Soccer Begins Preseason Camp in Orange Beach
8/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. -- It's beach time, but not in the sense that most people are used to. As the last few days of the summer break slip away, the sand and the sea signal not the end of summer, but the beginning of another Alabama soccer season. For the sixth time in the last eight years the city of Orange Beach, Alabama will serve as the preseason home of the Crimson Tide soccer team. Over the coming week, www.rolltide.com will chronicle Alabama's preseason workouts through a series of diary entries from Alabama players. The fun starts Monday and will continue right up until the Tide's season-opening scrimmage at the UA Soccer Stadium on Saturday, August 19 against Samford at 7 p.m.
A Tradition Continues
Alabama's relationship with the city of Orange Beach began in 1999. The initial journey was also the last preseason for Alabama Soccer legend Martha Mouring, who finished her career as Alabama's all-time assist leader and is the only Alabama player to start every game of her collegiate career. In 1998 she led the Tide to its first NCAA Tournament appearance. Two-time All-SEC performer Missy Keller and Kim Zarzour also cut their teeth in Orange Beach as freshmen and eventually emerged as leaders before another freshman class that featured the likes of Kylie Boyd and Libby Probst, the program's most prolific scoring tandem.
"The girls who helped to build Alabama soccer aren't here in person this week," said Staley, "but everything they did throughout the years; and all the blood, sweat and tears they gave to this program are here. Their efforts live on in this group of young ladies."
Preseason Camp: Day 1
At 6:05 a.m. Saturday we caravanned out of Tuscaloosa for Orange Beach led by Coach Staley in his 24-foot Budget truck. The truck was loaded down with an assortment of equipment and gear and followed by the rest of the team in three different vans.
"We were all tired," said midfielder Alex Butera, "so we knew that we'd have to do what we could to keep our driver, (assistant coach) Katie Barnes awake. We kept a never-ending barrage of loud music coming her way."
And just to show that Coach Staley isn't always in control as much as it appears, while unloading the Budget truck he was viciously attacked by several practice dummies and a rolled-up portable soccer goal net. Fortunately he survived the attack and emerged a stronger and more determined leader.
After moving into our condos and a trip to the grocery store, it was time for our first practice. Our friends from the Auburn soccer team are training here, too. We greeted them for a few minutes before getting down to business.
"I think we came out strong today and practiced with a lot of communication and intensity," said freshman forward Grace Lawson.
After wrapping up the first day's practice and enjoying a delicious pizza dinner junior Chelsea Stang got a little closer to an armadillo than she ever imagined. From there it was back to the condos and into bed to dream about what Day 2 will hold for us as we continue training camp in Orange Beach.
Signing off,
The Alabama Soccer Team
P.S. We miss you Annie B.!!!
