For the past two years I have been a Ragin' Cajun soccer player, and I loved it. To me, playing soccer at a Division 1 college in America is living out a dream, and I am thankful to Coach Poggi for giving me the opportunity to do that.
I have played soccer since I was 5 years old and loved every minute of it. Of the 20 different coaches I have had, some of them national team level coaches, Coach Poggi has been the most influential, both on and off the field, the most teaching and the most caring about his players, simply the best coach to make me understand the game better. His positive and motivating attitude reflected on the team and made me believe in myself.
Because of Coach Poggi, I have grown both as a person and as a soccer player in those two years. I earned a 4.0 the past three semesters, and my freshman year (2004), I was voted co-captain by our team, became an all-conference player and tied for the most points and goals on our team. Also, I was Conference Player of the Week in October 2004, got the UL Soccer Sporting Behavior Award and got nominated to the 2005 NCAA Leadership Conference.
I am a very determined person. I work hard in school and in practice. This is how I was raised. I want to be the best I can be.
It's a wonder to me how such a great coach like Poggi, who stepped down to coach Division 1 Women's Soccer after having coached professionally and internationally, could get dismissed the way he did.
I want to thank Coach Poggi and his two assistants (Ryan Tucker and Ashleigh Jones) for two great years as a Ragin' Cajun, and for my achievements which I only got because they pushed me and the team all the way. With Coach Poggi on the sideline, I was more ready to play than I have ever been.