Triangle, NC

Keagan and I are spending the weekend in North Carolina for a soccer showcase. I skipped work and let Keagan skip a day of school which means this is a big deal. Keagan has spent two days emailing coaches his profile and has been hoping for a scout or coach to come watch him play this weekend. 

I love this area. I have dreaded the drive through the mountains for months anticipating a long and slow drive, but now that I’m out of the mountains and I’m in the triangle, I totally see the appeal of going to school in North Carolina. Our hotel is in Carrboro, our fields are in Cary or Raleigh, and we have driven every inch of both college campuses in Chapel Hill and Durham. 

Duke is gorgeous - absolutely gorgeous -  but because we lost, Keagan was in no mood for pictures this afternoon. I got the backside of the chapel instead. 

We beat the Charleston NPL team on Friday 3-0. We lost to the Charlotte ECNL team 1-3 on Saturday. 

On Sunday we play a team from Florida. (Update: We won 1-0.) Win, lose, or draw I’m loving my time with Keagan. 

December takes us to Indy. I can’t wait!

U19 Division 1 State Champions

Today was Evan’s last dance with the state soccer tournament. It’s bittersweet to say goodbye to something that has consumed so many days in the last fourteen years. 

But we are so excited to celebrate his third state championship! We won this afternoon with a score of 6-0. The defense maintained a strong line and no goals were scored in three games. 

Tomorrow we are back on the pitch for a friendly, and in January we are headed with the team to a tournament in Florida. There are still so many unknowns with the spring and the pandemic, but I’m hoping we will transition from travel to school ball and back to travel in June with relative ease.

Senior Pictures

Today was senior picture day! We took advantage of the day off and had pictures taken with the beautiful fall leaves as a back drop. Evan was happy to oblige the countless changes in clothes, the poses, and the props for about an hour. Then he had had enough. 

Here are a few taken with my phone. 

State Semi-Finals

Today’s TSC semi-final game started with a formal team presentation

and prayer which is always led by the team captain - my baby boy.

We quickly got on top of the scoreboard with a PK shot by Keagan. I said a quick prayer of my own when Keagan motioned he had the kick. It went something like, “Sweet Mother of Jesus, I can’t watch.”

https://youtu.be/KyCf-lD8W2w

You can hear me AND Evan cheer when this went in.

We were officially beating the #1 team in the state for about 25 minutes, and then we weren’t any more. We were eliminated after a final score of 1-4.

Evan’s team dominated their semi-final game. 

The center backs and goalies have given up no goals this tournament after a final score today of 4-0.

Evan and teammates return next Saturday for the championship. I cannot wait to see these boys bring it home.

State Quarter Finals

Today was the first day of the long awaited state tournament. My parents made the trip fully realizing this might be the last time they get to see Evan play soccer. 

Last year Keagan’s team was the eighth seed and had a heartbreaking loss after almost upsetting the top team in the state. It was a game of pure heart and a game that we have anxiously awaited all season so we can have a re-do. This year our team went in as the fourth seed and played an inner club team in the quarter finals round.

Keagan had an amazing bicycle kick / save / a move unnamed in the second half that cleared a ball just inches from the goal line. It was an amazing save! 

https://youtu.be/P1TCypdClhM

You can’t hear me yell, “That’s my baby!” in the video, but I promise I did - a total of three times - just in case anyone didn’t know that was my kid. We won 2-0 and advance to tomorrow’s semi-final game. We are getting that re-do we have wanted for more than a year. 

Last year Evan’s team didn’t even make it to state. It was a less than stellar season. It was a season full of regrets! This year his team made it to state, and they went in the state tourney as the second seed. They won today’s game 8-0 and progress to tomorrow’s semifinal game. (Unfortunately his game was a night game so I have no good pics.)

This is the most exciting time of the year for me! I’m hoping for two big wins again today! Let’s Go TSC 04 Nashville and 02 NUSA Maroon!

First Time Voter

What a wonderful presidential election to be apart of this year! People are reporting to the polls in historical numbers. More people are involved in politics this year than in any recent election, and Evan got to cast his first vote. He was in line at 7:30 with a mug of coffee and ready to make his voice heard. 

Even at an early hour, the line was already around the building. The wait was, at that time, about an hour long. He texted me, “I now understand why people elect to early vote.” 

I asked him if anyone rang the bell when he checked in, and he said they were hootin’ and hollerin’ for him instead. It all brought a tear to my eye. How lucky we are to live in this great country that celebrates young, first-time voters!

He’s been glued to the tv since 6:00 watching the votes come in. This is almost as great as draft day - almost!

Edit: he’s now wishing a losing season for Georgia football and a hurricane to leave mass destruction in blue counties. He’s slightly unhappy with today’s announcement that Biden and Harris have won. Meanwhile, I am thrilled. 

Happy 18th Birthday

Today this guy is 18! We celebrated Sunday night with tacos, ice cream cake, and gifts because on Monday nights we have this thing called soccer. 

Makinley came over to help us celebrate and watch football. She is the absolute best! She just shakes her head as Evan rambles about draft selections, she ignores his shouts at the tv, and laughs when he wears his patriotic socks and Trump shirt almost every day. 

Evan is passionate about sports, politics, and debating with you about sports and politics. He is an excellent critical thinker and can defend any argument he makes. He is extremely articulate and has the absolute best oneliners. He loves ice cream, apples, and Oreos. He says he doesn’t care about good grades, but I’ve seen him study all hours of the night. He forgets his shoes, loses his keys, or fails to remember due dates almost daily. He hates to shave, wears the same outfits almost daily, and couldn’t care less about what anyone says about him. He has a strong moral compass and is frustrated with people who don’t share his same beliefs. 

Happy birthday, Evan! You have such a bright future ahead of you. Change the world; make it a better place!