Austen Ends His Travel Soccer Career

So many darn goodbyes lately. Of course lots of new opportunities ahead but goodbyes are still so hard. 

We watched Austen play his final soccer game with Galaxy SC on Friday, July 24th in Orlando, Florida, at the ESPN Complex for USYS Nationals in 90 plus degree heat with a hell of a lot of humidity. 

I will miss so many things about seeing him play the sport that we both loved. His quiet, steady and calm leadership on and off the field with his teammates. His intensity when he knew his team needed to score and how he always somehow grew stronger in those final minutes to really help his team. His headers -which I told him he needed to work on freshman year in high school and now he's one of the best. His direct kicks which were legendary and he scored more than his fair share of goals this way. 

But, I think what I will miss most of all is that time we had together. We shared a love for a game that taught me so much and gave me so much, and I got to pass on those same experiences to Austen. And, boy was he one lucky kid to find two travel teams with some incredible teammates and parents. That game brought him all over the world. He was lucky to travel to Italy with his first travel club when he was going into the 5th grade to play. From there it was off to Florida, Arizona, Texas, North Carolina. Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Nevada, Missouri, Kansas - and so many more states. And, I got to enjoy this ride with him (and sometimes Tom too although he was banned after he kept Austen up all night snoring one time!). 

So many amazing friends

Austen formed some amazing friendships with teammates from both clubs and as a result, we did too. What a ride it has been. And, it's a ride that I'd take again and again with him because even though he spent so much time training, and we spent so much money on travel and training, this sport has made him the incredible person he is now. The structure that was required made him a better student. The hours spent training with teammates made him a better friend. The tough times gave him moments to choose when to use his voice for the greater good. And, the hard-fought victories will give him priceless memories for a lifetime. 

He leaves us soon for college. I'm not sad that he chose not to go to college for soccer. I wanted to do college for college too. But, I am happy that his freshman college roommate is one of his old teammates. So was mine. So many things to be gained from playing this sport - long after the final whistle. 

Lots of emotion as he comes off the field in his final game

His final team