Concussions force All-American keeper Oliver to retire

Concussions

Stanford senior goalkeeper Emily Oliver, a Soccer America Preseason All-American, has retired from soccer because of a series of concussions, the latest of which was suffered against Portland on Aug. 31. The 2011 All-America and College Cup Defensive MVP, who never lost a regular-season match, retires with the third-lowest goals-against average (0.36) on the all-time NCAA Division I list.

This is a "concussions" must read for fans of women's soccer: http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/9824937/espnw-concussions-derail-promising-soccer-careers-stanford-cardinal-emily-oliver-richmond-spiders-becca-wann

Good read, thanks for sharing. Does anyone know if the headgear that some soccer players wear have any effect in reducing concussions?

A_Fan wrote:Good read, thanks for sharing.  Does anyone know if the headgear that some soccer players wear have any effect in reducing concussions?

Good question. Though some people might relate that there are benefits from the head gear, others disagree, saying that headgear just encourages players to hit harder. The same thing happens in pointy football. Better headgear, more use of the head, is the argument.

UP fans will recall that Kari Evans finished her playing career at UP playing with soft head protection after she suffered a couple of concussions.



Speaking of which, I share with Emily Playing through a broken hand. I played two football games with one, the first week because the doctor misdiagnosed an x-ray, and the second because I didn't want to sit on the bench even though I was sure it was broken. My left hand is now significantly bigger than my right and stiffer  50 years later. I'll show it to anybody interested.

( I played tight end the rest of the season with a padded cast, btw)

A head isn't a hand. You only get one of those and surgery seldom helps.

Totally off subject, but Megan looks about 12 years old in that picture,

Chistine even looks pretty young.

I'm not so sure that's Megan in that photo. I do see the resemblance but I recall Megan wearing #3 on her uniform in those days. Couldn't find the 2006 roster to check for sure so this is just a guess on my part.

That is Megan. The watermark obscures the number, but it is definitely '3'. That was a wall set up for a "dangerous" free kick UCLA took during the 2005 final.

Yeah, it's Megan. Here it is in slightly better resolution. You can make out the 3 better.
( and the headgear)


No scars on the knees yet.

Shadrach wrote:I'm not so sure that's Megan in that photo. I do see the resemblance but I recall Megan wearing #3 on her uniform in those days. Couldn't find the 2006 roster to check for sure so this is just a guess on my part.

Oh, I believe that's Megan alright, but it could also be Rachael   ....and I believe it would have been 2005 as that was Christine's senior year and Megan's redshirt freshman year.

You're correct about the number though....Megan always wore #3....#9 was always Stephanie Lopez, as I recall. But that looks like a #3 in the picture in higher resolution.

Rachael's last day playing Pilots soccer after yet another knee injury, assisted by Megan:

Rachel wore #10.

Geezaldinho wrote:RachelRachael wore #10. It is definitely not her.

It was meant to be a funny, Geez.  All of us of a certain age remember Rachael's number.... 

FY spelling....

Some of us of a certain age don't remember a lot.

I suppose you will next tell me how many ways you can spell Hailee, Kristin, and Meagan.

As to their youthful appearance, they were all younger. So were we!

OldePilot wrote:As to their youthful appearance, they were all younger. So were we!

Well, except for DD, of course. He's been a hoary headed old guy forever.

Geezaldinho wrote:Well, except for DD, of course. He's been a hoary headed old guy forever.

Ha-ha, well only for the last 25 years or so, actually…..but on behalf of all the hoary headed….and I know there are some right here on PN….. thank you, Geez.  The hoary head of the old warrior is thought to be a crown of glory according to Proverbs 16:31….

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.

Big if.

I, in the other hand, am all set if I go grey. I've been steadfastly in the Way of righteousness.

Geezaldinho wrote:

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.

Big if.

I, in the other hand, am all set if I go grey. I've been firmly in the Way  of righteousness.

Yea, I purposely left out that bit about "the way of righteousness,"  as I really dislike quoting from scripture (unless it suits my purpose). 

I'm sure the Crusades were thought morally and religiously righteous.....I do not subscribe to that belief.

I'm also sure I'm not the only one on PN who is starting to feel the symptoms of a concussion seeing how this thread has gone downhill without even one mention of beer .....

I know how to fix that, but you just did.