I believe I am in Love
Fig Jam
Flipping through the channels this weekend I happened upon the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship. Predictably, North Carolina was in the final along with perrenial power Notre Dame. Women’s soccer at the collegiate level is very interesting to me for several reasons, but mostly it’s the fact that I’m perpetually amazed at the run that UNC has put together. It is truly stunning to look at their dominance over the sport. More dominant than the UCLA basketball dynasty, than the Alabama football dynasty, or the Iowa wrestling dynasty. UNC women’s soccer is the single most dominant college sports program that has ever been assembled and I can respect that.
(I also watched this game because of the fact that I hate Notre Dame down to the core of my being. So any chance I get to root against them, I’m going to take it, regardless of the sport).
In any event, what was fantastic about the 2008 NCAA Women’s soccer championship wasn’t necessarily the fact that UNC put another notch in its illustrious belt by beating Notre Dame 2-1, but it was the fact that I got to meet my future wife, UNC forward Casey Nogueira. Well… “meet” is pushing it I guess, but after I fly to Chapel Hill, figure out where she lives, introduce myself to her, defend myself against the restraining order, ultimately win her affection and move back to Seattle with her to start a family, I will certainly tell people that we met at the 2008 NCAA championship game.
So what you need to know about the future Mrs. Fig Jam is that she scored the winning goal for the Tarheels with 5 minutes left to go in the game. Oh, and she scored their other goal as well. AND…. it’s not the first time she’s scored a NCAA title winning goal for UNC. She did that in 2006 as well. Oh – and that title winning goal was also against Notre Dame. She is the Irish assasin. Be still my heart.
So – thus far in her 3 years of college soccer she has twice scored the winning goal in the NCAA championship game, both times crushing the hopes and dreams of Notre Dame. Man I love her. If there was a contest for the world’s most perfect human, she would win.
Below are some stats on UNC women’s soccer team, if you are interested:
Team has won 19 of 27 NCAA titles, 19-21 ACC titles, and has 6 Hermann Trophy Winners (Heisman Trophy of Women’s soccer). From 1986 until 1994, won 9 consecutive NCAA titles. From 1982-2000, won 16 of 19 NCAA titles. From 1986 through 1989, they did not lose a game. From 1986 through 1993, they lost 1 game. Their overall record as a program is 673-34-21 (or 92.5 % winning percentage, 4.5% losing percentage, and 3% tie percentage)….
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How do they only lose one game in 17 years, but not win 16 national titles in that period? Are these regular season games? UCLA’s dominance in men’s bball is more impressive to me. More competition, fundamental changes in the style of play, strong muscular men…
You are correct. That is supposed to be 1993, not 2003. I corrected it. Also, in re: UCLA, there is definitely an argument there for the Bruins. I just think the longevity of UNC’s run, in a sport that is not high profile and doesn’t have huge recruiting budgets, etc., is impressive.
Are you moving back with her before Christmas? Let me know so I can set an extra plate and hang an additional stocking. Mom of Fig Jam
Is it just me, or does she have a football player’s neck and look kind of like a man?
http://images.ussoccer.com/Images/cms/ussf/Nogueira372.jpg
no way to talk about my future wife.
That doesn’t make her any less of a babe. Soccer players are hot.
You don’t date soccer players for their upper half. Anything decent above the booty is just gravy.
College dynasties are easier to build due to the fact that every year all the best girls want to go to UNC and how is that game played in Cary N.C three of the last six years. ND was robbed