By Ali Schaefer, Junior Midfielder

Hello fans,

First and foremost, on behalf of the entire women's soccer team, I would like to thank you for your constant support this season. The pre-season has already come to an end and I must say it has certainly been a journey. I don't think there is a soul in the world that would have predicted a start like ours this year, but the good news is the Big Ten Conference play has yet to begin.

The 2010 Penn State women's soccer team has definitely learned a great amount about our strengths, weaknesses, tendencies, and desires this past month. We have constantly been trying to put all the pieces together and generate success on the field. Every player has tirelessly assessed and reassessed the struggles and triumphs we have gained this pre-season attempting to produce a winning team.

Over the past week, following our loss to Dartmouth, the team really came together. We have greatly opened up the fields of communication amongst one another and dug deeper than we ever have before for a solution. I personally have never felt so confident as I will when walking on to Jeffrey Field Sunday with my fellow teammates.

We all had the great pleasure of participating in a team-building workshop today. The team really opened up and laid everything out for all to see. Because of each individual's courage to be vulnerable, engaged, and committed to one another, the team has the greatest unity we have ever experienced. We understand the need to fight not only for one another, but also with one another.

We have but one mission this Sunday and that is to beat Michigan State and snag our first win in the Big Ten conference for our beloved fans. The slate is clean, ladies and gentlemen. The past games were merely stepping stones to help propel us to a sweeter victory this season. We believe in ourselves, in our talent, and in our desire. I ask you also to believe with us. This Sunday, Jeffrey Field, 1 p.m. Come out and support your Penn State Nittany Lions because we are coming with vigor and we're ready to win. WE ARE... PENN STATE!

Yours truly, #11 Ali Schaefer