Monday, September 16, 2013

Player of the Week: Valerie Belanger (9/9-9/15)

THE Header Goal


It wasn’t just a tap in, or a simple pass to the back of the net.  No, that simply would not do for junior Valerie Belanger’s first career goal.  It had to be something spectacular, something magnificent, it had to fit Val… and boy did it ever.

Val is consistently one of those players in the right place at the right time in practice.  Particularly on the back post as a cross or a corner comes into the box.  Time and time again she’s there.  The ball will skim her forehead, or drop just short, or go a hair too high.  But she’s there, ready for the ball that comes in and doesn’t drop too soon, or change direction when a defender gets to it first. 

That ball came in across the box on a cross from the right side by Maddison Ackiss on Wednesday, September 11th in the Gusties game versus Martin Luther College, and there was Val, on the back post, in the right spot, where she always is in practice.  The ball came in and cleared all the defenders and the goalkeeper, and Val locked in jumped and connected on a FANTASTIC header.  Boom!  Ball in the back of the net and Val had scored her first career goal in style, with swag, with character, with perseverance and persistence. 


A consummate hard worker and advocate for her teammate through her cheering and enthusiasm, Val is a crucial element of the Gustie team.  The elation that surrounded Val from her teammates, coaches and fans was characteristic of all Val gives to this program on a daily basis, and with that goal, she more than made a lasting mark and set the bar high for fantastic goals for the 2013.  Congratulations on your first career goal Val, as well as being named Player of the Week!


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