Ending The Quest.

They say all good things come to an end. As much as I don’t want to believe that saying as true, it was accurate when it came to our World Cup quest.

This post will have a little about soccer and a lot about the rest of the fun, crazy, and beyond random happenings we ran into in our last few days in The Peg.

I will start by saying this was a trip I will never forget as long as I live. Even though there wasn’t much to do in Winnipeg by the end of our stay, we still had a great time. We watched seven matches with some of the best players in the world just feet in front of us on the pitch leaving their all, contemplated the coaching decisions of some of the highest ranked and paid coaches in the game of football, and made new friends from all over the world.

One of my favorite memories from our trip would be the day we got to watch New Zealand play. The night before the game Jessie and I made signs for Hannah Wilkinson and Erin Nayler who play for the Lady Ferns. Hannah is an outside mid who plays at the University of Tennessee and Erin is the goalkeeper for NZL. Flashback to our St. Louis trip a few months ago, we got to watch our very own USWNT play against the New Zealand national team, which is how we knew we wanted to cheer them on. After watching Erin play just one game, I knew she was a keeper to look out for at the cup. Her technical ability to read the game is almost perfect compared to most other goalkeepers. Jessie actually got to meet Hannah a year ago when UT played at WKU as well as when we were in St. Louis, so we were really excited for this match to see two of our favorite players on the field.

This game was a make or break deal for the Lady Ferns. A tie or a loss would end their World Cup shot. That is where this tournament is really unfortunate. Because of the points and grouping system, they played some of the toughest competition to draw in the group stage. They had previously tied the Canadian national team who are ranked high enough to win it all. However, they ended with a 2-2 tie, a heartbreaker. A team that can hang and almost beat a team who could win it all, sent home because of points when you have teams getting beat 5-0 who get to continue into the sweet 16 knockout stage.

As we made the posters we tweeted Erin and Hannah a picture of them in hopes that they would see them at the game. A few minutes later we were invited to sit with the NZL fans by Erin’s boyfriend! We got really excited as he started sending me pictures on twitter of their posters to look for and told us where they would be sitting. Before the game started the next day we went over to their fan section and met the team’s families, discuss our trip to Canada, hear about their experiences so far, and snap some pictures with them. During warm ups Erin and Hannah both spotted me and Jess in the stands, so we were really hoping at that point we would get to talk to them after the game. Thanks to Erin’s boyfriend and family, plus my loud mouth screaming their names, Hannah told us to come up into the stands behind their bench to talk and get pictures. As we ran, and jumped, half way around the stadium and over rows of chairs, we finally made it over to their side. Jessie finally got to talk to Hannah again and I got to meet her, then Erin came over and gave me her keeper gloves, we got some pictures together, she signed my sign, and we just got to talk for a minute. I found out that she also really looked up to Hope Solo growing up and she is one of her biggest influences when it comes to the game. Hannah invited us to come back to their hotel at the Delta so she could give Jessie her game jersey, so after we said goodbye to our new friends we did just that. The smile on Jessie’s face when Hannah handed her that number 17 signed kit was priceless!

The excitement didn’t stop there though, during the NZL game there was fan who jumped the fence and ran onto the pitch. He did a flip in the middle of the field and ran around until security caught him. Absolutely hilarious. When they finally got him tackled (after he tackled one of their own) they drug him into the tunnel and handcuffed him, which we got to watch happen right in front of us! The players were at a complete standstill, hands in the air like “Is this really happening?” They didn’t show all of that happening on TV so I’m glad we were there to witness it.

But it still doesn’t stop there! Also during that game the China coach got thrown out for being out of his coaching box, tried to grab the ball during stoppage time away from the NZL defender when she went to do a throw in. As he got thrown out he walked back the NZL head coach, tried to shake his hand, and of course he wasn’t having it. That did however make it onto Sports Center!

World Cup Outtakes

As I mentioned in a previous post, the jumbotron was having a few problems with spelling the players names out.. Whitney Engen is definitely not Engine General. At another game it ended up saying “Ethiopia yall, Ethiopia I cant.” So I made that the joke of that game, Ethiopia I cant.

I think we went to every pet store in Winnipeg. When there is nothing to do, you go check out the animals and play with them at Petsmart, Pet Traders, and Pet Value.

We found a sports bar that we ate at a few times called Wild Wing. The food was delicious, a great price, and the manager there used to be the manager at The Cav, so we immediately bonded.

When getting ready one morning for a game I was using my hairdryer and tripped the breaker, for the entire upstairs of the Cav.

