Feeling Lucky - Dreams Come True… Just Maybe Not In The Way You Expected

My blog today is something I have been thinking about over the last week. I have had the pleasure of working on the Creative Team for UNC Women's Soccer this season. Thank you to Chandler Brandes for allowing me to be apart of this group. Over the last few months I have had front row seats to Kate Faasse’s game winning headers, superhuman saves by Claire Gagne and lots and lots of celebrations. This season for UNC Women’s Soccer started with a dramatic program change with the retirement of Anson Dorrance. Assistant, now Interim Head Coach, Damon Nahas, took the helm and has led this powerhouse of a team to the College Cup. Growing up, my dream was to play for UNC and as I advanced into my soccer career I learned that college soccer was not the path I was going to take. The ups and downs of the end of your athletic career comes with a lot of emotions, one of which is feeling that you did not make your younger self proud. I remember the dream journals and recruiting meetings always saying “one day I’ll go to the College Cup with UNC.” And through all the doubt and sadness after deciding not to play collegiate soccer, here I am going to the College Cup… just not in the way I initially thought.?

This Friday I get to shoot my first NCAA Championship Tournament event. And I may be biased, but I get to shoot the most thrilling and historic game for the College Cup. UNC and Duke are meeting for the fourth time, in an all-ACC final four. My first game for UNC was the away game at Koskinen Stadium, where we lost a hard fought battle. The Heels fell again to Duke on Senior Day at home. All of which led to a tense and chippy ACC Semifinal where UNC came away with a game winner in the final moments of the game. This game and the goal by Trinity Armstrong is my favorite clip and moment I have ever shot… so far. I cannot wait for the fourth and final rematch between these two strong teams. It reminds me of a certain basketball game where we sent Coach K sweetly into retirement…?anyways!

Little Caroline might be confused that I am not wearing a jersey, but all of her hopes and prayers of being at the College Cup have come true. I spoke with my boss, Amanda Shike , after my first game for Women’s Soccer about how it was hard to shoot and the sting of standing so close to something you wanted for so long. Watching the warmups, all I wanted to do was strap on my cleats and get in the game. However, I have new goals and new aspirations and my work with the soccer team has elevated my portfolio, increased my skill and dynamic shooting ability and overall made me more confident in video. I may not have a jersey on, but have I felt apart of the team every step of the way. Standing in the huddles, filming emotional celebrations and capturing heart-racing winning moments. Thank you for one of the greatest seasons as a fan and as a Creative staff member, let’s win this thing!