Let the Recovery Begin

Thank you all so much for your prayers and your kind notes. 

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A few seconds after this photo was taken, Patrick tore his MCL. He was very, very fortunate to come away with his meniscus and his ACL intact. He asks me to point out how well muscled and fit that leg is;-).

Thankfully, he does not appear to require surgery. He is looking with hope towards a summer of healing and plans to be back on the pitch before the fall.

We are all so appreciative of your kindness and concern. 

Let's Just Say He Put His Best Foot Forward

 

When this little boy was growing up, I'd frequently have to call him back to the table or remind him to pick up a book. And I was always asking him not to kick around things that weren't really meant to be kicked. The refrain was, "Paddy, you can't kick your way into college." 

He'd smile and wink and his eyes would  twinkle, Oh yes I can.

And he did.

After carefully considering colleges from all over the country, after visiting nearly every school in the ACC, after thinking hard about the Ivy League possibilities, Patrick made a decision.

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And since I'm his mom and I rarely get to write sports press releases, (and I actually get to scoop ESPN today), I'm going to offer you the press release, with some links they're not likely to include;-).

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Patrick Foss, ranked #16 in the country on ESPN's list of Top 150 Recruits for 2013 has committed today to attend the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.  Patrick is a homeschooled junior who plans to graduate high school in December of 2012 and begin his studies at UVa in January 2013. His soccer career thus far has been quite a journey.

He could kick a soccer ball before he was really walking. He'd hold onto the couch and give it a go. He begged his way onto Christian's team when he was really too young to play and he's made a mark ever since.

Patrick spent his sophomore year in Bradenton, Florida as a fulltime member of the US U-17 National Team Residency Program. He ranked top in his class academically.

He is currently a member of the DC United Youth Academy and has played exceptionally well on the Reserve Team. While at DC United, his side won the SUM Cup in 2010. When he traveled with the U-17 squad to to the 2011 AEGON/AJax Future Cup in Amsterdam, he was the Golden Boot Winner (the player who scored the most goals in the tournament).

He was a member of the Virginia Olympic Development Team from 2005-2009 and was selected captain of the side in 2009.

As a homeschooled freshman playing for Leesburg Christian Academy, he led the Lions to a Virginia State Championship and was named ODACS State MVP.

He played for the Herndon Real Juniors from 2003-2010, captaining the team to the Number 1 youth soccer ranking in the United States. The Juniors captured an unprecedented 5 National Capital Soccer league Division 1 titles and won the State Cup in 2009.

 

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Don't ever tell Paddy he can't. 

Oh yes he can.

We're  ever so pleased to see him embrace the opportunity the next chapter presents. He's made a wise decision and we couldn't be happier for him.

Intentional Weekend: Going Home

We took a quick trip to Charlottesville this weekend. Yesterday, Mike, Patrick, and I toured the University of Virginia and spent a good deal of time with the soccer coaching staff. Awesome place; I'd go there in a heartbeat;-). Paddy spent the night in the dorms. Mike and I went back to my dad's and Barbara's to hang out with them and the little siblings. We actually kicked back for awhile. I left the camera home and almost instantly regretted it. Katie captured these shots on Mike's cell phone.

 

MikeCville
 ~ a little surfing~

Knitcville

~a little knitting~

Girlscville

~we have the same toys at home but they seem better here, somehow~

 

Birthdaycville

~a birthday celebration for the 6 kids who have birthdays this month~

Tablecville
~ a yummy dinner (and leftovers for breakfast)~

 

We're heading home, all our ACC visits finished now. Paddy has some prayerful discerning to do. But, oh, how amazing, the opportunities this sport continues to offer him!

A child who's born on the Sabbath day...

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Our dear friend Fr. Bob tells the story of the day Patrick was born. "I looked out into the congregation just before the Consecration and noticed you were not in your usual places. And I thought to myself that a very special baby must be greeting the world." 

As it turned out, that was exactly when Patrick was born. 

Seventeen years ago.

Happy, happy birthday to the dear boy who is everything the old rhyme promised us.

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Little Sarah Anne2

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Patrick Reflects on Soccer So Far

About a week ago, my mom was asked by one of her readers if I would write guest post on her blog about how to achieve the success that I have in soccer. My first thought was, “why me?”  Then I thought about the year I’ve had and I realized that I’ve become a role model to young players. That’s a very cool, very scary feeling. So here it is: the keys to my success in soccer so far.

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I’ve played soccer since I could walk, kicked anything and everything I came across that resembles a ball and I’ve watched countless games. I don’t remember choosing soccer, but rather it seems to have always been part of me. To this day, about twice a year, my dad asks me flat out, “Do you want to play soccer anymore?” My response has always been "yes" and I can’t see myself not playing any time soon. That brings me to my first key to success: I love to play. 

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When I started my soccer career at age 4, playing for the under-6 “Blue Devils,” I couldn’t wait for Saturdays because it was another chance to “make the other team cry.”  Yes you read that right, I loved to make other kids cry. Today as I sit here I have (almost) the same thoughts going through my head. Only a few more days until I get the chance to win. The phrase that comes out of the mouth of youth sports coaches that annoys me most is, “It’s not about winning.” For me, its a little bit about winning; winning on the soccer field, winning in basement hockey, winning in backyard soccer, and even this past year, winning in the classroom. Now I realize that is not the perfect attitude for youth sports and I probably shouldn’t have that mentality; but I do and that is the second key to my success: I’m a competitor.

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The third key is something that has always been totally out of my control. I was born with a tremendous amount of God-given talent. Raw talent can take you a long way; I’ve seen it. However, you will most definitely hit a brick wall if you rely on talent alone.  In my very first years of travel soccer, I played with a kid who had even more talent than I did (although I would have never admitted it). We were the ultimate duo-- we won every tournament there is the win in the Washington, D.C. area. It wasn’t so much the winning though; it was how we were winning- nobody could play with our team and we won almost every game by 5 goals or more. That was from U-9 to about U-12. Right now he is a high-school dropout and doesn’t play soccer anymore. So what was the difference between the two of us? I had a huge support system behind me. He didn’t. That may be the most important part of my success. I have parents, siblings, coaches, friends, and one special priest who have pushed me to my limits and told me that if I worked hard I could achieve my dreams.  This was the most important part of my success. Without people who have your back you have no chance at being successful. 

Paddyjustin

My dream has always been to play in a World Cup and I had a chance to do that this year. I left my family and moved to Bradenton, Florida to train with the under-17 National Team all year in preparation for the U-17 World Cup in Mexico this summer. Last week, they cut the preliminary roster of 28 players down to the 21, who will represent the United States in Mexico in a few weeks. That’s where I was let go. I trained hard all year and in the end, I was told I wasn’t good enough. Bummer. I sat in Bradenton and thought about what to do. I didn’t sit there very long. Reason one: I love to play. Reason two: I am a competitor.

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