WUSA ''Survivors''
By Tracy Ducar
Boston, Mass., 20 April 2001 (Teeamtalk)-- Let the games begin!! FINALLY!
After waiting two years and thinking it wouldn't really happen, well it has!
Here on "WUSA Survivor" we were told to Outwit, Outplay, Outlast. And so far in the great north our tribe has endured six grueling weeks. Flown in from all over the country, we came together as a rag tag bunch back in late February, some young, some old, some married, a few foreign, and one towing a tot!
Our challenges thus far have been snow, rain, cold, crazy drivers, a fanatical conditioning coach, outrageous rent prices, sore muscles, and even rattlesnakes! And through it all we have bonded into the tight tribe known as the Breakers.
"Coach, we have passed the first test, what is our reward?"
"Games," he says, "You are ready. Now is your chance to prove your worth against the other eight tribes."
So onward we go, breaking camp tomorrow to meet the tribe known as the Courage. Everyone is looking lean, mean, and hungry to compete. There will be 21 challenges such as this, battling each tribe three times. Then in August the top four tribes will partake in two more bonus rounds to decide who will win the ultimate immunity.
The tribe that survives will win ... no, not a million dollars, but something even more important -- the coveted WUSA Inaugural Championship. Who do you think will survive?
Look out CBS here we come -- the WUSA! Live on TNT, CNN-SI, and your local cable networks you will be able to cheer us on every week. Excited yet? We are!
Last weekend's inaugural game was a great kickoff to the season. As one of the founding players, I was just thrilled to be in the stands witnessing a dream come true for myself, my friends, teammates, and so many girls and women.
Many of us felt like it was the World Cup all over again -- the big stadium, huge crowd, the opening ceremony festivities, and the thousands of smiling little girls and boys. It's hard to believe we have finally done it -- we have created a women's professional soccer league!
Okay, so the critics say that the game was a bit frantic, perhaps ragged at times. Well, I, for one, didn't notice. I was too busy cheering for both teams! Yes, that's right I didn't care who won, I was just so happy to see so many of my friends out there competing and having fun.
It's about time these deserving players get the chance to show their skills and compete at the level that only a few of us have had the chance to do in the past on the national team.
Now instead of just the 25 or so women of the national team pool getting international experience we have 160 of the top female players in the world playing with and against the best of the best, day in and day out. It's going to make for one exciting, action-packed season.
I think my favorite aspect of the league, though, is that we will get to see not only U.S. national team players pitted against each other, but Norwegians against Norwegians, Brazilians versus Brazilians, Chinese battling Chinese, and so on, as well as college teammates facing their old teammates.
Individual, college, and national prides are all at stake in every game, so the pressure is on! In the end I believe the team that finds a way to bring together all the talented individuals and play as a unit creating team pride and heart will be the one left standing.
Our team has had several good practices leading into this weekend's game. We focused a lot on tactics this week -- solidifying our defense and fine-tuning our system of play.
We also played two mini-scrimmages this week. We beat Boston College 5-0 and Harvard 1-0 in two 50-minute scrimmages. It was a welcome change from just beating up on each other like we usually do at practice. And last night we finished the pre-season off right with a team dinner at a rustic New England country inn restaurant. All the players and staff enjoyed an evening out celebrating our new family. The energy level is high and we are ready to go.
Now it's on to my first game as a pro. I am both excited and nervous as I start this next chapter of my career. I just keep telling myself that everyone will be nervous, it's expected, and to just go out and have fun.
I know I'm more than prepared for the challenges that lie ahead, so all that's left to do is enjoy the moments that will follow. And the first moment that I am anxiously awaiting is stepping back out onto UNC's Fetzer Field.
It's been five-and-a-half years since I competed on my old college pitch. It will be weird to walk out onto what I consider my home field as a visitor this time -- the enemy.
The last time I played on Fetzer was versus Notre Dame in the 1995 NCAA semi-finals. We lost 1-0 on an own goal. That game is still very vivid in my mind and I would love to change that last game on my college field from a loss to a win. No matter what the outcome though, I know I will be smiling when I leave the field this time because I will be back playing competitive soccer in front of my family, friends, and fans.