Frannie Coxe

If there is one thing that Slammers FC’s Frannie Coxe proved to the Camarillo Eagles in March’s National League games in Las Vegas, it’s that revenge is oh so sweet.

The 17-year-old midfielder pounded in a hat trick to lift her Slammers GU17 team to a 3-0 finish over the Eagles to secure the Orange County team a berth in the 2010 USYSA National Championships this summer in Kansas City.

The win was monumental for Coxe and the Slammers, not only because this will be their third trip to the championships but also because it was a year ago – to the exact day – that the Slammers lost
1-0 to the Eagles in a Far West Regionals game in which Coxe was sidelined in the last 30 seconds with a broken fibula bone and sublexation to her ankle after an Eagles opponent tackled her from behind.

“I was in the zone,” said Coxe about her hat trick payback. “It was an out of body experience. My teammates and I were one. We knew what we had to do.  It was one of the best experiences in my soccer career for sure. We knew we had to win the second game to punch our ticket to Nationals."

"I made my runs towards the top of the box. The first goal…the second goal…and then the third goal! I couldn’t have done it without my teammates passing me the perfect balls. The hat trick was way beyond anything I ever expected!”

Coxe plays for the San Clemente Tritons. Photo Courtesy: Don Nguyen

Coxe believes that one of the best things that playing for the Slammers and coach George Larsen has taught her is the power of mental toughness. The mental toughness Coxe is taught to have on the field is the same mental toughness that helped her rebound better than ever from her months of recovery on the sidelines.

“My surgeon suggested I read Lance Armstrong’s book, It’s Not about the Bike," Coxe said.  “The book talked about how obstacles and adversity are a part of everyone’s life at some point. But, it’s how you deal with it and the attitude you choose to get back up once you’ve been knocked down and win again. I believe that an obstacle is an opportunity.  It’s what you make of it. Also, being away from the game for a few months showed me how much I love the sport. I don’t take my health for granted any more. I’m grateful to be able to play. Every time I set foot on the field, before kickoff, I pick up a little grass, kiss it and thank God.”

Coxe also learned from her injury the power of loyalty and friendship.

“It was as if my injury was their injury,” said Coxe about her Slammers teammates. “They had my back and banded closer together with me than ever before. My team is like my family. I have 18 sisters for sure.”

Coxe, who is a junior at San Clemente High School, excels not only on the field but also in the classroom and the community. The young philanthropist co-founded with her sister Operation Smile and Habitat for Humanity charities at school. She is the ASB secretary, has 4.43 GPA and recently made a verbal commitment to play for Yale at the next level. Coxe has big dreams for her future and isn’t afraid to go after them.

“I’d like to win four Ivy League Championships for sure,” said Coxe about becoming a Yalie. “I’d like to make it to the Final Four and win an NCAA Championship. I look forward to the next level in training and working out. I hear some college teams have two-a-days. I think it’ll be cool to watch game tapes and travel around the Northeast to the other Ivies. I’ve never played in the snow and can’t wait. I hope to make life-long friends on the team. I guess I’m looking forward to a lot of things.”

But for now Coxe has her eye on one thing.

“[My team] has won just about everything, multiple times, except the biggest prize – the USYSA National Championship,” Coxe said. “That’s what we’ve set our sights on this July in Kansas City. It’s our third trip to Nationals and we’re in it to win it. Right now my sole focus is winning Nationals. That’s all I can think about.”

Photo Courtesy: B. Miller	Photo Courtesy: Don Nguyen	Photo Courtesy: B. Miller