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The hours of intense training and the push to improve and raise your level of play, all lead die-hard soccer players and fans to display bumper stickers like "Soccer is Life.''
It's not.
Never has that been more evident than in this past week when one of the top youth players in Pa., Karoline Heintz, was tragically stabbed to death allegedly during a domestic dispute with her boyfriend.
Heintz, 18, was a star for her Victory Soccer Club team and the PA West Olympic Development team. She was headed off to play collegiate soccer at Penn West California University.
Former coaches said of her game, "She dominated the field. She was a player that understood the game and was very composed, good on the ball.''
"She was competitive but kind," coach Marcello Antonelli told Pa. Action News 4.
Numerous vigils have been held for her and against domestic violence. Teammates on Instagram described her as being a happy, bubbly teammate who was always smiling on and off the field. One said, "Her life just touched so many people."
Donations to begin a scholarship in Heintz's honor have already started to pour in.
What people will cling to as years go by will not be her outstanding soccer skills, but what an incredible young lady she was who touched and impacted so many lives for the better. Maybe this will help players, coaches, parents and fans to keep the game in perspective going forward.
BG girls in spotlight
In scholastic soccer this fall, there will definitely be a handful of teams to keep a close eye on.
In girls play, Bishop Guilfoyle, the first team from District 6 to make it to the state finals last year, will be back with a very experienced team, led by scoring machine Emma Marasco and incredible goalie Cece Rumfola, who can keep them in most any game with her goalkeeping skills. Both were first-team Mirror all stars last year.
The Lady Marauders did lose some very talented seniors, and they may look like a sure thing for another District 6 1A championship, but advancing to the state finals will be a tall order. They lost only one game last year heading into the state finals.
The Altoona Lady Lions also have some incredible senior talent and leadership returning for coach Marc Frye.
The team will be led by seniors and Mirror all-stars Ajaycia Alexander and Ava Frye and seasoned keeper Haylee Rodriguez. Another district championship should definitely be within their grasp, but they play a very tough schedule, and Frye is hoping this will make them sharper to make a run into the state playoffs.
The team will sorely miss the big offensive scoring punch provided by speed merchant Sophia O'Day, lost to graduation.
Look for the Hollidaysburg Lady Tigers to repeat as District 6 3A champions, led by their leading goal scorer and Mirror all-star Kate Steiner. Coach Tristan delGiudice returns eight of his starters and has some very good incoming players, but they play in the very tough Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference, which will be a big challenge.
On the boys side, keep an eye on the Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers and the Tyrone Golden Eagles.
Tyrone coach Alex Bartlett works 12 months a year to develop soccer in the Tyrone area. He has brought about vast improvements in last year's team led by returning all-stars Tytus Novak and Miles Smearman. The Eagles nearly wrestled the District 6 title away from Hollidaysburg last season, and with nine returning starters, they will be tough on both offense and defense.
Craig Shale is the elder statesman of soccer coaches with 23 years under his belt at Hollidaysburg. He will return nine starters but has a small roster should they get hit with injuries.
Senior all-star Alex Arbogast will be a leader as mid-fielder, but the Tigers will also have a huge challenge playing in the LHAC.
Look for Altoona to have an improved team over last year with seven starters back and some excellent newcomers like Finn Black, the youngest of the four outstanding soccer playing brothers.
PSU Altoona
The Penn State-Altoona Lady Lions, led by coach Pam Snyder-Etters in her 16th year as head coach, have been picked in the preseason coaches' poll to finish third in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.
All-AMCC selections sophomore forward Kira Trexler, from Central High School, and senior goalkeeper Mya Torres have been listed as players to watch for PSU-Altoona.
PSU-Behrend, defending AMCC champ, will be the team to beat.
PSU Altoona finished 6-6-6 last fall. Its season opener will be Tuesday against Marywood at home at Spring Run Stadium. The team will have 15 regular season games, which include games against Juniata (led by coach Joe Alianiello, former Altoona all-state goalie and Saint Francis standout), Mount Aloysius and Saint Francis.
Etter's squad should be competitive in most every game.
Tom Schmitt writes a monthly soccer column for the Mirror.