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<v Speaker 1>Welcome man, It's time for another SDH one V one.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm Jason Longshore. Now I was part of an interview

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<v Speaker 1>recently with myself with Madison Cruz. Caroline Hood was with

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<v Speaker 1>us as well, and we had the chance to catch

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<v Speaker 1>up with f Rian Morales after Atlanta United training ahead

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<v Speaker 1>of Wednesday's match against the Chicago Fire. F Ryan has

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<v Speaker 1>been playing consistently as of late in a center back

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<v Speaker 1>pairing with Louisa Brahm, and we talked to f Ryan

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<v Speaker 1>about that. We talked to him about his journey through

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<v Speaker 1>the Atlanta United Academy and Atlanta United two to the

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<v Speaker 1>first team. We talked about his time in the Bolivia

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<v Speaker 1>national team as well, and Madison started the interview talking

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<v Speaker 1>about f Ryan's current time juggling being a professional athlete

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<v Speaker 1>and being a college student. Here is our conversation with

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<v Speaker 1>f Ryan Morales.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, I think, first thing, getting the first couple

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<v Speaker 2>of starts here in the last couple of games. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>what does it mean to you have that confidence that

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<v Speaker 2>Ronnie does to have and put you in those positions

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<v Speaker 2>to get you in the starting spots.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, obviously to be able to get that confidence from

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<v Speaker 3>the coaching staff I would say it took a little while,

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<v Speaker 3>but I'm glad I.

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<v Speaker 4>Ultimately got it Bolivia. Playing in Bolivia makes a difference.

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<v Speaker 3>I think I was able to kind of move forward

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<v Speaker 3>with those games and I was able to translate a

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<v Speaker 3>little bit.

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<v Speaker 5>I'm hoping to be.

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<v Speaker 4>Able to build on it with Bolivia as well.

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<v Speaker 2>When you've got the opportunity to go play there, what

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<v Speaker 2>are some of the biggest things that you've learned from

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<v Speaker 2>your time playing.

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<v Speaker 4>Over the national team?

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<v Speaker 3>For me personally, I think it was a pressure aspect

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<v Speaker 3>and the nerves aspect.

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<v Speaker 4>Of the games.

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<v Speaker 3>Obviously, those games in South America can be really nerve racking,

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<v Speaker 3>a lot of anxiety, I mean a lot of pressure.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean definitely. The culture in South America revolves around soccer,

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<v Speaker 3>so it's a big deal for all the fans and

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<v Speaker 3>for everyone that lives in Bolivia. So being able to

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<v Speaker 3>manage that and playing the games confidently was big for me.

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<v Speaker 2>So for Bolivia for you to be able to qualify

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<v Speaker 2>for is.

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<v Speaker 4>It on your your mom's or your dad's side?

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<v Speaker 2>My dad's sound awesome, Yes it What does it mean

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<v Speaker 2>when you've got the opportunity to play there, especially for

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<v Speaker 2>your family as well?

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<v Speaker 5>For my dad.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean he, like I said, for all Bolivia's it's

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<v Speaker 3>the biggest thing is to be able.

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<v Speaker 4>To go and play for your national team soccer.

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<v Speaker 3>So my dad seeing me be able to do that,

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<v Speaker 3>he was really proud and he was really happy.

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<v Speaker 4>And I have a bunch of family out there that

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<v Speaker 4>are that are.

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<v Speaker 3>Really happy for me, and I'm just hoping that I

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<v Speaker 3>could return the gesture.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and you know coming back here as well, having

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<v Speaker 2>that newfound confidence as well being I think just a

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<v Speaker 2>young center back in a position like that where you

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<v Speaker 2>are in those physitions where it's a lot of anxiety

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<v Speaker 2>where you have to talk a lot in those moments,

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<v Speaker 2>especially with World Cup qualifying with them, also here with

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<v Speaker 2>the team too, you're one of the most vocal bizzed

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<v Speaker 2>I hear as well. You and know a Cobb. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>where does that come from for you as well?