We met Jerramy Stevens, Hope Solo’s husband. He used to play in the NFL and still signs his name with #86 when you ask him for his autograph.

Jessie met Jrue Holiday, Lauren Holiday’s husband. He plays in the NBA and tried to sign Jessie’s book with the cap still on the sharpie.

We learned that Portage Ave. where we had been spending a lot of our time is where the druggies hang out.

During the Germany game there was a fan who knew nothing about soccer but yelled the ENTIRE time. I was so annoyed. NUMBER SEVEN!! NUMBER FOURTEEN!! The ENTIRE 90 minutes.

Someone else made Erin Nayler a poster that said “I would Nayler” and her boyfriend responded with “Dreams are free buddy, dreams are free!” Classic.

During the China game we were sitting beside their cheering section. They literally had T-Shirts made. All red and said “China Winnipeg Cheering Team” – their leader was crazy and stood the entire time yelling and didn’t even watch the game.

Walmart closes at 6 PM on Sundays.

Jessie kept smelling our posters because we had scented markers, and almost told Hannah to smell them. I don’t think she would have got a kit if she would have told her that.

I held a snake at Petland.

The NZL coach would not participate in the handshake for peace.

There was no fan HQ like they have in Vancouver. Super mad about it.

Thailand’s team looked like a bunch of little Kling’s running around everywhere. SO TINY.

I would pay to see Thailand’s coach vs. Boone Dog in a match up.

We met people from: Memphis, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, New Zealand, Texas, Wisconsin, and probably more we just didn’t write it down.

And of course, one more shout out to Jenny Taft for reading my blog, waving first and talking to me again at the second game. She’s such a sweetheart. Maybe we will cross paths again one day. I told her to tell Hope I said hi. J

And finally, while headed home we pulled up the next USWNT game on Jessie’s phone seconds before Abby scored. Rampone, Boxxy, and Abby were all on the pitch at the same time. These women are legends. Playing in the FOURTH World Cup, old enough to be some of our players moms, mothers themselves, Boxxy fighting Lupus, and Abby playing her first 90 minute matches in months.

I will write a summary post to sum up our adventure, but these past few days have been wonderful. Thank you Winnipeg for the experience, we wish it didn’t have to end.

Battle of Winnipeg

What a match. A 0-0 draw, but a quality fight between the two squads; USWNT took on Sweden.

It felt like a home match as the American Outlaws and the rest of the USA supporters packed the stadium with red, white, and blue. The sun shining, clear skies, a nice breeze keeping the American flags waving the entire 90 minutes. The sellout crowd of 32,716 filled Winnipeg Stadium with chants of USA and the wave traveling through the three tiers if seating.

The biggest game highlight was Meghan Klingenberg’s heading clearance she made that saved the day for the U.S. Kling, the shortest player on the team at only 5’2 jumped to clear the ball off the goal line in the 77^th minute. Sweden’s Segar who sent in the powerful volley was on Kling’s team when she played overseas a few years ago. This was Sweden’s only shot during the match, but Kling’s save earned herself a spot on Sports Center’s Top 10 list.

The USWNT and Sweden are both tope five ranked teams in the world, so this match was set up to be a tough battle. This year the U.S. is known for their deep roster. The 23 players we have at World Cup are just that, World Class players. The depth of our bench is almost incomparable to any other team. The availability we have to fill positions could be the key to winning the Cup.

After stoppage time, the USWNT came out on top of the group with four points after receiving one for the tie. Hope Solo logged her 85^th shutout match, which was also the USWNT’s first shutout match since July 2, 2011 when the USWNT beat Columbia in group play, with Solo in the net. Hope also recoded her 172^nd cap with the USWNT which is the second most for a goalkeeper in U.S. history. If she starts the next two games, she will be the most recorded women’s goalkeeper for the USWNT. She also received the title of most starts for a keeper at 166.

Sweden is a tough match for the U.S. any day, but this game was special due to the fact that we faced our former coach, Pia Sundhage.

Morgan Brian made her first World Cup start of her career and Carli Lloyd earned her 197^th cap which means she could hit the 200 mark before the World Cup is over. If she does this, she will be one of only nine other players to ever do this for the USWNT.

After the game, taking in the moment that our USWNT adventure for the World Cup had ended, we waited around for the players to make their lap around the field waving at fans, spotting friends and family, and receiving their much deserved round of applause. Our seats, which were very close to the tunnel to the locker room, gave us a great view to the players during walk-outs and the end of the day. As Alex Morgan walked past us she turned, saw my poster that said “CLEAN” regarding an interview she did was Katie Nolan of Garbage Time on Fox Sports 1. She looked at it, stopped for a second, waved and said she loved it. I will call that a success.

