This Month in Marin FC – September 2018
This Month in Marin FC summarizes the month’s news and notes in a series of ‘high-level’ briefs from various club constituents.
In This Edition
From the President
Here are a few highlights and news tidbits from the past month:
Summer wanes and fall’s horizon inches ever closer.
Lungs on Fire
Perhaps other players experience this, or I’m just old, but I find that the first 15 minutes after kickoff tests your mettle unlike any other. At the warm up, you’re cold and it takes some internal will to overpower the inertia, and at the waning minutes of a half or full time, the muscles let you know just how long a game it has been. But something unique and undeniable transforms those first few minutes at full speed, when the score sits on zeros and the game could go in any direction. Doubt, excitement, fear, and fervor all ricochet around your lungs with each breath. And we are in this moment at the turn of September.
The Season Warm Up Ends
The summer of camps, team bonding, friendlies and tournaments concludes with numerous successes and newly galvanized squads ready to embark on their campaigns. The schedule ahead presents a thick web of league and state cup matches. The fall weekends will be replete with soccer action on our fields, and treks to opponent grounds. And we are ready.
The Players
The pumping engine of trainings will see red practice jerseys peppering the afternoon fields, and match days will demand both preparation and pilgrimage. The players must trust in themselves and their teammates. Supporting them are coaches, team leaders and parents who will each encourage, exalt and rally when the onrush becomes toughest. And we will be spellbound.
Every Game
Marin FC has cultivated a reputation of hosting exceptional matches. Our teams play an admirable style and balance passion with poise. As we welcome our opponents, persisting in this tradition of honoring the game, our opponents, their fans and the officials is paramount. On the road, Marin FC have always been respectful and gracious guests, whether in victory or defeat (or that uniquely vexing soccer classic, the draw). On the field or on its perimeter, maintaining our standard is everyone’s job. And we can take pride in our banner.
Those Score lines
There will be wins and losses. Injuries will antagonize our best intentions. Hard tackles and ingenious break away plays will keep the game oscillating. Last minute game winners may not outnumber missed chances, but when they materialize they will be commemorated with Fortnight dances (ask your player). The full-time whistles may bring joy, chagrin or relief, but each should be remembered as only a small milestone along the lengthier road of development, both as players and people. And it should be no other way.
Fueling the Effort
Special thanks and recognition this month to those that went above and beyond. Every manager and treasurer … thank you for gathering, navigating and leading. Thanks to Sport Basement and those who took advantage of their season kick-off special which generated over $600 towards our financial aid effort. Kudos to Janet Pero for managing the uniform transition for over 900 players! Thanks to Julie Shepherd for transforming the SCIR program and to Chas Thorp for pushing us to a more consistent and longer-term scheduling regime. Applause for Lynetta Matteo for swiftly managing registrations, player cards, and the impenetrable labyrinth of Kyck, US Club and Got Soccer. And for all this and more, we are grateful.
So, let the burning breath commence. Revel in your team and the tests of competition. Show your skills and fly the flag of club spirit! And ending on that note … players … keep an eye on your mailboxes.
Evan Cross, President
From the Director of Coaching
Here are a few highlights and news tidbits from the past month:
In Tournament News
The 00B Blue made it to the quarter-finals, and the 06B Blue made it to the semi-finals of the Santa Clara Sporting Tournament. The 01G Blue, 03G Blue and 04G Blue all won the Magic Cup, an impressive feat!
And the 05G Red won the top division, the 04G White won the third division, and the 03G White lost in the third division finals of the Stanford Summer Classic.
In League Play
Teams are getting underway both with State Cup and league play and are excited to be getting the season underway.
– Josh Kalkstein, DOC
In the Spotlight
This month’s spotlight features an interview with Pomona-Pitzer freshman, Helen Robinowitz. Here’s what she had to say:
Tell our readers a little about yourself.
My name is Helena Robinowitz and I was born in San Francisco in May of 2000. I have a 14-year old sister and 12-year-old brother. I’ve been playing soccer for 14 years but started playing competitively in 6th grade. I attended Saint Ignatius College Prep, but only played soccer my junior and senior years due to injury. Academically, I loved science and matt, with chem being my favorite subject. I just graduated in June and am now a freshman at Pomona College, which is part of the Claremont Consortium.
Recollect your Marin FC experience if you will.
Before joining Marin FC, I played for the San Francisco Vikings (U11-U13) and the Burlingame Rays (U13). Josh Kalkstein was my first Marin FC coach and we did very well our first season, finishing 4th in the Champions Division. I tore my ACL, MCL, and meniscus at the end of my spring season and was out for a year but came back a year later to start my U16 season with Kelly Coffey. Kelly was my coach from U16-U18/19, and although we didn’t get the results we hoped for, our team had a ton of character and grit. Some of my favorite memories included my time in Sweden and Denmark before my U14 season, the trip to Spain and Portugal before my U16 season, and going to tournaments like Surf, Vegas, and Jefferson Cup.