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<v Speaker 4>And how have you developed that in your game?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, that's one of the biggest things that I think

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<v Speaker 3>the coaching staff has has put on me, like they've

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<v Speaker 3>made that my responsibility. They've been tailing me since since

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<v Speaker 3>twelve years old in the academy. Obviously, being a center back.

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<v Speaker 4>You need to be able to be vocal.

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<v Speaker 3>You need to be able to be communicate, and having

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<v Speaker 3>you know, Derek Williams, de Youngergers and all those guys

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<v Speaker 3>kind of helping me, you know, how to be intentional

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<v Speaker 3>with it, how to be detailed, has really helped me

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<v Speaker 3>improve my game.

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<v Speaker 2>How has that been to having that big core group

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<v Speaker 2>of guys, especially defensively with Derek, Steon, Ronald and having

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<v Speaker 2>all of you guys, and also to having Matt and

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<v Speaker 2>Noah as well, guys you've known too.

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<v Speaker 5>In the academy.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, that's so im boring, Like you said, having a

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<v Speaker 3>balance between young guys and the older guys, because obviously

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<v Speaker 3>you have the older guys always giving you advice, but

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<v Speaker 3>then you have the younger guys that you can relate

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<v Speaker 3>to and talk about, you know, the nuances and things

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<v Speaker 3>that some of the older.

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<v Speaker 4>Guys might not understand at the moment. So having that

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<v Speaker 4>balance has helped me a lot.

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<v Speaker 2>I want to ask to you It was talked about

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit before, but I want to get into

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<v Speaker 2>it too. You know obviously at Georgia Tech right now

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<v Speaker 2>getting a major as well, very lucrative school as well.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, how is being a student kind of helped

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<v Speaker 2>you being a professional athlete as well. How have you

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<v Speaker 2>balance that and also like how does it help you

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<v Speaker 2>vice versa both ways?

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, like you said, it could go both ways.

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<v Speaker 3>Obviously, just the being able to focus on the task

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<v Speaker 3>actually makes helps for sure, and that's obviously something that

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<v Speaker 3>I have to do there at Georgia Tech.

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<v Speaker 4>At times.

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<v Speaker 5>It can be.

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<v Speaker 3>Difficult at times. It's a lot of workload between soccer

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<v Speaker 3>and school. But for me mostly there's obviously the education

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<v Speaker 3>aspect of it, but also having the outlet in terms

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<v Speaker 3>of just social life and that type of stuff. Being

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<v Speaker 3>around other students my age has helped me keep mentally

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<v Speaker 3>and mentally valves.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean I know, I mean sports management major.

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<v Speaker 2>So the only hard thing I did was sports law,

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<v Speaker 2>but that was just lockdown.

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<v Speaker 4>Webcam so that was fine for me. I was handled that.

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<v Speaker 4>I was great.

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<v Speaker 2>I can only imagine the soccer doo net Tech as well.

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<v Speaker 2>But with that too, I mean balancing that you talk about,

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<v Speaker 2>I think like the friendship and having people that around

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<v Speaker 2>your age, Having that, how has that.

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<v Speaker 4>Helped you, especially with being a professionalize having the communication,

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<v Speaker 4>having that.

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<v Speaker 2>Social relationship with your students there, but then having it

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<v Speaker 2>here too. Being a lot more friendly having those conversations too.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I mean, of course there's the aspect where with

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<v Speaker 3>soccer there comes a lot of anxiety, there comes a

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<v Speaker 3>lot of stress, there comes a lot of nerves, and

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<v Speaker 3>always having those those just friends outside of soccer have

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<v Speaker 3>helped me a lot sometimes to just be an outlet

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<v Speaker 3>and be able to get away from soccer. And then,

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<v Speaker 3>like you said, there's there's the social aspect of it,

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<v Speaker 3>the communication aspect of it that has honestly translated a

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<v Speaker 3>little bit here. I think a lot with soccer. I

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<v Speaker 3>mean you go to training, you go home, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>do much. But obviously being around other students and learning

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<v Speaker 3>how to communicate and you know, pick up on even

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<v Speaker 3>the smallest social cues that made.

