UW Plattville (9/20) & UW La Crosse (9/27 Recap)
While we did face great success against UW Platteville, we received our first L of the season against UW La Crosse.
Which do I prefer, you ask? A 6-0 win or a 3-0 loss?
Easy, a 3-0 defeat.
While working out some of the minor kinks, handling the ball with more confidence, and having more time shared on the field among a variety of players is great, these are not always the games and moments that teach us the most.
Was I sad our winning streak ended? Yeah. Was it hard not being able to say "hey, we're undefeated"? Sure. But was it easy to learn a plethora of knowledge about myself, soccer, and my team during a tough loss. ABSOLUTELY.
Although we play sports to win (duh, that's the whole point), I truly believe that sometimes sports are better utilized to teach life lessons rather than athletic ones.
Yes, facing an L gave my coaches great aspects of my team's play to work on and yes, we learned a lot about soccer that we hadn't experienced yet this season throughout those 90 minutes, but what we took away as PEOPLE from that defeat is much more important and valuable than what we learned as ATHLETES.
I am a soccer player for a short span of time, but I am a human forever. Losing allows both to grow, develop, adapt, and thrive.
As an athlete, I learned I need to have more confidence on the ball, be stronger, and pass quicker.
As an athlete, I learned I need to go up for more headers, communicate louder, and listen when I am told directions.
As a human, however, I learned that the greatest victors come from the most hard-fought battles, that resilience is not only vital, but necessary, and that supporting my teammates in times of distress is key.
As a human, I learned the power of a positive mindset, positive talk, and positive appraisal.
As a human, I learned that wins and losses don't define me, a game (or moment in life) does not make or break the future to come, and that hard work is not always displayed by the result, but ALWAYS matters the most.
As a human, I learned how to uplift and motivate my teammates, how to take the positives from a negative situation, and how to use what I learned to be better for the next time.
And most importantly, as a human I learned that whatever is done with passion and grit cannot be judged solely by the outcome of the event.
So yes, losing sucks and no longer being undefeated is even worse, but any great athlete will tell you that their losses taught them the most.
Being defeated instills in you how to become a better person, not a better athlete, but because of this factor, the success of the sport naturally follows.
Losing was what we needed.
Humbleness is what we sought.
And humility is what we wish to retain.
Which do I prefer, you ask? A 6-0 win or a 3-0 loss?
Easy, a 3-0 defeat.
While working out some of the minor kinks, handling the ball with more confidence, and having more time shared on the field among a variety of players is great, these are not always the games and moments that teach us the most.
Was I sad our winning streak ended? Yeah. Was it hard not being able to say "hey, we're undefeated"? Sure. But was it easy to learn a plethora of knowledge about myself, soccer, and my team during a tough loss. ABSOLUTELY.
Although we play sports to win (duh, that's the whole point), I truly believe that sometimes sports are better utilized to teach life lessons rather than athletic ones.
Yes, facing an L gave my coaches great aspects of my team's play to work on and yes, we learned a lot about soccer that we hadn't experienced yet this season throughout those 90 minutes, but what we took away as PEOPLE from that defeat is much more important and valuable than what we learned as ATHLETES.
I am a soccer player for a short span of time, but I am a human forever. Losing allows both to grow, develop, adapt, and thrive.
As an athlete, I learned I need to have more confidence on the ball, be stronger, and pass quicker.
As an athlete, I learned I need to go up for more headers, communicate louder, and listen when I am told directions.
As a human, however, I learned that the greatest victors come from the most hard-fought battles, that resilience is not only vital, but necessary, and that supporting my teammates in times of distress is key.
As a human, I learned the power of a positive mindset, positive talk, and positive appraisal.
As a human, I learned that wins and losses don't define me, a game (or moment in life) does not make or break the future to come, and that hard work is not always displayed by the result, but ALWAYS matters the most.
As a human, I learned how to uplift and motivate my teammates, how to take the positives from a negative situation, and how to use what I learned to be better for the next time.
And most importantly, as a human I learned that whatever is done with passion and grit cannot be judged solely by the outcome of the event.
So yes, losing sucks and no longer being undefeated is even worse, but any great athlete will tell you that their losses taught them the most.
Being defeated instills in you how to become a better person, not a better athlete, but because of this factor, the success of the sport naturally follows.
Losing was what we needed.
Humbleness is what we sought.
And humility is what we wish to retain.