Army West Point Athletics
Leigh Kosco Diary
May 02, 2006 | General
Leigh Kosco Diary
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| Diary Entries Sept. 5, 2005 |
September 5, 2005
What a fun road trip! We formed up Wednesday night right before Taps to load the big yellow bus for our adventure to South Carolina. I don't think we even made it out of the gates before half of the bus was passed out. However, my fellow firsties and I were unable to fall asleep right away because we were laughing too hard about my surprise good luck gift from my buddy Rob Davis (a member of the football team). Once we calmed down and were settled, we didn't wake up again till we were in North Carolina at a Shoney's for breakfast. With only a few more hours to burn off till we would arrive on the coast of South Carolina, we watched a much needed chick flick. The day we arrived was Sarah Domme's 22nd birthday, and what better of a way to celebrate than with a long walk on the beach... with me! What a lucky gal: Drew Holler and Eric Francis (our two managers) hit the strip on their newly rented, fire-engine red scooters. The weather the whole time was just perfect. Of course, it was a transition for us from up here in the north, but definitely a nice change.
This was the plebes' first experience on a soccer trip and their first time far away from West Point. We had a team jog and stretch over at Coastal Carolina University on Thursday to get blood flowing from our 16 hour bus trip. Later that night we went to a really fun place called Broadway. This had tons of shops and restaurants, which made it easy to please 25 girls! Lots of parents and families were able to make the trip too-not sure if it was for us or for the beach! Nevertheless, the beach was a nice incentive, I am sure.
Friday we did the normal game day routine: breakfast, study session, discretionary time, and then a pre-game meal. After our rituals, we were bused over to the game against Coastal Carolina. We arrived just in time to catch the tail end of the game prior to measure up our competition for Sunday. As we headed over to our side of the field, we passed the most ridiculous stare-down ever from Coastal Carolina. I don't know if they were trying to intimidate us or pretending they were Zoolander. Whichever it was, we changed that look in the first minute and a half of the game when we shocked them with a goal. Considering their keeper was 5 feet nothing (no offense Jess, Ashley and Scoochie), she had no clue when Delaney rocked a shot into the far left corner of the goal. The second goal was Sarah Domme's first one of the season when she one-touched and redirected an endline cross from Drew Biddick. The second half got a little rough considering the ref had no idea how to take control of the game. I think he might have been recruited from the nursing home soccer league across the street. Delaney received a yellow card for her potty mouth and our assistant coach Natalie got one as well for pointing out the obvious. Ronee scored the lone goal of the second half, bringing us to a 3-1 advantage. This opponent was pretty tough and used to the climate, but not more tough than us. I think that pre-game stare down worked against them! One thing is for sure, is that it is great that we could travel 800 miles and still have a home field advantage with our huge entourage of family and friends cheering us on from the sidelines.
We woke up Saturday to another beautiful day. Luckily, this was our day off following a short team run. As we jogged lightly down the beach to release all the lactic acid from our muscles, we realized that, not only were people wondering what we were doing, but they were also clapping for us. People were yelling "thank you for serving" as we ran by, and some chanted cadences, but for the most part I think people were impressed by us. The majority of the team hit the beach to be the bathing beauties that we all are, some hit the strip, and some even opted to just stay in the hotel to relax. It was a pretty eventful day at the beach I should say. Becca was violently attacked by a jelly fish as Sarah Domme came to her rescue, while Silvia, Sarah Dreyfus and Liz didn't even bat an eye. My parents, Delaney, Sarah Domme, and I went to Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede! This was an absolute blast. We were split up into the North vs. the South. There was no silverware (yes I did say "NO" silverware), a racing ostrich (yes, people can race them, which I didn't know either), pigs, chickens and trick horse riders. It was such an awesome "Southern" evening. Following the Dixie Stampede, we went to yet another fun tourist attraction filled with restaurants and shopping-Barefoot Landing. This is where I purchased the one, the only, Army beer helmet! Fret not; I had parental guidance during the purchase. I even had my father do a PCI (Pre-Combat Inspection) just to make sure the tubes were serviceable.
Sunday we had the earlier game against Charleston Southern University. It was in mid afternoon, so the sun was beating down on the Bermuda grass field. The first goal was by yours truly from a sweet slotted ball into the box from Drew Biddick. That goal was in the first 7 minutes of the game. Delaney scored the second goal, the 23rd of her career. We out shot CSU 17-6 to finish the game with a shutout of 2-0. After the game, we headed back to our hotel, which was just a block off the beach, to jump into our suits to catch the late day waves.
And so we loaded the bus at 10 that night to to avoid Labor Day traffic on our way back north. The team, the coaches, and the families all really enjoyed the Southern hospitality, weather, and attractions. However, as I saluted the Coastal Carolina coaching staff good bye, I have a feeling they will not be inviting us back! That's all right, because we were hitting the highway with three hermit crabs, one killer tailgating helmet, lots of new clothes, salt water taffy, a sweet suntan, AND the tournament title!
Go Army, Beat Marist!
