08/06/2015
No luck in final game of the season
On the day before graduation, SG Findorff were our last opponents of the season. They were good enough to put the game forward and move to campus so that the families of the graduating girls could see them play one time. Unfortunately, we were without Sarah, Laura and Erica, something that probably ended up being the difference between finishing the season with 4 wins in a row and giving it our best shot and just coming up short.
With only eleven girls, including Martina, who had a foot injury and Melissa, who had a whole body injury, the team started cautiously and tried to soak up the pressure from the young team from the city. Findorff had more of the ball but were constantly stopped by the orange wall, especially Rici and Felly, that stood in front of Gaby in goal. On only one occasion was there a glitch and this resulted in a goal for the visitors but as in the last few weeks, this didn't get the girls down and cheered on by what sounded like 400 Finnish family members (thanks Aila's family!), the girls, at times playing with only 10 due to the pain being too much for Martina or Melissa, started to make chances. On 3 occasions, it could have been 1-1, Aila even went around the keeper only to have her shot blocked by the defender on the line - it would have been the fitting end to her time at Jacobs, but it wasn't to be.
Half time came and went, Playing with effectively somewhere between 9 and 10 players was beginning to take its toll but again, the orange wall stood firm, with Melissa even helping out at some point! When they did get through, Gaby was flying across the goal to keep them out, much to the delight of her selfie-stick wielding mum! Every last ounce of energy was used trying to get that one chance to put a nice end to the last game for some of the girls who helped create this team and have been there during all three years but it just wasn't to be. Perhaps a fitting end - fighting against the odds with important players missing and just missing out - to the three years that the girls gave us.
This meant the final score was Jacobs University 0 SG Findorff 1 - beaten but by no means disgraced. The eleven girls on the field were all winners.
Now, graduating seniors Gaby, Adriana, Aila, Martina, Erica, Laura and Sarah leave us to take on their next adventures in life. We thank them for all their efforts for the team and wish them all the best for the future. Hopefully, we'll see you on the field again one day!
