Jennifer Bids Farewell

Saint Mary’s soccer has been the highlight of the last three years for me. I seriously don’t know what I will do with that time and energy when it’s all over. I made a hard decision to transfer here after my freshman year. Not many people understood why I left a free education in a major I loved, and a Division II nationally ranked team to come to Saint Mary’s, which doesn’t have my preferred major, and play for a struggling program. But after reading my salute, anyone who knows me and the success I’ve had here will understand. Right now I have a lot of deserving people to thank for it all. Mom & Dad — I can’t thank you enough for your time, energy, money, miles, and kind words of support. Through the countless soccer seasons you came to my games, whether it was the NCAA tournament game in Michigan, a game hours away we knew I wouldn’t step on the field for, or a game we could bet I would make tons of saves. Just having you guys at games means the world to me. Mom, thanks for never making my decisions for me when I asked you what I should do and sitting back and trusting me to make the right ones. Dad, thanks for always thinking of me! We are so much alike in the way we understand things and enjoy the same things. You both have the answers to everything. Behind this stoic composure you know so well is a daughter who knows she is spoiled and blessed to have you two as parents — but often doesn’t know the right way or right time to say it. I love you. Coach Guinn — Thanks for convincing me to transfer to Saint Mary’s. Your devotion to soccer and this team is admirable and borderline insane, and I think we appreciate that in each other. Thanks for your dedication to your players and your endless efforts to make sure we are happy and healthy. I know I’m a tough critic and hard to please, whether it’s goalie gloves and jerseys, prospective players, or doing enough shooting at practice. Give Karla and Shaymus an extra hug for me for the overtime you put in away from them for our program. Coach Halberg — Thanks for learning all you could so that I could have a goalie coach, thanks for always listening, and thanks for being the only one who would tell me when I could do something better. To the men’s soccer program — especially Matyas, Schmitty, Vik & Jojo — you guys are the best. Thanks for the good luck wishes before away games and coming to our home games and screaming for us, we loved it. Thanks for the invites to play indoors at your captain practices (and for never hurting me); it was great practice that made me a lot better and gave me more confidence. To the other fans near and far who came to games or followed us online — Grandma & Grandpa, the Glennons, Court, Sudds, Mandy, Beth, Jon, Sam, Pat, Dolan, Dr. Weiner, Joe & Carol, Lear and Erik. Thanks for all your support. Ambjor and Kristen — thanks for your time and tape, and getting my huge ankle through one more season, best tapers in the MIAC, no joke! My TEAMMATES — the easy answer to what made my soccer experience here so special. I couldn’t have asked God for better teammates: genuinely nice people off the field, stubborn and malicious on the field, and, most importantly, loyal friends. I am so demanding of myself as a goalie, just because I wanted to do my part for you all. Thanks for believing in me. As many times as I proved myself, the next game I was still nervous. You all never failed game after to game to be nothing but positive, when I’m stilling dwelling on the goal that went in. Kendra — ROOMIE! I will never forgive myself for making us play in that indoor tournament and as a result, you missing our last season together. You are such a dynamic player, we really missed your presence and intensity, your intelligent play-making … I could go on for ever, but you know all that. Besides soccer, you’ve been a valuable friend. Whether it’s our serious conversation, everyday sarcasm, or loud and craziness, I love us. One question, why can’t everyone just be as cool as us? Errn, SPI buddy! and Duffey — I’ll miss you girls, both always happy and easy-going and up for anything. We’ve had so many good times just sitting around our place or going out, truly never a dull moment with us. DEFENSE — Krmpy, my sweeper! The sole survivor that has stuck it out on the team for four years. Michele and Nadia — I love my outside marking backs. You three have the dirtiest job (who better to do it? I know you love it) on the team and you’re amazing. You guys work your butts off every game just to get yelled at the once or twice your girl gets a shot off and I have to actually do something. I appreciate my defense so much; truly the unsung heroes. Thanks for protecting me, making me look good, and making forwards cry. GOALIES!! Other teams know Saint Mary’s for solid goalkeeping, and I am confident that it will continue to next three years, I look forward to watching you!!! Mess — Only a goalie can appreciate what a goalie goes through, and you were there the last two years to pick me up after the rough games and congratulate me on the good ones. You helped me preserve the “goodness in my soul”. Mariana — Your crazy enthusiasm is invaluable to the team. (You make my day!!). Lisa — I have loved watching you grow as a player these three years, you are an overlooked contributor both offensively and defensively, and Maddie — I miss living across from you and wish I could to spend more time hanging out with you. I’ve enjoyed getting to know both of you, the sweethearts you are. Abbo — It’s been so nice to have someone to talk to who understands Racine, and understands Coach like we do. Baggio, Kaufman, Nina — One of my biggest regrets about this season is not getting to see you guys fulfill your potential as goal-scoring MACHINES! Thanks for staying tough and supportive, next season will be a breakthrough for you three, I am sure of it. Paulson — You are my favorite! I wish I was a Paulson. It was a good feeling having to tell you to stop telling everyone I was awesome. Berg — So consistent and so solid, I want to see you get mean on the field!! O’Keefe — I’m glad you played this year, you’re a great positive teammate. Aubs — You humbly stepped it up these last couple games, and proved you are a smart and reliable defender. Marnocha — I can’t wait to see the impact you will have on this team when you settle in with more confidence and more playing time which you deserve and it’s sure to come. Dana — You too need get mean and shoot more! you’re a great centermid, and will continue to do amazing things for the team. McClure — You can have your name back soon, and I know you’ll represent it well! Keirra — Keep shooting, you’re amazing! Tinger — I remember you cracking me the first week of practice and was happy to take it (I got the ball of course), keep that intensity, I know you’ll continue scoring goals no problem. I won’t be able to fully appreciate my experiences here probably for several months or years. The last thing I’d like to be doing right now is saying good bye to this soccer program. It was a bittersweet, but successful season. My career at Saint Mary’s is not going to end picture- perfect, but I know the unsettlement we are feeling will make the team better next year, and I’m happy with that. I can already nostalgically think back on the big games we’ve won and times we’ve shared, yet I am anxious to share in the coming success of the program even if it has to be from a fan’s perspective. I don’t know where I’ll be for graduate school next year, but you girls know I’ll be obsessively following the team online and at whatever games I can possibly make it to. I can’t wait to watch you guys click together as a team on the field and shut teams down next year, win the playoffs and make the tournament. I might miss you girls more than I’ll miss the soccer, and that’s HUGE. I love you all very much! It’s frustrating not knowing if this is the end of my competitive soccer career, but it’s even worse that I do know I’ll never have better teammates and friends.