reasons. He always emphasized that we needed to have fun. Polly Z is the most bad-ass soccer mom on the planet. We always had a minivan to haul our whole team around the metro area. She would brave all of the elements, cook spaghetti dinners for the whole team, and every year when we were little she made the whole team matching team color scrunchees for our hair. Mom, you have been so great, showing your support by coming to my games and being my No. 2 fan. Unfortunately, my No. 1 fan was not able to watch me finish out my career here at saint Mary’s. However, I hear the seats are much better up in heaven. My grandpa Vern was my mom’s sidekick. Every weekend, Mom, Dad and Grandpa would pile into the minivan and make the drive to Winona, or wherever the game field was, to watch me play. He was my biggest fan — even though he hated soccer. If it weren’t for my two brothers beating me up all of the time, I wouldn’t be the tough player that I am today. I started playing soccer because Adam and Jon did. Much of my youth was spent doing the things that the boys did. We were trouble! What a ride. Thanks for kicking the crap out of me, guys. I love you two! Each team that I have been on throughout my career has shaped me into the player and person that I am today. The Saint Mary’s team has certainly been a special one. I am really going to miss the camaraderie that our team possessed. It was nice to know that my teammates always had my back on and off the field. Thank you, Coach Blank, for giving me the opportunity to play and be a part of the team freshman year. If it wasn’t for that, I may have never played soccer at Saint Mary’s. Also, thank you for keeping me employed through various odd jobs around the locker room. That extra money kicked in in the clutch. Jeff, your enthusiasm for the game is evident every day in practice — when you can’t wait to sport whatever different cleats you have, or your latest Manchester United apparel and tear around the field with the team. You are a great coach and a great guy. I will take you on any day, and most likely school you. See ya in England! Dave, you and I share a love for this game. Thank you for bringing your ideas and enthusiasm to practice and games everyday. Aston Villa is best. This year’s freshmen class is a talented group of girls. You all have so much potential. I wish you the best of luck in your upcoming collegiate years. Believe it or not, it goes by so quickly. Take advantage of every day you are here, because before you know it, you will be writing your own Senior Salute. When I think of our sophomore class, I crack a smile right away. I know I can always walk into my neighbor’s village and find the trio (KJ, Mandy, Courtney) sitting on their couch all dressed up as if they are going somewhere. Suds, hey buddy. You are the wingman. Many of the teams in the conference had to alter their playing style to cope with us. Together, you and I are unstoppable on the left side of the field. You guys have a great class — stick together, because you add so much to this team. Our junior class is quite small, but they hold a big place with the team. Kim, you are such a bitch and I love it! Not many people can pull off some of the things that come out of your mouth and not get a beating for it. Stef, I can always count on you to freak out about something or get nailed with a ball in the face and we’ll just leave you alone and later you laugh about it with us. Erica, who knew that two enemies from opposite sides of the tracks could ever become friends? It’s tough to look past the fact that you played for “Smiley” High School, but slowly I am getting over it. Finally, Mooney, I am so glad you came back to Saint Mary’s to give us another dose! You are such a spaz, I love it. Mooney is our little screaming leprechaun on crack! Our senior class is the best class that has come through this soccer program, hands down. We are a group of talented, creative, and classy girls. We always dominate the senior roast and this year we won,t be outdone. I can always count on a beached whale, or a flamingo fight from Goody, find Laurel flirting with inanimate objects, while Heidi is off in la-la land admiring the sunshine. I am likely to see Emily doing her biology homework 24/7. Dianna is usually trying to take the ball away from me, and when she can’t, she just whacks me right to the ground with one arm and then takes the ball. When I am looking for Anji, I follow the hair product odor and I find her in front of a mirror doing her hair and sputtering out sentence fragments about Italy. Finally, I want to thank the rest of my friends here at Saint Mary’s. Thank you to the women’s hockey team for supporting my soccer team and me. My roommates and porchies are also very supportive of me. Thank you NV221-222 for keeping the noise down on the weekends. Thanks for biting your tongue when I infest the whole two villages with soccer players. Toddly McToddalot and TJ are wonderful superfans. I know I can always count on you two to be at my games wearing some ridiculous outfit or keeping an eye on the trike. Kendall Forsberg and Diane Bon Jovi = the best roommates ever! We dominate duct tape, biggest Guster fans in Winona County, always a Wayne’s World Quote for every situation. Di, you hate soccer, however, you became a soccer fan for me! I know I can always count on you to do stupid stuff or just sit and be sweet with me. Kendall, you have been a great friend to me for the past four years. You and I go together like peas and carrots! I love you, dude. Thank you for the memories. On that note, I think I am going to roll out. Circle, Circle, DOT, DOT, DOT.