Every coach knows his team will have good days and bad days. Today, facing their arch-rivals from seven seasons of competition, the Palos were in for a challenge.
That they trailed only 0-1 at the half was a credit to how well they played.
At half, their coach exhorted them to fight hard in the second half, which they came out and did. But the other team was too skilled, and a few breaks went their way as well.
As these events were transpiring on the field, a cold front moved in from the ocean nearby, peppering the sky with a thousands puffs of white. A chill came over the scene.
The girls fought on, now without any real hope of catching the other team before the final whistle, but pushed to the opposing net over and over and finally -- on one of the corner kick set pieces they have practiced with their coach for weeks, punched in a goal late in the game.
Final score 1-4. "Keep your heads up," called their coach. "You played well."
On the way back, he told me, "I'm glad they scored that goal."
Something to build on after a loss. He's thinking like a coach. It's about halfway through the season, their record is 3-2, and until today, improbably, they were in first place.
So, a winning season seems within reach, which would be a first, and a run at the playoffs. Looking up at the sky as we walked off, I thought to myself about all the things that athletics represents -- winning, losing, sportsmanship, persistence, the value of hard work, never giving up.
Never giving up. That's the big one. That's the one so many people right now, tonight, in so many desperate situations, need.
Don't give up. Play on. There will be a different day, when the clouds pass, the sun shines, and the match turns out a different way.
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