What other schools did you look at and why did you ultimately pick Pomona-Pitzer?
I looked at Pomona-Pitzer, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Haverford, Swarthmore, St. Louis, and Johns Hopkins. I knew I wanted to play at a D3 level at a school where academics were a top priority. While these schools fit that criteria, I ultimately decided I wanted to stay in California because of the weather and vicinity to friends and family. That narrowed my choice down to Pomona-Pitzer and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. This was a tough decision because they are both amazing programs and part of the Claremont Consortium. Ultimately, however, I decided to pursue Pomona-Pitzer as my top choice because of the connection I forged with the coaching staff during the recruitment process. Coach Jen and Dave are great people and coaches, and I knew that I would grow as a player and a person playing for them. Also, Pomona has a strong academic core and a stellar cognitive science program.
What were some of the adjustments you had to make to successfully transition from club to collegiate ball?
The main difference between club and college ball is the speed of play. Everyone is faster, stronger, and more technical, and my first practice was an eye opener. However, the experience of playing with college players from schools like UPenn, UC Riverside, and Bowdoin at Marin FC helped with the transition.
Summarize your experience to date.
Because the season hasn’t started yet, there isn’t much to summarize unfortunately. Pre-season has been exciting though, and we won our first scrimmage 2-0 vs Hope International University. I got to play a lot in both attacking center midfield and attacking outside midfield positions, and it was exhilarating to play in a competitive match again. I’ve also loved getting closer to the team and making new friends. Everyone on the team is passionate about soccer and very committed to the team both as players and people, and I’m excited to see myself grow and thrive in this new environment.
What are you learning in college that will translate to life beyond school?
I’m learning that time management is critical. There is so much to do in college and many times it’s difficult to have enough time to do everything, especially sleep. I’ve also learned that it’s important to be open-minded when meeting new people.
From athletics to academics. What are you studying?
I’m undeclared as of now but am very interested in Cognitive Science and Psychology. However, I’m planning on taking courses in a wide variety of areas because I may change my mind. I’m also planning on getting a minor in Italian. I hope to study abroad in Italy either my Sophomore or Junior year.
Any interests outside of soccer?
I love to snowboard. I went to Chile this summer with an all-women group to snowboard and it was one of the best experiences of my life. As a follow-on, I’m planning on going to the mountains a lot this winter and spring with the Claremont ski and snowboard club. I also love to go to the beach, try new foods, listen to music, watch documentaries, and hang out with my friends and family.
Any thoughts on life after college?
I have no idea what I want to do after college. I know I’d like to live on the West Coast somewhere close to the mountains. I also want to continue to play soccer in an adult or semi-pro league.
The Marin FC alumni community is alive and well. Do you keep in touch with many of your former teammates?
Some of my best friends were formed during my time with Marin FC. I keep in touch with them all via social media and will hang out with my closer friends when we’re back home on breaks. I will always be grateful for my soccer friends and plan to stay in touch with them for as long as I can.
Anyone you want to thank or recognize at Marin FC?
I want to thank Josh and Kelly for being great coaches and for supporting me through injuries, bad games, and tough moments, as well as celebrating my successes! I remember in my first Marin FC game at the SF Cup, Josh put me in at center forward. I’ve always been a calm player and haven’t always taken as many risks as I should have. Josh subbed me out and told me to be brave. When he subbed me back in, I got the ball, and remembering his words, turned with it, shot and scored. It remains one of my favorite soccer memories and has inspired me to take risks on the field since.
Before I let you go, give us a little insight into your interests and passions. Name three books on your book shelf, three gadgets you couldn’t live without, and three artists/bands in your iPod.
My three favorite books are A Tale of Emerald Cities by Jennifer Egan, The Jungle by Orson Gladwell, and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Three gadgets I couldn’t live without are my iPhone, laptop, and earbuds, if the latter counts. And for music, I like 21 Pilots, Quinn XCII, and Death Cab for Cutie.
How can our readers follow you if they’d like to track your athletic activities?
They can follow the Pomona-Pitzer soccer team through the Sagehens Athletics App or on our website: http://www.sagehens.com/sports/wsoc/index
From the Director of Development
Got Team News?
To share a game summary or tournament recap:
- Visit MarinFC.com
- Locate ‘Media & Info’ under ‘About Marin FC’ at the top of the page
- Click ‘Submit an Article’
Alternatively, click here: https://forms.marinfc.com/submit-an-article/
Edited posts will be added to our website homepage “latest club news” section and posted on our Facebook page within 48 hours. We encourage you to use this tool to keep all in the club informed re: individual and team accomplishments. A big thanks to those of you that use it already.
– Ian Tonks, Director of Development