It all started in January at the WPS draft in St Louis. Some of us attended the draft, but most of us sat behind our computer screens waiting to see if our name was going to be selected to one of the seven new WPS teams.  I was fortunate enough to make the trip to St. Louis to be present for the draft. 
 
I was so nervous that day, and walking into the draft room was scary. There were so many people, coaches, media, and cameras.  I had never been to a draft before, none the less been in a draft, so this experience was new and intimidating for me.  
 
The seven teams were: the Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride, Los Angeles Sol, Sky Blue FC, St. Louis Athletica, and Washington Freedom. Each team had 10 picks.
 
Most of the players who entered in the draft didn’t care which team they were selected to…myself, included. We just wanted to play. We just wanted the chance to be a professional soccer player.
 
“And the Boston Breakers select player, Amy Rodriguez” were the words that came out of the league commissioner’s mouth. I was full of happiness at that moment.  I had been drafted, which meant two things: I was going to be a part of the first ever WPS season and I would continue my dream to play soccer. 
 
Being drafted also meant that I would have to leave my hometown in southern California and move all the way across the country to the east coast.   And not only me, but 150 other players had just joined the league too. It was a big change for all of us. Soccer was our job now.  Excitement, relief, and nervousness were all emotions that we felt.
 
All the players were to report to our teams March 1st.  I arrived in Boston in mid march, which was the middle of the Breakers’ pre-season. I was playing in the Algarve Cup with the National Team, so I joined the team a little late.
 
Preseason with the Breakers was tough and the practices were long and gruesome. We trained really hard, hoping it would pay off during season. And it did.
 
Our first game came on April 5th, 2009 against FC Gold Pride. I remember being so happy before the game…smiling ear to ear. I couldn’t believe that I was going to be playing in my first-ever professional soccer match! My family and friends attended the event and it was so exciting for everyone.
 
Unfortunately, we lost that game.
 
That wasn’t the only time during the season that the Boston Breakers and I experienced defeat.  Throughout the season, my team and I had some ups and downs. We started off strong but didn’t have a very good second half of the season. 
 
Our goal was to make it to the top four….we needed to be in the top four. And by we I mean every team in the league. The top four teams would make it to the play offs and that was what every WPS team was striving for.
 
The Los Angeles Sol, was the first team to clinch a spot in the league playoffs. The second team to earn a berth into the playoffs was St. Louis Athletica.  With that being said, two spots in the playoff bracket were undecided and the opportunity for third and fourth place was up for grabs.
 
The Boston Breakers, Washington Freedom, Sky Blue FC, Chicago Red stars, and FC Gold Pride were all trying to clinch one of the two spots left.
 
The next team to clinch a play off berth was Washington, leaving only one spot left.
 
The Breakers didn’t make the play offs.  At the end of the regular season, we stood at 5th place; missing the playoff cut by one place. The fourth team to go to the play offs was Sky Blue FC. 
 
Needless to say, that was a very sad day for the Breakers, the Gold Pride, and the Red Stars. None of us would be able to continue our professional season, and none of us would have the opportunity to win the first WPS championship.
 
Overall the season was a blast and I couldn’t have asked for anything better (besides a championship). Despite the Breakers’ unsuccessful season, I was able to play soccer and enjoy living in a new city. I got to meet so many people, and I really enjoyed being a WPS player in the 2009 league season.

Hope to see you all next year!

Amy Rodriguez