The Wait Is Over

Rose City Reunion Part II

Players began arriving at the Hilton Portland Downtown around 1pm, with the Thorns contingent being the first. Savannah Jordan, Daphne Corboz, and AD Franch checked in with Joy Fawcett and got their room keys, followed closely thereafter by the nine players combined from the Red Stars and Olympias. Around 2pm, Shea Groom made it to the hotel from Kansas City. The players from the Spirit arrived at 2:30. The Dash and Sky Blue players got there close to 3pm, while Morgan Andrews and Megan Oyster arrived last, a few minutes before 4pm.

***

Katelyn Rowland was in her room catching up on the latest soccer news when she heard the door unlock and open, followed by Megan Oyster's face entering. Katelyn was happy to see her friend and braced herself for Megan's slide onto her bed and embrace.

Megan: First camp, and I get paired up with my goalie chick! How cool is that!

Katelyn: Careful, Meg, you know I'm spoken for.

Megan: Yeah, I know. She's a nice one and I'm happy the two of you are together.

Katelyn: So what's new with you? Still seeing Bryan?

Megan: Yes. He's a smartie like you, and a bit of a teddy bear like you, and he makes my heart go thump-thump-thump when I think about him. We haven't said the magic words yet, but I think I love him, despite him being a closet Packers fan.

Katelyn: Nobody's perfect, girl.

Megan: Anything I need to know since you've been to camp before?

Katelyn: Keep your eyes open, take everything in, reach out to the other players, and remember soccer is supposed to be FUN and not all hard work.

Megan: How are Laura and Joy?

Katelyn: Think good cop/bad cop. Laura's the drill sergeant and Joy is more the "I've been there and this is how you get back on your feet" person. Makes sense if you think about it. The head coach needs to be hard-as-nails and the assistant the one with the soft touch. Wonder how things in New Jersey are going to shake out if the rumor is true and Carli Lloyd joins them sometime during the break.

Megan: Let's ask Sarah when we see her. By the way, has Sam or the other two talked to you about when we're meeting?

Katelyn: Well, we know it WON'T be Tuesday night if the signs around town are any indication. Wednesdays are usually reserved for shenanigans according to the veterans I hung with last time in camp. My guess is Thursday, then, but I'm sure they'll inform us once we see the schedule for the week.

Megan: I hope we have a bit of free time to shop since I didn't bring anything formal for Tuesday night, not knowing that I would need to.

Katelyn: I'm sure that will come up in the opening meeting, since I don't think anyone aside from those who've played in Portland this year or the Thorns players themselves knew about it.

Megan: I'm tired from the flight from Atlanta, but I don't have time for a nap with dinner at 6. Caffeine run?

Katelyn: You're speaking my language. Let's go.

Down the hall, Christina Gibbons and Shea Groom were catching up.

Christina: Not having a very good season so far, it seems.

Shea: It's been tough. We don't have the defense like we used to, with Becky, Yael, and Brittany retiring over the past couple of seasons and Becca leaving in the Waiver Draft. Your team is picking up a little steam now, with a couple of wins in a row.