Olde Coach
Rip, Olde Coach
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 619
- Reaction Score
- 1,004
Caitlin Ball grew up in Chapel Hill, NC. As a kid, she worked many games as a ball girl for Anson Dorrance's UNC soccer team. And she played soccer for her local high school.
Caitlin's dream was to go to college at UNC, and to play college soccer for the storied Tar Heels. She hoped to get a soccer scholarship. None was offered. She was admitted to UNC; but Anson Dorrance urged her to apply to other schools. His judgment was that she couldn't make the team at UNC.
Caitlin enrolled anyway; and Dorrance let her try-out for a place on the team as a freshman walk-on. She didn't make it past the first cut.
Caitlin's high school coach (a long time friend of coach Dorrance) arranged a meeting between the two. He told Anson that Caitlin was "a late maturer". That she had "the heart of a lion". He told Dorrance that he "had made a big mistake cutting her from his team". He said that "Caitlin would become a big time player for him if he had a little patience with her development."
Anson Dorrance invited Caitlin to join his squad.
Caitlin Ball is now a sophomore. She wears Carolina Jersey #2. And she is the Tar Heels star defensive back. UNC plays a 3-4-3 alignment -- something rarely seen at the top levels of today's soccer. Though she is only 65 inches tall, Caitlin plays the middle defensive back on the three player back line. She has to be good -- really good. And she is. She is fast, quick, smart, skilled, and a relentless worker. She stands out as one of the best players on the field.
I love watching Caitlin play. With her bright golden hair blowing in the wind, she is easy to follow.
Tomorrow, December 2, Caitlin will be the starting center back for UNC in the National Championship final against Penn State. Look for her golden hair and the #2 on her Jersey. She'll give you a whole lot of smiles.
P.S. The game is at 4:00 PM on ESPNU
Caitlin's dream was to go to college at UNC, and to play college soccer for the storied Tar Heels. She hoped to get a soccer scholarship. None was offered. She was admitted to UNC; but Anson Dorrance urged her to apply to other schools. His judgment was that she couldn't make the team at UNC.
Caitlin enrolled anyway; and Dorrance let her try-out for a place on the team as a freshman walk-on. She didn't make it past the first cut.
Caitlin's high school coach (a long time friend of coach Dorrance) arranged a meeting between the two. He told Anson that Caitlin was "a late maturer". That she had "the heart of a lion". He told Dorrance that he "had made a big mistake cutting her from his team". He said that "Caitlin would become a big time player for him if he had a little patience with her development."
Anson Dorrance invited Caitlin to join his squad.
Caitlin Ball is now a sophomore. She wears Carolina Jersey #2. And she is the Tar Heels star defensive back. UNC plays a 3-4-3 alignment -- something rarely seen at the top levels of today's soccer. Though she is only 65 inches tall, Caitlin plays the middle defensive back on the three player back line. She has to be good -- really good. And she is. She is fast, quick, smart, skilled, and a relentless worker. She stands out as one of the best players on the field.
I love watching Caitlin play. With her bright golden hair blowing in the wind, she is easy to follow.
Tomorrow, December 2, Caitlin will be the starting center back for UNC in the National Championship final against Penn State. Look for her golden hair and the #2 on her Jersey. She'll give you a whole lot of smiles.
P.S. The game is at 4:00 PM on ESPNU
