My first Hat Trick
In last night's NCWHL game, there were some bad moments (we lost, 4-7) but for me, some truly great moments.

1. We're in the offensive zone on a face-off, meaning that we're all lined up just feet away from the goal. I tell our center to win the face-off and send it right back to me, on right defense behind her, that I'd put it in the net. She did, and in a grand motion sent it back to me. I fired it right into the net and bam! The goalie was not expecting that. Goal #1.
2. I get a breakaway and keep going. The key to this is to make sure the wing knows what you're doing and drops back to cover defense at the point (the corner at the edge of the blue line). I had told the wing to watch out and she did, I headed on into the zone, skated right up to the goalie's left side and tipped it over her stick into the net. Goal #2.
3. We had the puck in the offensive zone. The wingers were bunched up in front of the net and the puck got loose. I ran for it (yes, you can run on ice skates) and got it. Took a second to get in place and launched it into the net. Goal #3 and my first hat trick.

A friend from the other team pointed out that the opposing right defense player isn't very good. Which she's not, but there were 4 other folks out there who could have blocked my goals, never mind the goalie. They didn't and regardless, the record now shows that I had a hat trick. I was given the puck and my teammates said I was the MVP. The puck is proudly displayed in my office.

Me. A victory in sports. I never would've imagined. Maybe I have some natural ability, but it's as much about the hard work I've been putting in (3 practices and 2 games a week) as anything else. It's paying off, I'm faster, have a more solid shot and as of Saturday night, can do backwards crossovers. I've come a long ass way since I started taking hockey lessons last year.