In the week leading up to the first match of the NWSL Fall Series, Orlando Pride rookie Courtney Petersen needed to soothe her nerves.
She felt jittery, more antsy than she’d ever been before a game during her career at the University of Virginia. When those nerves got to be too much, Petersen found a simple cure — getting in the car, turning on her game day playlist and driving until her thoughts shut off.
“I was overthinking the game too much,” Petersen said. “I just had to remember that it’s just another soccer game. I’ve been doing this my entire life.