Last weekend, UNC Pleiades had the opportunity to play the elite club women’s team, Phoenix. In Phoenix’s inaugural year, they out-played regional competition to qualify for nationals and later established themselves as one of the top-10 teams in the country (all with the help of four Pleiads). Pleiades captain Leila Tunnell doubled as co-captain of Phoenix and was joined by fellow grad student Britta Jones, as well as senior Janna Coulter and junior Lindsay Lang. Thankfully, all four of them played for Pleiades during the showcase game, but the same cannot be said for Pleiades coach and Phoenix co-captain Lindsey Hack….
Phoenix at Club Nationals 2010
Getting to play such an amazing team of club women (including our traitorous coach, who called a Phoenix win by 8…try 9) was a great opportunity for Pleiades to learn how to handle competition beyond the level of any college team. The game ended up being more of a lesson in mental fortitude than anything else (although we did score the first point!). The final count was Phoenix 13, Pleiades 4, which I don’t think accurately reflects how well we “hung in there.” If this first game of the spring college season is any indication (it is), then with a hearty dose of hard work Pleiades will undoubtedly make it a long way this season.
I think Lee Ann Womack had Boulder in mind when she sang, “I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance.”
