Great Season for a group that came together this year! So proud of these ladies and the improvements we made as a TEAM! Let's go get State Cup!!
Last night we won our match against FCDallas West 1-0!. One more Lake Highlands game tonight against Sting 01G Dustan! Let's get out there and finish the season right! GO TEXANS!
Here you can see another side of me! I'm the Tuba on the far right! Enjoy!
http://www.texascatholic.com/2017/04/18/sophomores-talents-find-home-on-international-stage/
By Cathy Harasta
The Texas Catholic
PLANO — Sarah Melén felt the full impact of her USA-Swedish dual citizenship in the weight room of John Paul II High School during the 2016 Rio Olympics last August.
The sophomore goalkeeper for the Cardinals soccer team, who recently returned from training as a member of Sweden’s National Under-16 “Football” Team, watched the USA-Sweden women’s Olympic quarterfinal match on a TV that the strength coaches set up for her.
As the match’s drama kicked in, Melén said that she felt the sense of divided loyalties but also excitement about her goal of playing in just such a match someday.
“Our family would always root for Sweden and the Americans, but I didn’t know what to do when they were playing each other,” she said on a recent April morning. “When Sweden scored, I was thinking, ‘How am I supposed to feel about this? Wow—this is so intense.’ ”
Sweden eliminated Team USA and won the Olympic silver medal after losing the final to Germany, 2-1.
Melén, who is 5-8, tried out last fall in Sweden for the U-16 squad and received her congratulatory letter earlier this year.
Her mother, Mary, is a Seattle native and her father, Henrik, is a naturalized US citizen who was born in Sweden.
Jeremy Morse, JPII head girls soccer coach, said that Melén’s international experience is valuable in several ways.
“It’s a unique opportunity,” Morse said. “Getting that international experience is a great recruiting tool for her college goals. She is a servant of a teammate and a leader who has helped me in my position as head coach.”
During her five days in Sweden in March, Melén said that she learned a new style of play with new teammates.
“It was kind of difficult to understand what the coach and players were saying at times, but when we were playing I had an amazing time,” she said.
Matt Montayne, who is Melén’s goalkeeper coach, said that the Swedish training boosted her confidence.
“She surprised herself at how well-prepared she was,” said Montayne, a former University of North Texas goalkeepers’ coach. “She’s a student of the game who puts in the hard work.”
Melén, a Frisco resident, also is an all-state tuba player.
“She’s a wonderful musician,” said Michael Browning, JPII’s band director. “She’s a good leader with the ability to bring out the best in others.”
Melén said that her parents urged their four children to seek balance in their lives.
She said that she loves chemistry and expects to pursue science in college.
“I want to play soccer at an NCAA Division I school,” she said. “I want to make a difference, wherever I go.”
Melén, who had six shutouts for the Cardinals in the 2016-17 season, plays for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club.
She said that her long-term goals will require patience.
“As goalkeepers, we mature later,” she said. “I want to play in the Olympics and the World Cup, and I want to win.”
The top five keepers in the most recent Women’s World Cup, in 2015, ranged from age 30 to 36.
Melén said that she is grateful for the supportive JPII community.
“Everyone here is so nice,” she said. “They are so willing to work with me and help me out.”
When things don't turn out the way you want....TRAIN HARD AND GET BETTER!!!!
So proud of my team! Semi-Finalists in the Dallas International Girls Cup! So sad not to make the finals but we did well this weekend! Lots of action, lots of goals and I got a 2nd Assist and 3 Shutouts! Watch out State Cup, Here we come!
Great game for our team! A solid match 1-0 and a Shutout! Beautiful free kick goal for Erin!! Got in some good GK work too!
Should be a good match up today! Dallas Texans vs Sting 01G Dustan. Lets go TEXANS! OOPS! Changed it overnight...Playing Sting West 01G.
Great win tonight in a well fought match! So proud of my team playing at a high intensity throughout the match! Happy to get a 2nd Assist! Definitely a fun night!
Post Game Dallas Texans 01G Dallas and Tigres 01
Great game today for my team! 3-0 Win!! Let's keep the momentum up for tomorrow! GO TEXANS!!
Pool Play begins today! I am so excited to get out there and compete! GO TEXANS!
http://usa.ibercup.com/en/matches/calendar/groups/U-16-f/D
Wednesday, April 12, 2017 03:15 PM 11-Cox Field 2 Live
US Sting 01 Composite
vs
US Dallas Texans 01 Dallas
Thursday, April 13, 2017 08:15 PM 5-Ross Stewart 4 Live
MX Tigres UANL 01
vs
US Dallas Texans 01 Dallas
Friday, April 14, 2017 06:45 PM 7-Ross Stewart 1 Live
US Dallas Texans 01 Dallas
vs
GB Blackburn Rovers 01
Hard to believe this season is over! JPII ended as a Regional Finalist! So amazing how far this team came from the beginning to the end of the season! Proud of my team and their accomplishments! Good luck to our Seniors as they move on to their next adventures!
So proud of my team today! Big Shout out to Adrienne who had an awesome day with 5 goals! We are now in 1st Place in the LHGCL. We need to keep on winning! GO TEXANS!!
Great game last night for the Dallas Texans 01G Dallas! Spring Season of the Lake Highlands Girls Classic League is underway! We continued our winning streak 2-1 against Solar 01 Wells (NTX Rank 1, Region Rank 4, National Rank 44). Looking forward to this weekend against Sting Parker.
We got out there and started our spring season off in a good direction! 3-1 over Solar 01 Elite. Way to go ladies! Lets keep the momentum going!
Had a great opportunity to go see some colleges in North Carolina. Sunday I got to attend a College ID Camp at Duke University in Raleigh, NC. It was a really fun session (even with the snow :D) and got to know the Duke Coaching staff. Monday, I went on a college tour at North Carolina State and loved the campus and the students we had the opportunity to meet. Hopefully, I will get an opportunity to meet the NC State Staff in the near future. It's very exciting to get out and see college options!
What a great experience! The training is full speed ahead and I am learning so much! The girls are fantastic and I'm looking forward to what the rest of this week will bring.
So excited to be here! Today we start camp and I can't wait to get out there a play. Quick little meet up in Stockholm, bus ride to Bosön, and train, train, train!
Tonight was Seniors Night and I am so proud of my team and the development we've shown throughout the season. We started out a little rough, but have come together in a fantastic way! Tonight we beat Liberty Christian Academy to secure our spot in the playoffs!