Now I am not one to be very superstitious, but Tobin Heath did not play in this match. Every other game we have played in that Tobin has gained field time minutes, we have won. Not tied, won. Just saying Jill Ellis.

When leaving the stadium, seriously almost tearing up because we didn’t want the game to end, we walked down the steps and saw these guys dressed up as the founding fathers of America. Of course I asked for a picture with them. As we sat there talking I found out they were from Texas, and yes, they said yall. We concluded that if I were to add the picture on any social media I was to hashtag #BattleofWinnipeg.

While driving back the to the Cav I thought to myself that was exactly what that match was, THE battle of Winnipeg. Either one of those two teams have a GREAT chance at being World Champions. In less than a month hopefully the USWNT will be bringing that trophy back home. Good luck in the rest of the Cup ladies, thank you for an amazing time in The Peg!

#TheQuest

Day two and three of our Canada adventure and we have decided that we will call this #TheQuest.

I will start by saying, thank you Lord for Starbucks. Not because I am that “basic white girl” who needs a Mini Moca Frappuccino, but because I need to steal their wifi to blog! Our semi-sketchy hotel has REALLY sketchy wifi. So yes, you guessed it I am sitting in a Starbucks writing this as we speak.

The last two days have been filled with adventures in Winnipeg. We have explored the city downtown, the Forks area, and visited with some friends I have up here. Last night we got to go watch Morgan and Rachel play, just like I used to when I was in high school when they played at Bethel. Coach Misty and her family were there, so it was great to catch up with them as well. Rachel and Morgan’s team won, so that made the night even better. I’m so thankful for the opportunity I had to play college ball and the family I made while I was there. They will always hold a special place in my heart. 

While touring we have seen the new Human Rights Museum, walked over the river on the pedestrian bridge, seen the torch from the Pan Am games in ’99, viewed some really neat architecture, a lot of wall art on the side of buildings, there are McDonalds EVERYWHERE, saw the old railway station, walked past beautiful churches, enjoyed the colorful children’s museum, and today we relaxed with a great view on a patio deck on top of a building downtown. Pictures of all of these places can be found on my Facebook page!

The strangest thing that we have found out about being here in Winnipeg is that it doesn’t get dark until around 10:30, so when we realize we haven’t ate dinner, its somewhere around closing time for all of the restaurants, which was an issue the first two days here. But not today! Tonight’s dinner came from nothing better than “The Pony” Yep. The Pony, not to get confused with the one back home. I ordered Nachos because I am already craving Los Po (and its only day 4 of my month long adventure) little did I know, the appetizer portion would be as big as our table.

Interesting conversations from the dinner table from the most interesting combination of restaurants. A KFC/Taco Bell, ran by all Asian people: I like to call this one, Words with Jessie and Logan-

“Mice should be mouses like houses.”

“Multiple moose should be like goose and be called Meese.”

“If it’s plural and double letters in the middle it should be “-eese/-eers” at the end. Something like beers and deers.”

Things that come from Jessie Brewers mouth:

“When I was little I didn’t want to brush my teeth when my parents told me to, so to protest I brushed them with soap.. Like who was that hurting?”

Post game talk:
During the announcements of players at the stadium the commentator was having some issues with the computer. When he announced Whitney Engen’s name it popped up and said “Engine General” – so of course we took a picture of it. Jessie tweeted it to Whitney, she favorited it, so I guess she has a new nickname. We love you Engine General.

When trying to drive in a new country:

1. They don’t have lines on the road.

2. There are these crazy walls in the middle of the road here where you can’t cross the lanes of traffic.. Therefore, I have made 328462398 U-Turns already, and I’m not even sure if they are legal here. Oops.

3. When you get angry about driving through these crazy roads, things such as this are said: “Canada man, you would think we were in China with all of these walls!” -Logan

It is still early in #TheQuest, we have six days to go.. five more games, a trip to the zoo planned, and who knows what else we will get into! However, I do miss our small town already, and I’m still more than excited for Nicaragua.. But the next week should be a thrill for sure!

They don’t say y’all here…

Thanks to U.S. Soccer for the picture!

It’s day one in Winnipeg. My emotions are EVERYWHERE.

We arrived at our hotel that can be compared to something like the Benton Inn around 12:45 am this morning. At this point we had been on the road more than 24 hours and all we wanted to do was sleep.

