Aug. 15, 2000

By Debbie Lieberman

Hi soccer fans out there, this is Debbie Lieberman and I'm going to be writing a weekly journal about the University of Maryland women's soccer team. I'm a junior from Commack, N.Y., and I'm entering my third year with the Terps.

I thought I start off the series writing about one our favorite practices. Well, maybe one of our least favorite practices. However, it has to be one of the funniest practices to observe from a distance.

Last Wednesday, was the day that we do part of our fitness test. The "Dreaded 120s." Here's a quick definition of 120s: sprint 120 yards (the length of the field) and jog back to the starting point only to start the next one after about 20 seconds of rest.

The practice always starts out silent when we have fitness. People's personalities seem to find their way to the door as everyone's stomachs knot up. Blank faces stare at coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski as she explains the rules to "our fun" warm up of handball. It does actually work to get your mind off the running, but the game stops and we still have to face the fitness.

Though it's a mental battle each time one does fitness, it's a team effort. One always knows that the entire team is pulling for them to do well. Voices chant from the sideline as we scream out names and encourage our teammates.

Fitness is truly a unification of hearts, mind and body's all pulling for each other to accomplish the goal.

You know what was great about the day? Well, for those who don't make the times for the 120s, they have to make them up at the end, and the entire team, in shifts of people ran with those who were making them up.

You want team unification? You want teammates supporting teammates? That's what was experienced on the field. The nice thing about having fitness over with was that we could wrap up practice with some fun finishing games. The team grew together and having taken a step in our path towards the championship.

We capped the day by attending a game between the U.S. Olympic team against the Russian national team in a closed door Olympic tune-up at Ludwig Field. It was kind of nice to have the women's national team "christen" our field for the 2000 season. Maybe it's a sign for our season?

The game was fun, we all sat together, while a few of our team members served as statisticians for the U.S. team. Ben and Jerry's handed out ice cream at halftime for free.

As we enjoyed our soupy cold ice cream, we cheered our national team on with chocolate covered fists and spoons raised in the air.

It was a fun day for the preseason and a momentous day. A lot occurred -- bonding, sprinting, lack of air supply, cheering, viewing and a whole lot of soccer. It's going to be a great season!