Aug 29 - Practice, Hot Dogs and Smoothies

With our opening game tomorrow todays session was a little lighter for the players but still managed to have the intensity and sharpness that we were looking for leading into the game. The game against AU will be tough.  They won the regular season Patriot League conference last year and have been predicted to repeat the same in preseason polls this year.  Coach West always has them playing an attractive style of soccer combined with a lot of energy from the group.  For us the key will be to match the intensity and have a killer instinct in the final third.

Back to practice.  Starting with a "chalk talk" (a term I picked up yesterday from our Lacrosse Head Coach Tara Hannaford) reviewing some of our keys for the game and recapping some of our set pieces we were then onto the field for a quick hour or so.  All the staff were put to work today with Irizarry taking the warm up, myself an activity to goal and game and Coach Ouimet taking the shooting exercise.  As always Coach Pasquinelli put the keepers through their paces with what looked like an standard session as opposed to some of his wacky but effective sessions. Guys looked good today, better movement on the field and technically cleaner with the ball created a fast moving and exciting session.  Forrest way getting off the floor quicker, McQuitty was thinking before the ball got to him, our wide guys Higgins, Valencia, Heine and Gallelli looked like they wanted to beat players, with the ball that is, and overall everyone else helped the session to flow smoothly.  Shaban even scored from a set piece free kick which almost made me end the session right there and then.  The shooting was good and had to be to beat Farrell, Lopez and Van der Merwe who pulled off some fine saves.  Overall a good day at the office.

For a brief preview on the games this weekend you can visit  GWSports DC College Cup Preview on our website.  Also wanted to wish GW Volleyball good luck as they also open the season tomorrow with a game v Maryland at the Charles E. Smith Center at 7pm and GW Women's soccer who play local rivals Georgetown at 4pm at Mount Vernon.

Raise High Moment of the Day
After a run to Costco to get some protein shakes and bars for the team a great way to end my day  sitting down having a hotdog with my daughter Cerys.  I tried to make it somewhat healthy by ordering 2 smoothies.