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<v Speaker 4>A difference for me.

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<v Speaker 2>Has that been helpful, especially I think with the difficult

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<v Speaker 2>stretch the team has been on having those outlets for

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<v Speaker 2>you to be able to disconnect from football a little bit,

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<v Speaker 2>to be able to have that outlet.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, for sure.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean obviously, like I said, when there's there's there's

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<v Speaker 3>a lot of stress here at the facilities, sometimes being

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<v Speaker 3>able to have the outlet for that.

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<v Speaker 6>Makes makes a big difference your time with the twos

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<v Speaker 6>as well, how did that time help you prepare coming

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<v Speaker 6>up here, getting these minutes with the first team and

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<v Speaker 6>getting these last couple of st arts as well.

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<v Speaker 4>With the team. It was I mean being.

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<v Speaker 3>Able to have consistent game time is probably the most

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<v Speaker 3>important thing for any footballer. I mean that's I think

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<v Speaker 3>what anyone will tell you. And so being able to

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<v Speaker 3>deal with the twos wherever it is it helps your

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<v Speaker 3>game a lot. And not to mention the twos is

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<v Speaker 3>you know, we try to be competitive, but it is

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<v Speaker 3>also in this in a sense like you can try

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<v Speaker 3>things out, you can have a little bit more leniency,

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<v Speaker 3>and I think that was important for me because I

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<v Speaker 3>got to kind of adjust a few things and learn

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<v Speaker 3>what works.

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<v Speaker 2>And what doesn't, especially with adaptability to in games where

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<v Speaker 2>you need to be called upon when things can change

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<v Speaker 2>as quickly.

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<v Speaker 4>How did how did you quickly get adjust to that?

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<v Speaker 4>Being able to be adaptable in games.

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<v Speaker 3>I think that's that's one of the biggest ones for

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<v Speaker 3>a lot of the young guys, is you never know

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<v Speaker 3>when your names would be called on, so always being prepared,

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<v Speaker 3>I mean it's the next amount of mentality and being

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<v Speaker 3>able to stay healthy, being able to play with the

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<v Speaker 3>twos and just stay levelheaded because obviously there's ups and

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<v Speaker 3>downs and just being ready is really important.

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<v Speaker 7>How is that relationship between you and Luisa Broom developed

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<v Speaker 7>over the last couple of games as well, because, I mean,

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<v Speaker 7>even from watching the game against Toronto, that connection seems

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<v Speaker 7>to have just clicked immediately between both of you guys.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I think I think we compliment each other in

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<v Speaker 3>the sense we're both you know, we're both very competitive,

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<v Speaker 3>we both want to win, but at the same time,

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<v Speaker 3>we understand each other in the sense how we don't

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<v Speaker 3>necessarily have to be screaming at each other.

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<v Speaker 5>The whole game.

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<v Speaker 3>I think we could be a little bit more intentional

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<v Speaker 3>with our communication when it's just you know, even just

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<v Speaker 3>talking at at a normal voice level, not necessarily screaming

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<v Speaker 3>at each other. I think that's when we get the

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<v Speaker 3>best out of well with each other. We understand that.

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<v Speaker 3>So I think I've been able to we've been able

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<v Speaker 3>to develop that.

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<v Speaker 2>How do you guys compliment one another? What are some

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<v Speaker 2>of the things that you bring to the table. But

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<v Speaker 2>then Louise also brings as well.

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<v Speaker 4>I mean, Louis is definitely the consistency, the experience.

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<v Speaker 3>They mainly the experienced aspect of it. I think me obviously,

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<v Speaker 3>I might bring a little bit more risk in the

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<v Speaker 3>build out. I might do a few more things that

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<v Speaker 3>he might not do. But like you said, there's there's

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<v Speaker 3>the risk and the reward for it. So I think

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<v Speaker 3>being able to have him who you know what you're

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<v Speaker 3>gonna get out of him.

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<v Speaker 5>You're going to complete all his he's.

