We did it! My team had just played in our first soccer tournament and won it. In 2010, my soccer team played and won our first game and tournament, The United Futbol Academy Fall Classic. This first win meant a lot to the team, coaches, and parents because it proved that hard work and teamwork pays off. This was a new team, so when we tried out and were put together no one knew anyone else. After weeks of practicing and learning about each other, we headed into our first game at the Fall Classic. After we won this tournament, we learned hard, team, work pays off.

The Fall Classic was a soccer tournament hosted by the United Futbol Academy. This tournament consisted of teams from the South East. Our team headed into the first game early in the morning on Saturday. The weather was horrible, it was pouring and the fields were drenched. The rain pelted down on us as we arrived, and when we got out of our cars, we felt a weird, gooey substance below our cleats, the disgusting, muddy ground. As we made our way to the field, we watched other teams play. These teams were struggling to play in the horrible weather. The ball would slide across the grass spraying the players with little water particles. The players were muddy and seemed displeased with their performance and the weather. Finally, we made it to the field.
        

When we got to the field we felt nervous, but we put our bags down and started to warm up. As soon as we started warming up, we no longer felt nervous. After some practice, we noticed we had little control over the ball. The gross, slushy like grass inhibited us from controlling the ball. Our team worked hard during the warm up and realized that if we pass the ball harder we would have more control over the ball. Once we finished warming up, we lined up for the refs to check-in. After that, we jogged onto the field and lined up in our correct position. At this moment, we relinquished all our fears. Finally, the whistle blew and we started our first game.
        

The game was very annoying. Whenever we would run, our legs would be splashing in the muddy grass. This was annoying because the water would spray all over our faces and jerseys. When we tried to juke a player, we ended up juking ourselves. At the end of the first half, the game was tied at 0-0. During halftime, our coach gave us advice on playing better, under the circumstances, and tried motivating us as we were feeling frustrated. After halftime, our team went back on the field feeling motivated and ready to win.  As soon as the whistle blew we started our domination. We remembered what we had been working on at our practices and started to do those things. We worked together as a unit to end up beating the other team 6-0. This was a joyous moment.
        

We went on to win the second and third game. After the third game, on Sunday, we were told we were going to the finals. My team was ecstatic because this was our first tournament as a team and we were going to the finals. During the finals, we played the same way we did in the first game, with the desire to dominate. During the game, we played like a unit and were helping each other out when we needed help. We had reached optimal teamwork. When the whistle blew, we won the game 3-0. After the game, we shook hands with the other players and coaches and headed back to our bench feeling euphoric. At the bench, our coach complimented us on our first tournament together and our first win.
        

The team headed over to the award ceremony where they were giving trophies to the finalists and champions. At the award area, we were handed our trophies, and our coach gave us another, short, speech about hard work and dedication. After that, our team went out for a victory dinner and we all talked and goofed around after a tiring, but fun, two days.
        

This trophy reminds me of my first tournament with this team and how we won it. I still remember feeling unstoppable at the end of the final game. That day, I learned teamwork and hard work were extremely important to soccer and life. I now know that if I were to try something new, I can excel at it as long as I am dedicated to it, I work hard, and I work well with my team/peers.