After passing through six states on our road trip we spent three hours in line trying to cross the border, so what did I do? Made friends with the fellow USWNT fans. My favorite lady I met was in the car behind us, yelling out “USA” at the most random times. She was from Texas. We were afraid it was going to start raining AGAIN while we were trying to cross, which meant we would have to rechalk the back window of ‘ol Jenny the Jeep for the millionth time, who made it here just fine by the way.

Once we finally got settled in in our – what would have been the coolest place to stay in the ‘70’s hotel, it was 1:45 AM. After only getting about six hours asleep since Thursday night (and this was Sunday morning) I was ready to CRASH.

Weather report with Jessie:

“Um guys, the weather today says smoke.” What does that even mean? We looked it up. It literally means there is smoke in the air. From a large fire. You don’t see that in Benton.

Game day. Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE game day. After a MUCH needed relaxing shower I finally got around to making my posters that I usually have completed WAY before now. If you know me, you also know I’m the slightest bit of a perfectionist. Therefore, I was complaining to Jessie non-stop how these posters were terrible quality compared to my last few. (haha) Despite the “this is crap” poster attitude I had going on, I was SO excited to head to the stadium, with no idea what to expect, as I put on my red, white, and blue attire literally jumping on the bed because I couldn’t sit still.

When parking at the World Cup:

Well you see, any normal person would have bought a parking pass from FIFA, but the broke college students did not. So after driving around for a good 4 miles – OH MY GOD THERE IS THE STADIUM IT IS HUGE – we finally parked in a sports pub parking lot, and I was literally praying Jenny the Jeep wouldn’t get towed as we walked the two and a half miles to the game.

Oh. My. Gosh. We are actually here. “Jessie, is this happening? Did we really drive to Canada?” I was doing a Coach Boone famous “fast walk” that would have put pre-season warm ups to shame by the time I could see the 10 ft. tall Sinclair poster in front of the stadium. Red, white, and blue EVERYWHERE. Flags flying, cheers of USA, selfies, group pictures, a guy in a flag themed bodysuit giving high-fives to everyone he sees… This is going to be good.

Now y’all know that I have been to a lot of USWNT games, I know almost too much about the girls on the team, but they inspire me. On and off of the field through the good and the bad, they are the women (and the ones who have played on past teams) who have got me through some of the best and worst times. If you are an avid USWNT follower, you are probably aware of the #SheBelieves campaign they are doing. This is all about your goals, passions, dreams, what you want to do with your life. I sent in mine about going back to Nicaragua after Winnipeg, thinking nothing of it then U.S. Soccer gave me a retweet, which was cool enough for me. Then last week before heading up here Julie Johnston, a defender on the team, made a video (that is on U.S. Soccer’s twitter page) to me about following where my passion takes me. I freaked. Then followed by, “JJ” commenting on my instagram post I tagged her in thanking her for the video. Even better. Everyone keeps saying, how do these things happen to you? If I knew, I would tell you. I’ll never understand.

To tie this in with our World Cup story and my “this poster is crap” issue:
We get to the game and I have one side dedicated to Hope (of course) because I was on operation meet her for the fifth time, and the other side dedicated to JJ saying I believe in her, like she said she believed in me in the video. Our seats are right on the bottom wall, to the right of the goal- they could not be any better. We hung my American flag up over the wall, tying it down with my headphones. If Daddy G-Reg has taught me anything it would be to use my resources wisely. (Love ya buddy!) So as I stood taking in our surroundings- WE ARE AT THE FREAKING WORLD CUP –I couldn’t stop smiling. I started holding up my sign, and as always what usually happens the press start coming over and taking my picture. I cant tell you how many people told me to hold up my sign and smile yesterday. Before you know it Lauren, my friend who I met at the Nashville game text me and said, “bottom left, you lucky brat.” Now, the picture didn’t come in when the text did so I was beyond confused… but before you know it I was getting texts from friends, facebook posts from my old coach, and twitter tags out of this world. When I FINALLY saw what it was about ten minutes later, U.S. Soccer had added my picture of me in the stands holding my Hope sign. I might not have got to meet her this time, but out of the 31K+ fans, and I got a picture posted, I’ll take it. Maybe Hope saw it after the game. Or maybe she will read my blog. That would be neat. 🙂

Other game highlights:

Pia, who use to be our team’s coach was coaching the game before the U.S. (we were on TV during this game) waved at us before she left, me and Jessie love her.

One of the girls, a few years older than me, who was sitting beside us told me she would pay me $100 if I could get Pinoe to come over to us. (Didn’t happen, but I tried!)

