Shady Travels: Live, Explore, Learn: You Should Play for the Matildas!

Moore Park Soccer Fields

The Matildas is the name of Australia’s women’s soccer team and today I scored a goal like I was on the national team.

I have been playing with Maccabi FC women’s team since April and it’s been only in the last few weeks that I actually feel confident about my style of play. Before playing for this team, I played co-ed intramural soccer at Fordham and before that I played club soccer for Lufkin FC and varsity for Lufkin High School. Traditionally, I play right defense. Back in high school I was fast and had strong kick. I could chase down the sprinting forwards and send the ball to our midfielders and forwards. So when I scored, it was pretty shocking. The last time I scored a goal was when I was a senior and we played our rivals the Nacogdoches Dragons. We were tied with our rivals, who interestingly included some of my city club team players including their sweeper and goalie. I somehow managed to get myself up the right side of the field where the ball landed at my feet and I shot with my left foot right past my club teammate! Even though I cut the tie-breaker, what was most exciting for me was that I scored at all! It was an unforgettable highlight of my high school career.

This past weekend, we played some makeup games due to bad weather. In our league, we play each team twice. On this particular weekend, we were playing the same team on Saturday and Sunday because we had never played them before due to rain-outs.

Our team was a hodgepodge of players. Throughout our season, we’ve had girls go on holiday and experience injuries that would see them out for the rest of the season. From our original twelve, we had seven. So for each weekend, our team manager scrounged up players from as low as the U-16s, U-18s and Over 35s! Today, we had 4 U-18s and one Over 35. The biggest blow was that our leading scorer had the start of an upper respiratory infection. She sucked it up and played goalie for us.

Waverley Old Boys FC was the team to beat. They stood in third place and we were somewhere below middle in the standings. If we could beat this team, then maybe we would have a chance to make it in the top 4 for playoffs. They came out strong. They kicked far and won most headers. Their strategy was to hold their back line high right at the circle to get our forwards offsides when we had the ball. We learned their game and did the same. In the end we won 4-2 with better passing than I’ve seen the entire season. As for me, my goal was to better my corner kicks. Using my skill to kick strong and accurate, I’ve become the designated corners taker. The other thing I’ve been trying to improve is my position as center midfield. Coming off playing right defense since I was 12, it has been a tough transition. I’m not as fast as I used to be, but I still have the skills I learned from playing all-year-round and being coached by Mike Fray, a 'crazy Jamaican' who loves his step-over’s. The team we played weren’t the fastest, so I was able to bust out some of those moves. However, the highlight for me was scoring one of the four goals. Our left winger was unfairly tackled in their box and we were awarded a penalty kick. No one else wanted to take it and I so I decided sure why not? The ball was placed 10 yards in front of their tall keeper and I studied her. She stood in the center and looked right at me. I looked back at the ref and looked back at her. He blew his whistle and I saw her move to my right. My initial plan was to kick in the bottom right corner, but I quickly changed my mind and kicked low and swiftly to the bottom left corner because I knew there was no way she was going to get there. It felt like shooting practice, but it was real. I finally scored!

On Sunday, we faced the same team again. This time, we played at their home field and we had no coach. Coming off a high from yesterday’s win, we felt good about playing them again. After warming up, we were ready to take the field. Our team manager raced to us with her mobile in hand. She had been calling the U-18s coach to bring player cards because the other team would not stand to play us if we didn’t have our cards – Eastern Suburbs Football Association rules. We all had our cards, except our two U-18 players. Waverley FC was firm. They gave us an ultimatum – we either play with 9 until the cards showed up 30 minutes later or we forfeit. We decided this was no team to forfeit to, so we took to the field with 9 players leaving me playing sweeper, center midfield, right and left wing and at times forward. Within the first 30 minutes we scored 4 goals and of the four, I scored again! This time it wasn’t any freebie PK.

They had kicked the ball out and we had the corner. Taking my corner specialist position, I ran for the ball and placed it at the top of the left corner. I looked at my players all huddled within the goal box and decided to place the ball there. My leg swooped down and I looked up at the ball not only sailing in the air, but curving in towards the goal. The keeper called for the ball and she hesitated. The ball grazed her fingers and hit the back of the net. I saw this all happen, but I didn’t believe it until I heard the ball cascade the net and saw the net ruffle. My eyes widened and my arms went up with tight fists like I had won the lottery. This was the single most spectacular moment of my soccer career.

My teammates ran to me with huge grins and wide eyes. I received congratulatory whoops from the sidelines and huge high fives as I jogged back to the center of the field. My teammate even said, “You should play for the Matildas!” and "Goal of the season!"

Completely elated, I played the best game I’d ever played this season. I was supportive, commanded some plays and even shot at the goal a few times. After four goals, the two U-18s were allowed to join us and we went on to win 8-1, our best record yet. This was the last game of regular season and we made it count. Hopefully with this win, we will be in the top 4 for playoffs.

If you had asked me a month ago, I would have said I’d be happy for the season to be over because I wasn't confident about my skills. Playing each weekend, sometimes twice a weekend, has made me hone my skills, improving my level of play and increasing my love for the game and my team.

Now I'll have to do something like a bicycle kick to outdo my 'Bend it like Beckham' moment. Apparently, David Beckham scored a goal from a corner today. Coincidence?