To pick up where I left off, our disappointing draw at Lionsbridge was followed by two extremely fun games. We moved on from this result, and played two strong matches in the following week, both in which I made my first appearances for the Blues! But before I gloss over the fact that I made my debut and two appearances, I want to note the significance of this, as well as the process of getting rostered in USL 2 matches.

It may go unrealized by fans that USL 2 squads carry a roster of over 30 players, oftentimes more, yet only the first 18 players get rostered for matches. On top of this, various players from outside of the team come in and out of training for extra touches or with the intention of getting into the squad. Naturally, there is much in-training competition week in and week out for a game day roster spot. To avoid a lack of game minutes or if they simply want more touches, many players will even play on their club’s “Pro U23’s” team, a level below the USL 2 teams. This is something that might be unknown about USL 2 teams/matchday squads—it can be challenging for players to get in.

Though many talented players compete at the Pro U23’s level, including quality players at Blues, my intention from the beginning was to compete only at the USL 2 level, not the U23s. A large part of this was to get onto the pitch and play alongside my brother (as I’ve mentioned), but I also wanted to measure myself against players from other collegiate programs, particularly Division I players. So, earning a spot on the game-day roster and proving myself as one of the top 18 players on the squad after only a week of training felt like a real accomplishment. And as it meant that I was going to play in a game with my brother for the first time in years, this made me especially happy.

What was even more exciting than getting into the squad to begin with, though, was my go-ahead goal in this second game! It was my first goal with the Blues and was an awesome moment with the team! I’ll share this, but first is a funny story about my first pre match experience with the squad.

When my brother and I arrived at the pitch, the pregame process with Blues was of course new to me. I followed my teammates to our meeting spot and to our Coach before we entered the locker room. I initially was just greeting teammates, finding my spot in the locker room, and getting accustomed to our team’s pregame routine. Once we got settled in it hit me how great it felt to be immersed in a pre-match environment once again. The speaker was blasting music, guys were stretching and rolling out, others were laughing and talking, and some were seeking treatment from our trainer. These were the pre-match vibes in a training/locker room that I realized I missed so much. Because spring games aren’t too serious, at least in Division III, it had been a while since I had been in this environment. Being back in it and going through match preparation with teammates again got me even more pumped for the fall season. These are some of the simple things about games and team experiences that I enjoy and don’t take for granted.

But the funny story is this. As we were settled into the locker room, my teammates were coming in and out with their jerseys in hand, changing into their game attire. A few of my teammates held their jerseys close up for me to see, saying I needed a good look since it was my first time seeing the kits in person. It was our white kit, with intertwining Carolina and navy blue designs across the front. With the way the jersey was held in front of my face, the jersey did look quite nice.

My teammates showed me where I’d find mine, so I followed their lead. I entered the equipment tent to find rows of jerseys hanging up along with shorts and socks. Among many jerseys, the number 7 was the one right in front of me. As a winger/forward—it was really eye-catching. Not that the number one wears matters all that much, but wearing a reputable number is something all players take into consideration. And the number 7 is an iconic number (think Cristiano Ronaldo).

I laughed with my teammates about eyeing the number 7 jersey, knowing it was probably already taken. As a new player in my first game, I definitely couldn’t claim it. We joked about it some more and I passed on the jersey, waiting for a teammate to grab it. I then looked for the next number that might be a better fit for me. I found the number 17, the same I wear at UChicago and love as a winger’s number. Soon after though, a teammate came in and grabbed it off its hanger. I knew it was too good to be true.

I eventually settled on the number 20, a number that I was happy with, knowing that I couldn’t be spoiled with the number 7. I returned to the locker room showing off my official jersey to my teammates. They fed into my excitement and commented on the number 20 until they realized that I had only pulled a uniform from the tent without actually confirming it was my number. I should have realized my number is official and that I can’t just choose any one I want. They told me to go confirm with Coach that I could claim it, as it could belong to someone else or I could be rostered under a different number. I scrambled out of the locker room to go find him.

I found my Coach outside and went up to him with my jersey in hand. I held it up showing the number side, and asked if I could claim it. I was hoping he’d say yes because I really didn’t want to wear a number I would dislike. Though I understood that denying this could be a possibility, considering I came halfway through the season and this was my first game. He told me, “Sure, if you want to go for it.”

This was a relief knowing I could suit up in a quality forward’s number. But as I walked away he told me, “I’ve rostered you as number 7, though. It should be in there, is it not?” I turned to immediate excitement. Now, this was a pleasant surprise! He joked that I’d face a jersey number swap if I didn’t play well though, which was funny to me.

I returned to the locker room this time with the number 7 jersey in hand. I held this jersey up to teammates, as I was met with jokes, laughs, and amazement. So, this was the fun and unexpected surprise of how I’ve found myself as the number 7 for Blues!

But the in-game experience in these first two games was the real highlight. As these were both home games, it was fun to experience the home crowd in my first matches. Our fans banged drums throughout the match as they wore our jersey, our mascot ran around the sides of the pitch with a Blues flag, and blue smoke was frequently fired into the air. Much of the fun from the game experience came from the liveliness of the crowd and crowd activities. Events such as fans trying to make a thirty yard pass into an empty trash bin at halftime added to the fun. In addition to the joy of playing, it was the USL 2 crowd and match experience that brought in loads of fun.

The second game was the more fun of the two, though. It was played later at night, with more fans, more crowd activity, and far greater intensity. Additionally, I got to truly play with my brother in this game, as he was playing outside back and I was playing winger. Our passes and many link ups on the field were so much fun, including his double assist to me on my go-ahead goal.

I subbed into the game with it tied at 1-1. For as long as I was in, we dominated our opponent and enjoyed possession. Yet we couldn’t find the net. We applied more and more pressure as the minutes went on, and so did our crowd. The game became more intense as the other team withstood our many shots and attacks. Finally though, in around the 80th minute, my brother connected with one of our midfielders, who played me at the top of the box. I beat a defender, hit it from outside of the box, and watched it go into the bottom corner. My teammates yelled and hyped me up as we ran to the corner to celebrate. The crowd erupted, coaches celebrated, and everyone on the bench ran out to celebrate. This made me so happy, as playing, scoring, and enjoying this moment with my new teammates and brother felt so amazing. I was pumped to be into the team and onto the scoresheet.

Unfortunately though, just like in the Lionsbridge game, we conceded a stoppage time equalizer. This shifted our high vibes and big win to yet another dropped result. The message from our coaching staff was that we need to close out games better, though we did deserve the win.

So, the game ended less sweetly than it should have, but with the nighttime game, lively crowd, and goal and team celebration, the night was still a fun one. And to add to this, the postgame Mexican food certainly wasn’t too bad either!

Thank you for reading, and I’ll have more to share, as our season is nearing an end!

- Jayden Hsieh-Bailey