Sept. 2, 2002

Seniors Kim King aka Kinger, Dana Jarzyniecki aka Dana J and Katie Kruse wrote the final installment of What's Up With Women's Soccer from the road trip to UConn. The senior trio reflected on their final season opener as Terps.

Well, its official girls....we're old! With six new freshman including four who have yet to pass the legal age to vote -- Danielle "Chunk" Malagari, Kristin "Squeaks" McHugh, Simone "Dekker" Dekker, Ali "That Question Girl" Andrzejewski -- this weekend proves that we are finally seniors.

We came here as a freshmen class of eight, Sara Gus Gustafson (who left us last year), Dana "Dana J" Jarzyniecki, Kim "Kinger" King, Katie Kruse, Soldier Sally Harrison, Valerie "Vail" Lawrence, "Snarly" Carly Viher, and Lindsay "Rojo" Givens. Only four originals will finish their careers this year. To complete the class we picked up Sarah "Mac" McClellan, and Lynn "Schnarf" Scharf along the way.

What happened? Injuries. We could count 'em, but we'd rather not. It has been a long and tiring three year battle, with the fourth just beginning. This weekend marks the end of our final preseason and the last first game we'll ever play in college.

It started off with a bumpy flight and a Friendly meal that led to an interesting and rare indoor practice, due to some nasty weather. We finished off the day with our traditional feast at the one and only Outback Steakhouse, as we do the night before every away game.

As we anxiously awaited the arrival of fellow seniors, Vail and Sally, we went ahead and rammed Fordham without them. By the time they arrived the final score was 5-0 and we were heading back to our home for the weekend, Nathan Hale Inn. Saturday; eat, practice, eat, movies, eat, mall, eat.....

Or at least that's what it felt like. There's plenty of proof after every fall season and the traveling, with the extra five - ten pounds put on by all, but Shannon of course. If we have any memory from our away trips for this team it is that we EAT - thanks coaches. By Audra's request, our entire team, and parents bombarded the Storrs, CT, Showcase Cinema, to view "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". We seem to have found a little bit of Tulla on our team, as the search continues for a few more "Ians"

Sunday arrived, and it didn't play out to our expectations. We came out hard and proved in the first ten minutes we were the better team. After two unexpected and quick goals by UConn our confidence seemed to swagger. After halftime and a loss of one of our captains - Jenny Biscoe -- to an uncalled foul from a Husky - as she got hit in the throat and no call was made. We found our confidence and "wore our hearts on the outside of our shirts" for the rest of the game. We fought hard and battled against UConn. On a perfect corner by Kimmy Francis to Mallory Mahar's head created a goal by Audra Poulin.

The goal sparked our confidence and fueled our will to win. Unfortunately, we were unable to come out with the victory though as we suffered a 3-1 loss to the Huskies.

Sally and Vail quickly departed hoping to make the trip home a little shorter this time. With out first away trip under our belts, we head back to College Park with the realization that we have a long and successful season ahead of us to finish off our careers.