Elizabeth Wright?”
“Yeah.”
“Hi, this is Brittany from US Youth Soccer. You’ve been invited to the Girls U15 National Camp in Carson, California at the Home Depot Center October 22nd – 29th. Are you available?”
“Hold on a second......” Beth runs down stairs to ask permission.
Mom screams “OF COURSE YOU ARE!”  Beth runs back upstairs.

“Yes, I am available.” Beth responds calmly.

This conversation took place on September 8, 2005 around 3:15pm. It was just an ordinary day. I was working on my homework and in a few hours was going to head off to practice. I wasn’t expecting it at all and when it happened I was literally in shock. I have been dreaming of the day I would get the invite since I was 8 years old. It’s always been one of my goals but it felt so far off in the distance. I never would have thought this year was the year I would get to experience one of my biggest dreams!

Many of you probably don’t know me. My name is Elizabeth Wright and I’m 15 years old. I play soccer for LWYSA Crossfire Premier ‘89 – Jenkins. I’m a starting defender and have played for Crossfire all my life. If you ever talked to any of my friends they’d tell you I’m a complete soccer freak! I absolutely love to train, play, watch, and talk about soccer. I’m also a goal setter. I set numerous different types of goals and strive to achieve them every day I set foot on the soccer field.

This year I strove to achieve some of the same goals that I had met last year: ODP State Team, ODP Region IV, and the invite to travel with the Region IV Team to Boca Raton, Florida for the US Youth Soccer Thanksgiving Interregional. So I set up an intense training schedule in May. First I worked towards obtaining my first goal (State Team) and it was reached on Memorial Day weekend down in Oregon at the Nike Friendship Cup. I then shifted my focus on Regional Camp and making the Region IV pool.

After a grueling 7 days at camp and an extra 5 days for hold-overs we were informed that the players chosen for the Region IV team would receive a letter inviting them to Boca Raton, FL in November for the US Youth Soccer Thanksgiving Interregional. When I got home I jumped right back into my intense training schedule I had before I left for camp. I kicked it up a notch in hopes that I would be at my peak if I got the invite. On September 9, 2005 I received my invite to Boca Raton, Florida.

But the one goal that has always been on the horizon was the National Team call up. Did I really get the call up, was it a dream? I am extremely excited! I have always wanted this and am so blessed God is giving me this opportunity. Lately I’ve been working so hard and been so focused on my goals. I have one week to show them the type of player I am and I want to give them my best performance and make everybody here in Washington proud.
br/> What I feel is unique about my situation is the club I come from. Crossfire Premier has opened up many doors for me this past year. I play for GU16 Crossfire ’89 with Scott Jenkins as my coach. I have been with this team since U11. Yet a few years ago I was unsatisfied and wanted more training than just twice a week with my club team.

I started picking up extra practices with other teams within my club, mostly on the guy’s side. I hopped all over the field just trying to get the most and best practices I could. I practiced with BU15 Crossfire Premier ’90 – Brown, BU16 Crossfire Premier ’89 – Hattrup, and BU17 Crossfire Premier ’88 – James. Exactly a year ago I crossed paths with a coach named Jason Harnasch. At the time I was looking for a coach to train me individually and Jason offered. He then encouraged me to train with his boy’s team, BU14 Crossfire Premier ’91 - Harnasch. Over a span of two seasons of practicing with this team they have challenged and pushed me to whole new levels. I’m very grateful that this team has accepted me to come and practice with them and that Jason has allowed me to practice with his team and train me individually twice a week. This last year I have also had the opportunity to train and play with an older girl’s team, GU17 Crossfire Primer ’88 – Jenkins. These women and their parents accepted me immediately as if I was one of their teammates. They pushed me as well in many areas of my game and forced me to get better. I can’t thank these teams enough for what they have done for me. They may not know it, but they’ve played a big part in my success and I am truly thankful!

I’m looking forward to National Camp in October but not only that, I’m looking forward to all the years to come that I get to play soccer and strive to achieve my goals and continue to work hard and have fun! My ultimate dream is the day I get to play for my country and say I came from my home town Redmond, Washington and grew up playing on my club team Crossfire Premier!