CALUMET & TIU POSE AFTER A JOINT PRACTICE TUESDAY - Dana LarmourCalumet of St. Joseph’s College Crimson Wave Women’s Soccer forfeited their third game this season Tuesday against the Trinity International University (TIU) Trojans. The Crimson Wave (0-12) are battling a variety of injuries in addition to a slim roster.
Despite the forfeit, the TIU women’s soccer program traveled to Indiana for a combined training session with Calumet to encourage them and show them love.
Led by the inspiration of Athletic Director and Coach Patrick Gilliam, the women’s soccer team desires to be others’ focused this year. This is not just an ideal set aside for the off-season, but a mindset lived out even during the unpredictable demands of the fall.
The decision to go was made by the Trojans via a 36-party conference call at 10:45 the night before. Typical teams would have used the forfeit as an opportunity to go scout other league matches to be better prepared for future opponents in the post-season. Robert Morris College and Trinity Christian College, both top teams in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), had games that evening.
“Success in soccer is not the most import thing,” said Gilliam. “The most important thing is how when we see somebody in need we reach out and minister to that need.”
On Tuesday afternoon, 30 TIU women’s soccer players joined seven Calumet players, traded names, training t-shirts, and a cheer. The teams ran sprints, practiced drills and competed in a full-field scrimmage under the leadership of a combined coaching staff.
Lightning and thunderstorms emerged from a clear sky, and although the blinding wind and heavy rainfall made training difficult, the energy and hustle on the field increased.
“You are a classy bunch of ladies,” said Calumet of St. Joseph’s College Head Women’s Soccer Coach Emily King to the Trojans in a the post-practice huddle. King’s is a first-year coach at Calumet. She graduated in 2006 from Valparaiso University where she played NCAA soccer for four years.
When the training time expired and the rain did not, the group huddled as one, hands in, and on a three-count shouted “unity.” The players stripped off their soaked shirts, shorts, shoes and socks, and took refuge in a gym to eat pizza and fellowship.
Reflecting on a time when he coached a high school team that had similar injury and roster setbacks to Calumet, Coach Gilliam prayed aloud for Coach Emily and her developing program. The Trojans didn’t plan to engage in direct evangelism that afternoon, but trusted that if they were hearers and doers of the Word, the Holy Spirit would do His work.
“Hopefully along the way they ask what’s inside of people that makes them give up their afternoon to drive down here and do it joyfully and excitedly,” said Gilliam.
The teams have continued contact through Facebook, an online social network.
“We had a lot of fun and enjoyed you guys coming out,” wrote Calumet women’s soccer player Jorie Arnold in a Facebook message. “It lifted our spirits and we thank you very much!”
