ECNL National Champions - 2010 Girls National
Our playoff run wasn’t easy, but that’s what made it so special. Only one team out of 32, could win five games in a row- in the span of seven days- and would raise the ECNL trophy. Every year after entering ECNL our expectations were champs or bust, nothing was different this year.
It all started when we landed in Seattle- after a long flight, none of us were tired but were hungry to win a championship. That night, I remember being very nervous but also eager to get on the field. I had confidence for both, my team and for myself, that we could make history but also realized that tomorrow could end our championship run.
The next day was our first game, there we went on and took care of business. That game relieved the pressure for me. We had our first win, and we did it dominantly.
Game 2 followed the next day and resulted in another victory, securing a spot in the FINAL 8. We were rolling, and our confidence was through the roof.
In our next match, we were facing a team that eliminated us twice out of the previous three years. This game meant more than just getting to the final four, this game meant redemption! The whistle blew, and I was ready to play. At the end, we preserved a 1-0 early lead and finished the game strong, resulting in a win!
On to the semis- we faced a team that we have never played, won and earned a birth into the National Championship game.
On to the final game, a game that I have been dreaming to play in one day. I couldn’t believe that I had the chance to accomplish something that I have worked my whole childhood for. We were playing the defending national champions from the year before, I knew this was going to be the toughest game I have ever played in. The game starts, and we were playing great soccer until falling behind 0-1. I remember feeling defeated as we had only allowed 1 goal in our previous 4 games and never trailed. I believed and so did all of my teammates. We went on to score 3 unanswered goals, and by the final whistle, we were champs!
Looking back, the championship run was a reflection of the culture we built and the trust we had in each other. The feeling of winning it all is something that I will remember for a very long time. The media that was involved made me feel like I was a superstar, and that was pretty cool. The practices, traveling, team bonding, pre-game superstitions and memories we made together are what I’ll remember most. I accomplished something that only 5 other teams could say that they have done, winning the biggest tournament any youth soccer player can win! I’m so thankful for my teammates, coaches, my family, and everyone at Real Colorado who supported us throughout the season. None of this would have been possible without them. I’m so proud to be part of this team, and I’ll always remember this season as one of the best experiences of my life.
*written by Ava Hau - ECNL National Champion!