@CanesFutbol Captain's Corner: Sept. 29, 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 Shannon McCarthy checked in Thursday with the ninth 2016 installment of Captain’s Corner, including her fourth entry of the season. The defender provides a detailed look at Miami’s two ACC victories last week and sheds light on the team’s preparation for Wake Forest this coming Sunday . . .
Salutations, Canes fans! A big thank you is in order for all the fans who came out to support the team on Thursday night and Sunday afternoon. We greatly appreciate the energy.
[William Blake said], ‘Great things are done when men and mountains meet.’ We defeated the second-ranked team in the country Thursday night!!! The University of Virginia is a great team and that game was the best game I have ever played in. Coach [Mary-Frances] Monroe established a terrific game plan to attack the Cavaliers and we executed it perfectly. I am so proud of the girls for committing to the game plan and giving it their all out on the field. We shocked the nation. That game was no fluke; we played with a dominating presence.
The celebration continued into the next morning when the coaching staff treated us to breakfast at a cozy, local restaurant. Smiles and laughter filled the air. We reminisced about the goals, key moments in the game and outstanding performances. Anxious excitement began to set in as our focus turned towards Syracuse. After breakfast, we went back to the training room and took recovery ice baths to prepare for Saturday’s training session.
I couldn’t help but feel deeply humbled after Thursday’s victory. Sunday’s match was far more important than Thursday’s match. Anything less than a commanding victory was not going to justify what we did on Thursday night. Sunday was a must-win and win is exactly what we did
As the game went on in the scorching afternoon heat, we got stronger and stronger. We certainly utilized the heat as our 12th player against a Syracuse team that was not acclimated to the humidity. After scoring the first goal, the next goal came soon after that and we knew we had the game in hand.
Our preparation this week is entirely focused on Wake Forest. With a midweek bye, we can completely focus on the game plan coach will implement. Another great result will send a statement to the rest of the conference that the University of Miami is a force to be reckoned with. I am grateful to have the opportunity to play another game at home.
Sunday’s game is also our annual pink game to raise awareness for breast cancer. We’ll be playing in our fabulous pink jerseys, so be sure to wear pink to our game!
This past weekend was the best ACC regular season game weekend I’ve been a part of in my five years as a Hurricane. I owe that to my teammates for ruthlessly competing on the field and to my coaches for believing in us.
God has graciously blessed me with the opportunity to play my fifth year. Redshirting my sophomore year due to different health issues seemed like the worst circumstance in the world to me, but it was a hidden blessing. God had a plan established for me knowing all along I was going to have this sensational weekend with my teammates and coaches.
The most exciting part of it is that we’re just getting started. I am eager to see what else God has in store for us. I am so thankful for this remarkable experience!
Stay tuned next week to hear from one of my fantastic teammates!
