University of North Carolina Athletics
First Person: "We Are Family" - Rams Club
I remember my recruiting visit like it was yesterday. I can see myself as a nervous teenager, standing on the balcony overlooking Fetzer Field, while legendary soccer coach Anson Dorrance is asking me if I want to be a Tar Heel. He wants to know if I want to be part of one of the best dynasties in college sports. He is inquiring if I want to go to this amazing school, one where I will be fulfilled academically and intellectually, be happy socially with good human beings around me, and pushed athletically, where the best want to become better. I was asked one of the most important questions in my life. Do I want to be part of the Carolina Family?
Anson probably coated it with more colorful language and anecdotes, but in essence that is what he asked me that day. And I am so glad I said yes. Because not only did I win two national championships here and become a much better soccer player and person, but I also learned a very important lesson that I will always carry with me: Relationships are important, and community is everything.
I played on the US Women's National Team with some pretty amazing players. Some of the players are considered the very best women's soccer players on the planet. But there is something different about the Tar Heels on the team. Sure, the love of our school that we have can be seen from the other players as a little over the top. But most importantly the love, respect, and bonds with each other that we have is immense.
After the World Cup victory, the Tar Heels took a picture with the World Cup trophy on the confetti littered field. There were six of us on our team of 23 players. Three times the next program. That picture is proudly hung in the soccer office now, as a reminder that dreams do come true, and relationships are important, and community is everything.
In September, I retired from the US Women's National Team after nearly 15 years and 231 games played with the team. Who presented me with my framed jersey on the field? My friend, mentor, and let's be clear, my idol growing up and Carolina icon, Mia Hamm. It was a very special moment for me. Also, present there was my husband Dave, who I met here at Carolina, and was a Morehead Scholar and on the lacrosse team, and my agent Dan Levy (a Tar Heel) whose wife is Jenny Levy, UNC's National Champion winning women's lacrosse coach.
It certainly was a special moment for me in my career, not only because I got to reflect on the wonderful times I had as a member of the US Women's National Team, but because I was surrounded by so many people with whom I shared an incredible bond. Because relationships are important, and community is everything.
Whether by marriage or by sweat, or just through love for this place, we are family. I have been fortunate enough to travel the globe because of soccer, but my heart always takes me back to this place. And although originally a Jersey girl, and Dave a proud Canadian, we now happily call Chapel Hill our home. And I love it. I love going to 411 West, and Root Cellar and playing pick-up soccer at lunchtime with the soccer coaches and going to sporting events in our Carolina Blue golf cart.
Yes, we own a Carolina Blue golf cart. Are we hardcore? Yeah, we are. And we are proud. Seeing James Taylor play “Carolina in My Mind” with Fetzer Field in the background in early November will be etched in my memory the same way that recruiting visit chat with Anson is.
When I returned home from the Rio Olympics, we had a little bit of time off to regroup before heading back with our professional teams. So, one day, I went to the UNC soccer practice. Sometimes I am able to jump in with the team, sometimes Anson just wants the team to get repetitions. In this particular case, Anson asked if I could step out of a drill. Of course, I said no problem.
Later that evening, Anson shot me a text message apologizing and wanted me to know that I was always welcome and that he and the team loved having me there. I told him there was no need to apologize, that I was more than happy to just watch. I told him that I don't just go to the practices for my game, but I go for my soul. He was so touched that he shared it with the team for his next game's pre-game speech. And guess what? They won.
Because relationships are important, and community is everything.
We are the Carolina Family.
This story appeared in the February 2017 issue of Born & Bred magazine.