Oct. 17, 2001

By Debbie Lieberman

The North Carolina game - Oct. 5

Who knew golf could be a part of a women's soccer game? Well, that was our celebration after we scored the first goal in Maryland women's soccer history against North Carolina.

The theme of the game, "Why not?" What did we have to lose? We went out there and fought with our hearts against the No. 1 Tar Heels.

Connection. That's what we feel. Clicking. Unit. All words to describe our team that evening.

3-1 North Carolina, that's what the score read, but our bodies were left on that field and our spirit hovered on creating the atmosphere of strength and power.

That night, we represented what Maryland women's soccer is.

The Virginia game - Oct. 10

Away from our team? Away from who we are? Away from how we know how to play?

Basically, we were imposters of Maryland women's soccer players.

Disappointment. Unfulfillment. Disconnected.

Hard core defense. Awesome goalkeeping.

This game was not one for the records, we held our own but did not fulfill our potential greatness.

All I have to say is that if we play Virginia again it will be a different game. Virginia beware.

The Clemson game - Oct. 13

Pregame, we were informed that we never lost to Clemson on our home field. A challenge we were presented and a challenge we took.

We were a team not to be reckoned with that evening.

The morning of the game the team got together for a breakfast. Besides eating bagels, we played a little game called, "Who could make us cry the most?"

That's not what it was actually called, or its purpose, but not actually what it was called, or its purpose, but that was definitely the result. Each person shared their thoughts about one member of the team. A connection was made that morning. One deeper than playing connection.

It was an emotional bond that tied us together. It was sharing how much we love each member of the team and how each person makes a difference to the team.

"Pil Sung," in Korean, meaning indomitable spirit. That's what we were and it showed that night on the field.

We were "Pil Sung," a force not to be messed with.

It felt like we had the ball and controlled it more than usual. We fought hard for 90 minutes. But it wasn't over yet.

The game went to overtime, the scored remained 0-0, but our heart still played on.

Audra Poulin struck one into the back of the net in the second overtime - 1-0 Maryland!

The entire team and staff stormed the field. Horizontal bodies piled on to form a mini mountain on Ludwig Field. A mountain, is about the size, of what we all felt we could climb having defeated the No. 8 team, Clemson.

We matched the challenge presented to us at the outset of the game, we are still undefeated vs, Clemson at Ludwig Field.