Milkshake Game

In our family, the best athletic performances are rewarded with milkshakes.  A milkshake game is a game in which the girls work particularly hard, especially given the circumstances.  It has nothing to do with scoring goals, but it has everything to do with digging deep and working to their fullest potential.  Elizabeth earned a milkshake after a really great performance in a soccer game last spring against West Hartford and ever since, Emily has been gunning for one of her own.  Although she is a talented little athlete, Emily often falls short with her effort.
After a less than mediocre performance on Saturday night, Emily had a banner soccer game yesterday afternoon.  Much to our dismay, she recently started playing goalie - while she is not particularly good, she's been practicing and works hard at it.  At Sunday's game, neither of the team goalies were available due to the holiday weekend, so Emily played the first half in net.  She didn't allow a single goal and had a couple of nice saves.  She also did a better job of distributing the ball after her saves, making nice throws to the outside and up the field.  In the second half, she played very hard on the field.  She pushed and shoved and fought for balls.  She scored two goals - one all on her own and a "shared" goal - both she and her teammate claimed they touched the ball at exactly the same time, so that they shared it.  She also had some great passes, which I really love to see.  When the game was over, she was hot and sweaty, her face all red and I said to her: "I think you've got your milkshake game."  Her grin was so huge.  Number 11 knew that she worked hard and was very proud of herself.

First half as keeper.  My anxiety far surpasses hers.  I am usually sick to my stomach the entire time that she is in net.

 Keeper.

 "Shared" goal.

Goal!

 

Happy Girl!

Milkshake Game!