Richmond Kickers U11 girls soccer team participates in The Pitch of Dreams
RICHMOND, Va. — Dreams came true for Richmond Kickers U11 Girls Black Elite team coached by Scott Thomsen on Saturday, April 15. These girls had the opportunity to participate in a program offered by the Richmond Kickers, called The Pitch of Dreams.
This unique experience is Presented by K2 Awards. It allowed the girls to meet the Kickers pro team and walk onto the pitch with them before the game. This elite group of young girls has grown from a fledgling team over the last two seasons of practicing and playing together, forging very special bonds. These girls practice Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings, with at least one game most weekends.
At just 9 and 10 years old, these girls, and their parents, have chosen to dedicate quite a lot of time and energy to the sport. The team is comprised of Claire and Hadley Gow, Claire Lundardi, Eliza Baker, Harper Woodard, Annie Hurst, Kendal Berry, Leila Grainger, Lottie Snow, Lindy Havranek, Naomi Johnson, Raegan Ogunware, Violet Shane and Vivian Morris.
The girls were thrilled when the girls’ team manager, Asha Kays, made this larger-than-life opportunity a reality. This was a rare chance for them to spend some quality time together off the pitch, supporting their mentors and strengthening their friendships. To make it even more fun, it also happened to be Pups at the Pitch night, presented by Impawsible Pups. The 4-legged fans showed up in solidarity to root for the home team. Some even dressed up for the occasion, really showing off their team spirit.
It was incredible to watch the excitement grow between the girls as they bounced around the stadium, checking the vantage point from different angles and posing for pictures with the mascot, Kickeroo. It was a beautiful night. The stadium was abuzz when the girls escorted the team, each one side by side with their own player, to center field.
There, the girls stood proudly with the professional team, hands across their hearts, while The Greater Richmond Chorus sang an inspired rendition of the National Anthem to a stadium full of excited fans. High fives were exchanged all around, and words of encouragement were showered upon the girls before they ran off the field, smiling ear to ear. It was a well-matched game against Northern Colorado Hailstorm Football Club, ultimately ending in a dead even 0-0 score.
Still riding a wave of satisfaction following a 4-1 win of their own earlier in the day, the U11 Elite Black team was over the moon to cheer for their professional team, despite the game ending without a score. A few of the players stayed behind following the game to get an autograph or two from the pro players as they left the field. This included Annie Hurst #5, the team’s Goalkeeper. She walked onto the pitch earlier with the professional Goalkeeper, Will Palmquist #29, and waited anxiously to get him to sign her game jersey.
The players were all kind and enthusiastic when interacting with the girls during their brief yet memorable encounter, making it a special experience that the girls will all cherish for years to come.
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