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From Bloomfield to Beantown:
First Game
in the College Goal
By Kristin Demorest
November 2002
 I
set my alarm for 9:30. We had to be the bus by 12 and I wanted plenty
of time to eat and wake up. I actually only slept until 8 because I
had so much energy for the games — I couldn't stay in bed any
longer. It seemed that I had been waiting for an eternity for this day
to come.
After just a few practices with my new team and plenty of summer conditioning,
wall ball, camps, informal throw-arounds and runs in the fall, I was
finally going to play my first real college game! The feeling I had
today is hard to describe. On one hand, I felt an extreme sense of excitement,
nervousness, and even a little fear while on the other, a sense of calm.
I knew I was ready.
The morning seemed to crawl by...with breakfast...icing my newly and
thoroughly bruised shoulder and shin, and a monumental battle trying
to braid my recently-cut hair (totally a girl thing to say before a
game, but at least I wasn't spending my time accessorizing!). By the
time I finished with everything, it was 11 o'clock and I still had an
hour to go. I didn't mind though. I've always been really early to the
bus, I headed across the river to play with the wall and get ready.
In no time we were off.
The scorching hot sun reflected off of the BU turf during warm ups,
and I slowly began to lose the sense of calm I had felt so deeply before.
I was anxious, and although I was still excited, I was very nervous.
When warm-ups finished, I had no idea whether I would be starting, until
my coach pointed at me and said “You're in.” At first I
was like, “You mean ME?,” but then my face broke into a
huge smile as I jogged out to my goal — full of intensity, excitement,
and with a stomach full of butterflies.
Soon balls were flying at me (and past me) in my first college game!
It was an intense half defensively, as the ball rarely went into our
attacking end. I felt the speed of the game hitting me full force, and
although I felt close to many of the shots, they seemed to just be out
of my reach.
I never stopped trying and I knew that I would eventually get them,
but I ran out of time. Following half time, disappointed in the fact
that I had not made any big saves, I watched our team pull out a victory
(yeah!) while the other goalie on our team played.
Before the next game, however, something largely impacted my performance
— I found my sense of calm. Despite the fact that I hadn't performed
my best against BU, I started again. This time, though, I felt the calming
sensation from the moment I stepped in the crease and it showed in my
play. I knew that I could get any shot and found a new edge.
Although we lost to BU, I learned something about myself that day:
I could play Division I -- I just needed to relax, watch the ball,
and HAVE FUN. If the fun I had when I found this state is any indication
of what's to come, I can't wait for the next 4 years!
A Glance at our Columnist: Kristin Demorest
Kristin Demorest
Harvard University, Class of 2005
Hometown: Birmingham, Michigan
High School: Seaholm High School
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