The View From the Goal and the View From the Field
By Jorde Kussmann and Kate Deines

Okay, where should we start?  Jorde and I are both 15 years old, and both share a huge passion for soccer.  Just saying that we love the sport would definitely be an understatement.  If you ever need to find Jorde or I, we suggest you go to the nearest soccer field, because we will probably be there with a ball at our feet.  What can we say?  We can’t ever get enough! 

You might be wondering why Jorde and I are writing this article together.  First of all, we are travel buddies, soccer pals, and great friends off the field. Soccer has brought us together and has made us like sisters.  It’s weird for both of us when we go a week without seeing one another.  It is also hard to imagine that we’ve only known each other for about three years now, but really it’s the truth.  After traveling to Oregon, Canada, Idaho, California, Massachusetts, and Florida for the Olympic Development Program together, it seems like we have known each other forever.

We also happen to be writing this on an airplane, traveling to Texas preparing to defend a National Championship with our Washington State ODP Team.  Ironically enough, Jorde and I happened to get seats right next to one another.  But that’s a different story…

Recently Jorde and I just got back from attending the U16 Women’s National Team Training Camp in Carson California.  We were given then opportunity to play the U17 Women’s German National Team.  For those of you who don’t know, they are reining World Champions. 

View from the Goal
Jorde Kussmann

On the morning before our game we didn’t do any training. We all just “relaxed” (if you can actually call it relaxing) in our rooms. For me, there are not many things I can do to prepare myself for a huge game like the one we played against Germany that day, except to make sure my body is rested and ready to go.

When we got to the locker room, all our jerseys were hung up with our numbers visible, and our shorts and socks were set out neatly and folded perfectly on our chairs. The sense of pride was overwhelming. The feeling of where you are and who your playing for, doesn’t really hit you until you put that jersey on, knowing that the full Women’s National Team wore the jersey you were wearing. I was wearing Brianna Scurry’s jersey, the number one goalkeeper in the nation.

As we waited for the coaches to get ready for our pre-game meeting, we talked amongst ourselves. To help forget our nerves, we juggled and passed the ball around the locker room. But as soon as the coaches entered the room, everyone was focused and attentive (one thing that the coach always demanded of us). After we went over offensive and defensive corners and free kicks, Sue, the head coach, got us pumped up for the game with an inspirational speech. I don’t know what was going on in Kate’s head, but I know for me, surprisingly, I didn’t feel very nervous. I was excited to go kick some “Germ” (as we referred to them) bottom.

First we warmed up as a team, then the goalkeepers and I broke away and did our own warm up.  After I did a “quick feet” drill and hit the ground a couple times, the forwards shot on me and then I was ready to go.

To make it as official as possible, we did a walk out with both teams and the refs. We exchanged tokens from our countries and shook hands. After that, the starters got together on the field, put our arms around each other and shared some inspirational speeches and comments, finally we shouted our cheer (we figured the national team cheer was fitting) and headed to our positions. At that point, I was focused on nothing off the field. As a goalkeeper, most people think their only job is to keep the ball out of the net, however, it really is so much more then that. I think communication is the most important aspect of a goalkeeper’s job. If your defense isn’t organized well, there is no chance of keeping the ball out of the net. Even though we lost the game, I have no regrets; I played in an international game against an older German National Team. What more could I ask for?

 View from the Field
Kate Deines

Personally, I was extremely excited to play the “Germs”, a secret name our U.S. team had given the large, strong, and tough German girls.  So excited, that I probably had butterflies in my stomach all week leading up to the big match.  But, I can imagine that I was just one out of another 24 girls on our team who felt this way.  In fact, I think our coaches would be the first to admit they shared the same nervous feeling.

When I woke up that morning, I remember smiling because the moment I had been waiting for was soon to come.  The moment where I would be given a chance to represent my country.  With this thought in my mind, it was definitely hard to eat breakfast and or the pre game meal.  Instead, I was thinking about taking my first step onto the green field at the Home Depot Center, thinking about hearing the referee’s whistle blow indicating “game time”, and most of all thinking about the red, white, and blue uniforms dominating on the soccer field.

All of that only became more realistic, when our head coach gave her motivational speech in the locker room.  She made us all realize that this game was not pressure, it was opportunity for us all to accomplish something great.  Then she announced the starting lineup, and Jorde and I found out that we were both starting.  So when the time finally came to play, everyone’s emotions were let lose.  All eleven girls out on the field were determined to put up a tremendous fight against Germany.  To be honest it was a very even game, each team getting their chances, however each team failed to put the ball in the back of the net.  That is, until one German girl took a shot outside of the 18-yard box and scored midway through the second half.  This did not faze me or any of my teammates, but only increased our will to win.  The remainder of the game, the German’s were on their heels in their defensive end.  We had corners, free kicks, many shots, and crosses but the ball ceased to go in the goal.  Unfortunately, we did end up losing 1-0 that day to Germany, but the outcome was different two days later when we faced them again.  This time we were victorious beating Germany 3-1!
 
Now both of us only hope that we have more opportunities as great as this one to come in the future….......

WPS SOCCER would like to thank both girls for sharing their experience. To be 15 and to play for your country, must be an amazing feeling and you both should be proud.