The most recent memory to make it to the top 10.
I don't know how to start this without giving away the end. So don't read ahead.
Well my friends and I love our intramural sports. We never miss a flag football or a soccer season. And sophomore year we even played inner-tube water polo. We have championship t-shirts from that! For those of you who are not familiar with the University of Tennessee Intramural program, let me fill you in. Its a big deal. There are always several weeks of regular season play, then about 2 weeks of single elimination playoffs. And the champions get t-shirts. Not the greatest t-shirts ever by any means, but they say INTRAMURAL CHAMPIONS. Yeah, its a big deal.
Lets take the road back a couple years.
Sophomore year was the first year we played together. We weren't expecting much starting that year when we signed up to play co-ed. But after a few games we were starting to realize the potential we had. That fall we lost in the second round of playoffs.
Junior year. Our team looked a little different, but the same core of us played. We had about the same situation. Making it to playoffs but getting out in the quarter finals.
And then Senior year comes along. We played outdoor and only made it to the first round of playoffs. Darn. But our guys team made it to the finals. But they didn't get that last W.
Indoor season. During the regular season we were 3-1. And then playoffs. Oh what a road!!
We were ranked 6th going into the playoffs. Now that doesn't mean a whole lot, and it really depends on the other teams in your time slot, which is totally random.
Our first playoff game. We start out with a point because the other team didn't have enough girls there to start the game. And the other team scores once. 1 to 1. Final buzzer. Overtime is five minutes of sudden death. Nope. No goals then either. And so we have to go to penalty kicks. And fhew, by the skin of our teeth we made it to the next round. Survive and advance.
Round 2. Quarterfinals. We played really hard. And we lost. All sad and bummed that our awesome run of intramural soccer was over.
Two days later our captain gets an email. The team we played that night had been disqualified because they had a Lady Vols soccer player on their team. The rule is that varsity athletes can play intramural sports, but not in the sport they are a varsity athlete in. HOLLA!! Back in the running!!
Semifinals. We were playing very well. Passing, making good runs and good plays. Half time we were 3-0. Well we stepped back on the field and played like a different team. Awful. The other team also came out like a different team. Awesome. So about a minute before the final buzzer goes off they score their third goal. Overtime again. And then penalty kicks. I was about to throw up. I hate PK's. Well then our keeper does some amazing fake out, and we pull through!!! On to the finals!!!!!
The very next night. Walking into that bubble we knew that if we played like we did the second half the night before, we were going to get destroyed. This was probably the most physical intramural soccer game I had ever played. At one point a girl on the other team and I were both going for the ball. We were on defense and after a quick struggle I cleared it. As we are both walking up the field she puts her hand on my face and attempts to snap my neck towards the floor. If you've ever seen me play an intramural sport, you know what happened next was very uncharacteristic of Missy. I kept walking. Jim, one of the guys on my team, said he didn't know what surprised him more, the fact that she almost snapped my neck or the fact that I didn't do anything back.
The first half one of our girls scored. I don't think I mentioned this earlier, but with co-rec play the scoring is a little different. If a girl scores it is two points, where guy goals are still one point. So we were up by two at the half. 2-0 is about the worst place you can be in a soccer game. You're just ahead enough to get a little cocky, but not enough to have a safe margin. Second half. Remember how physical this game was? Well they get their first yellow card. Let me also mention that for an intramural ref to even blow their whistle, its a big deal. About 80% of them do not want to be there and do not pay attention to the game. So for this kid to pull out a yellow card. I mean stop the presses! Shortly after we score another goal. Another girl-goal for that matter. Now it is 4-0 with about five minutes left. And they get ANOTHER yellow card!!! And then about a minute before the game is over they get a third yellow.
The final whistle. 4-0. INTRAMURAL CHAMPIONS!!!!! FINALLY!!! Yeah, its kind of a big deal.
So we got our t-shirts!!! We spent the night at the Hill retelling stories and sharing sweaty hugs. Whew, college life is complete!
Number 4 tomorrow!
