A Day With Coach Bowen & the Women's Soccer Team

Mon, Sept. 10, 2007

I took a visit to go see Coach Melinda Bowen for a brief interview regarding the women's most recent win against Richland that took place yesterday.

I visited her office at about 3pm to be introduced by her two assistant coaches. With Coach Bowen out on an errand, I sat and waited momentarily but then was visited by three of the captains, Falisha Ramirez, Veronica Wilheim and Crystal Lizama came (thanks for the interview) along with Coach herself.

We introduced, sat down and I was gladly invited to sit and see the conversation between the coach and the captains regarding soccer business

By recording this session, it was interesting to sit and hear the many different conversations and to just witness the things that go on with soccer. In one discussion, there was talk of the status of one of the players who had suffered a head injury in Sunday's game against Richland. The injury was in actuality more vicious than what it sounds. The player went to get a CT scan and it showed that there was no signs of any serious injury. I happened to see her that afternoon and she seemed fine. The Mounties' handled Richland by the way, 4-2.

For about 15-20 minutes we stuck around in Coach Bowen's office listening to preparations. The coach decided first to do a chalk talk session, then some light jogging to keep the legs rested and conditioned for the ladies and then some drills for the goalies and the red shirts.

During the chalk talk session, the coach went over some formations, gave some lessons on finding open paths to the goal, and how to utilize the field during forward approaches.

Emotions ran deep later in which news of one of the players' mom was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Thoughts and prayers go out to that player and the family. My heart went out to her seeing her tear up ... All was quiet after the news of this announcement. I don't know what to think about what was going on through the players' minds, but I wonder if this somehow ignited a sense of drive or a reinforcement in going out tomorrow and winning. I looked around and this silence was ... I really don't know.

The one thing I found interesting leaving the interview is when Coach Bowen explained to me about life and soccer. She explained how life consists of many ups and downs and by identifying with some of the problems that her players are going through, there are ways in showing how to appreciate and to view their lives in a different perspective with sports. For a couple minutes, the interview just turned into a real deep conversation ... and I just sat there nodding my head, gazing and digesting her wisdom ...

I felt good leaving the facility meeting the team for a day and seeing what it's like being at practice. Added that, envisioning a group of beautiful women clad in uniform, training and conditioning and preparing for war is intriguing. Some sharing laughs with others to lighten the mood while others with their gamefaces silent and focused. I tend to think of Amazon women ... warriors prepared for battle ... Coach Bowen as Athena, Greek goddess of war and wisdom directing orders with her two assistant coaches, holding fort like war captains.

Off to Rio Hondo!

Kill em.


- END.