University of Minnesota Athletics
Blog: Bethke Participates in Germany Tour
6/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
In a rain soaked game against their hosts on May 26, the U.S. team looked ready to go into halftime on a sour note after the Germans scored twice in the final five minutes of the first half. However, a late first-half goal brought the deficit back to one, and a header in the 82nd minute of play cleaned the slate for the U.S. team and allowed the visiting team to secure a tie.
It was a similar story three days later when the U.S. team recorded another 2-2 tie against the Korean Republic on May 29. After striking first in the 31st minute, the U.S. team inadvertently scored on itself one minute later. The Korean Republic scored once more in the first half, prompting another comeback effort by the U.S. Team - this time off the foot of Milwaukee-Wisconsin striker Sarah Hagen in the 72nd minute.
Bethke, who saw action in both ties, reflected on the trip and the chance to play alongside some of the top college players in the country with Gophersports.com.
U-23 National Team Germany Trip: May 21-31, 2010
This trip was an experience of a lifetime. It was a trip of many firsts that included a nine-hour plane ride across the Atlantic, staying in Europe, playing international soccer, trying shark at dinner, attempting to speak German, and most importantly my first national team trip. The girls on the team were great to be around. Everyone was personable and genuinely cared about the well being of her fellow teammates. The coaching staff not only understood the game and how to break teams down, but they also made sure to help us out individually if need be. Our athletic trainer and team doctor were miracle workers to those of us who were a little banged up, me included. I had done my calf a couple days before Germany, and they put up with me three times a day to do physical therapy and get my calf fully healed.
I learned so many odds and ends about the game and international play while in Germany through the coaches and players around me. A quote I often read and believe fits this is, "You have to realize the things you think you have today, could be gone tomorrow." You have to play like you might not be called up for the next national camp or that this might be your last international game to prove yourself because it might just very well be. This quote goes a lot further than just on the pitch, but in life about how you cannot take things for granted. You have to make the most out of what is given to you and I believe that is how I looked at the trip to Germany. I will look back at the Germany trip as an opportunity I put the most into and go the most out of it that I possibly could.
