@CanesFutbol Captain's Corner: Sept. 1, 2016
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – For the second year in a row, the captains of the University of Miami soccer team will be writing a blog for HurricaneSports.com throughout the season called Captain’s Corner.
Redshirt senior defender Shannon McCarthy checked in Thursday with the fifth installment of the blog. The Brighton, Mich., native looks back on the first home weekend of the regular season, touches on the team’s preparation for Miami (OH) Friday night and more . . .
Hello again, Canes fans! To everyone who came out last weekend to Cobb Stadium to support the team, I want to personally thank you.
Our team loves the energy fans bring. It creates an atmosphere we love to compete in. I was grateful to have my dad in the stands for my last collegiate home opener. We are looking forward to another electric Friday night under the lights!
I credit Ohio State and I am thankful for the intense game the Buckeyes gave us last week. Although we came up just short, there were a number of different positives we took away from the game. The intensity and speed we played with against Ohio State was sensational. A few correctable mistakes bit us in the heel, but after watching film and training diligently, we are confident moving forward. With another game two days later, we had a quick turnaround and wasted no time in preparing for Jacksonville.
The Jacksonville game was a tale of two halves. After we scored an early goal from a free kick, we struggled to find the back of the net for the rest of the half and went into halftime up, 1-0. We came out of the locker room determined to take more shots. Good things certainly happen when the ball is shot on frame and that is exactly what we did. Six goals later the game ended, 7-0. Almost every girl on the team got minutes on the field and made an impact on the game; that is the beauty of a team sport.
Training this past week has been productive. We have a solid game plan going into tomorrow night. As coach Kate [Dylag] says, ‘We’re going to be flying around!’ Controlled, fast, high-pressure is our bread and butter. Expect to see creative playmaking on the offensive side and relentless tackles on the defensive side.
Recently, I was having an awesome conversation with one of my best friends about what it means to lead with your heart. God’s grace has changed my ways from leading with pride, to leading with love. My aim is to serve the team out of love. I believe in our girls and they know I would do anything and everything for them. Surrendering my pride and leading with love has brought me to a sense of peace that is a game changer on and off the field. I am a better player and, more importantly, a better person. There is a fire in my heart that fuels my intense work ethic and allows me to lead boldly. No one ever doubts a captain who leads with his or her heart.
Stay tuned for Captain’s Corner next week!
