GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!

We have been standing on the sidelines of Rachael's soccer practices and games since she was pre-school and it has been fun to watch her. We watched her when her t-shirt came down to her knees, and when she bacame known for her Packers sweatband. We watched her through hard seasons, and 2 championship wins. Rachael has gotten better each year and she has picked up new skills and a little confidence.
Racheal plays because she likes it. She likes being on a team and being active. The league she is in is a casual Rec program and it is just the right speed. There are girls on her team who are really skilled and I think Rae resigned herself to the idea that those were the girls who would score. Last year she asked to be in goal, partly I think to avoid the dissappoint of not scoring.

This year goalies were already determined when she joined the team, so she has mainly played mid field and forward. And last Saturday she played her best. She moved the ball, won the ball when challenged, and had good positioning on the field. In the second half with the score tied. Rachael put the skills together and put the ball in the corner of the net.

The sideline cheered. Rachael turned toward us with her mouth open. Complete amazement turned into a huge smile and a hop into the air. The parents, upon hearing that this was Rachael's first goal, did the wave. It was so great to see Rachael's individual triumph and to see the limitation that she had placed upon herself fall to the side. She didn't think it was possible and she was so surprised to prove herself more capable than she dared to believe.