Megan Rapinoe (Pinoe) scored two goals, and Christen Press scored one between Pinoe’s two that I totally called. Why are we so good at predicting these things? Jessie puts me to shame though.

We witnessed ten goals, in two games, at the World Cup, in one day. Insane.

Alex Morgan waved at me, and the same girl who wanted Pinoe just looked at me and laughed and said, “Seriously?”

I finally saw Abby play a 90 minute match. 

I witnessed two engagements. GOALS. 

Jenny Taft who works for Fox Sports and covers most of the games was filming in front of us. I seriously want her job! After the game I told Jessie I wanted a picture with her, so she told me to get her attention.. I was super nervous though!  “Jenny! Jenny Taft!” She looked up. “Can we get a selfie with you?” Smiling she walked over and said, “I’m really not that important!” No Jenny, you are.. My little Public Relations/Photography major self wishes anything to be you.  “I want your job!” I said that and I could tell she was laughing a bit.. Probably at my accent.

People here don’t know how to handle my country twang. Apparently they don’t say y’all here either. And McDonalds doesn’t have sweet tea.

’twas the night before..

“You’re taking your Jeep, Jenny, to Canada?”

Yes, yes I am. I can not tell you how many times I have been asked that question over the last few months.

Tonight is the night before I leave for one of the biggest adventures of my life- the biggest road trip I have traveled.

I could write for hours about the excitement, the details.. but I will try and keep this post short and sweet.

Four years ago my heart broke for our USWNT (no really, I was crying) when we lost in PK’s. A team who beat the odds and from what I thought deserved the title as World Champions, but things didn’t fall in our favor that day in 2011.

So here we are, four years down the road, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015. Never in my life would I have imagined being not just in the stands, but in the fourth row in three days watching our USWNT battle the “Group of Death” and go for the much anticipated title of “World Champions” and I am guessing I won’t be getting much sleep tonight.

Within the next few days we will be arriving in Canada where it all may seem like a dream, this really is a once and a lifetime opportunity.

A recap of fun facts that have happened leading up to this World Cup-

I met Jessie Brewer going into my Senior year and bonded with her in the goal, now she’s questionably more emotionally invested in this team than I.

Nashville, 2013: Chandler, my boyfriend at the time, got me front row tickets to the game where Hope Solo walked right across the field to me and signed my poster. (Second time I had met her)

Chicago, Fall 2014: Jessie and I made our longest road trip which included running over a sign, not being able to stay in our booked hotel because of our age, and Hope walked right across the field strait to me after the game (again) and handed me her cleats this time. Then retweeted my pictures that night, then posted my pictures on all of her social media the next day. That was an exciting weekend.

St. Louis, spring 2015: Biggest home crowd in years, amazing environment, the perfect day. For the fourth time I met Hope. This time, walked right across the field again.. stood and talked for a while, and I FINALLY got a picture with her. Despite any trouble she had been involved with the past year and a half, she will always be my hero on the team.

Crazy things always happen…

Ashlyn Harris RT Jessie’s edit of her on the countdown day of 24.

Sydney Leroux (Dwyer) fav. my tweet about getting us the World Cup Wagon.

USWNT started the #SheBelieves campaign, where I sent in my dream of making a difference and helping people- so USWNT gave me a RT which I was stoked about, then Julie Johnston made a video specifically for me in response, then continued to comment on my instagram picture.

Ali Krieger told me in 2013 after Nashville game on instagram good luck in college ball, and that I was an inspiration to her- so that was incredible.

Kyle Krieger told Jessie Happy Birthday, she about died.

Jamie Tworkowski, founder of TWLOHA, had a book signing in Nashville that Jesse and I got to attend where I showed him the newest ESPN magazine where Alex Morgan talked about the organization- he freaked and said he would have to text her about it.. oh okay, it’s casual.

OUR KITS.

Bless Nike’s Heart. We have the “our printer is running out of blue ink” and “I love mountain dew/I’m 13 and still love neon and glow in the dark/because everyone owns black lights we should have words for black lights on our jersey” I wish this was a joke. The home kits, I am so confused. No red. No white. No blue. THIS IS WORLD CUP HELLO. Anyways, that’s all I will say on that topic before I get on a rant.

Women’s Soccer.. FINALLY getting the credit it deserves. Unfortunately FIFA has brought some negative attention the last few weeks, but TOMORROW the BIGGEST day for of the year for these teams, these fans, and women world wide, will come. Good luck to my ladies on the USWNT. See you in Winnipeg! ONE NATION. ONE TEAM. ONE GOAL. ONE DREAM.