So proud

Sept. 11, 2006 - Lauren Karas has won all seven of the

decisions in her Notre Dame career.

Sept. 27, 2006 - Lauren Karas has helped Notre Dame

allow just one goal in the past five games and

currently ranks among the nation's leaders

in goals-against average and save percentage

(photo by Matt Cashore).

I just have to share how proud I am of C. She plays for a select soccer team and recently her coaches figured out the "magic formula," meaning they figured out what players were best at what positions. So now that they have that info, they keep the players in the positions they play best and excel at. That means C is in her favorite place - the goalie box.

She's a tremendous goalie. Last summer she attended Notre Dame's (remember we bleed the blue and gold of the Fighting Irish) and met one of the goalies for the Women's team, Lauren Karas. C just loved her, introduced her to us on bookstore day, and wanted her pic taken with her before C left camp. Karas (as C affectionately calls her) even sold my mom one of her old goalie jerseys (worn during their National Championship year in 2004) as a gift for C. (C didn't take it off for DAYS!) We even got to watch her play and chat with her when ND played UC in September 2006. She learned a lot from Karas and from watching Karas and now does a lot of the same things (attacks the ball, directs traffic, makes sure her team knows when to "help" or "get back" or when to let the "keeper" get the ball instead of them).

So today we made a quick visit to Soccer Village for some goalie items (gloves, pants that protect hips and thighs) before her game tonight. For the past 2 games she'd been in goal the entire game, so dear hubby and I decided it was time to get her the gear she needs to play well and stay "safe." I told her to play hard tonight. Not only did she play hard, but so did her team. They played an outstanding game and won 2-0. (It would have been 3-0 but one of the goals was called back for offsides.) She had some wonderful saves and her entire team played their hearts out and did a fantastic job. The team they beat tonight was undefeated and shoved A LOT. Our girls didn't back down and gave as good as they got. I'm proud of the girls on our team and especially proud of C. She did a wonderful job and is having fun. You could just tell from how she played. She is definately following in the footsteps of one of her idols.

Oh, did I mention that when C's team gave out numbers she happened to get the same number as Karas is for ND - #6. C was thrilled beyond words when she found that out!

Go Rowdies!! Go, C!! Go, Irish!! Go, Karas!! Thanks for inspiring our girl to be all she can be! Keep up the good work.