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<v Speaker 3>Gonna make all his tackles, and me on the other side,

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<v Speaker 3>it might be a little shaky sometimes, but we'll try

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<v Speaker 3>to do some things.

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<v Speaker 4>I think you get the best.

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<v Speaker 5>Both worlds with Luise. He doesn't talk a whole lot.

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<v Speaker 5>Has that helped bring your voice out a little bit?

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, Like that's why I was kind of explaining her.

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<v Speaker 3>I think it makes me more comfortable to be who

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<v Speaker 3>I am that I can really you know, take I

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<v Speaker 3>guess a little bit more of a lead in that

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<v Speaker 3>situation and knowing that that it compliments him and when

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<v Speaker 3>he speaks to me, you will speak to me personally,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, calmly and stuff like that, And I think

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<v Speaker 3>that's really brought up more and more of a leadership

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<v Speaker 3>role for me in the backgun.

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<v Speaker 5>How has it's.

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<v Speaker 8>Been funny watching you with Leuis because I feel like

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<v Speaker 8>your game brings out a lot of great qualities in

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<v Speaker 8>his game.

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<v Speaker 5>Two that complimenting one another. How have you seen like

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<v Speaker 5>him help you be a better player?

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<v Speaker 4>For me, the biggest one is just being just being

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<v Speaker 4>comfortable with my mistakes.

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<v Speaker 3>I know that, you know, if I'm a young guy,

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<v Speaker 3>I'm gonna make mistakes, and I know having him next

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<v Speaker 3>to me, like, he's never gonna necessarily get mad at

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<v Speaker 3>me for I mean, unless they're something that needs to

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<v Speaker 3>be changed, of course, but he's he's he's there, he's

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<v Speaker 3>gonna support me regardless of the mistakes I make.

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<v Speaker 4>And now when I do make a mistake, I necessarily

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<v Speaker 4>have that at the back.

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<v Speaker 3>Of my mind, like, oh God, like I'm worried about

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<v Speaker 3>what he's gonna do whatever.

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<v Speaker 4>So I think that's been the biggest, biggest part for me.

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<v Speaker 8>Has that been one of the hardest things for a

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<v Speaker 8>young player of breaking into the level that you're in

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<v Speaker 8>now is being willing to make mistakes.

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<v Speaker 3>I think that's one of the personally, one of the

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<v Speaker 3>biggest changes I've made in terms of, you know, the

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<v Speaker 3>last few years in comparison to this year, is being okay.

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<v Speaker 4>To make mistakes.

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<v Speaker 3>Obviously, center back is a position where you have to

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<v Speaker 3>be really careful with the type of mistakes you make,

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<v Speaker 3>which is another thing that I've been really trying to

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<v Speaker 3>work on. But mistakes are generally part of the game,

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<v Speaker 3>and even though you're a young guy and you want to.

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<v Speaker 4>Break into the team, like, mistakes.

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<v Speaker 5>Will happen regardless.

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<v Speaker 8>Is that one of the reasons why like having that

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<v Speaker 8>experience with the second team.

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<v Speaker 5>Laying consistently, is that one of the reasons why that

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<v Speaker 5>team is so important in the players development?

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<v Speaker 3>Oh?

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, Like I think it's so important.

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<v Speaker 3>Like like, like I told her, it's the game peticity

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<v Speaker 3>aspect of it, but also the ability to you know,

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<v Speaker 3>make errors and adapt. I think that's definitely I've taken

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<v Speaker 3>that with me into the first scene.

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<v Speaker 8>How how hard was it for you when you signed

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<v Speaker 8>really young and had two maybe two and a half

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<v Speaker 8>years of a lot of injuries and just not being

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<v Speaker 8>able to get on the field consistently.

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<v Speaker 5>How hard was that time for you?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah?

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<v Speaker 4>It was.

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<v Speaker 3>It was definitely hard mentally in the sense that because

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, I'm sixteen years old, and I know I

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<v Speaker 3>probably should have known that I don't know everything, but

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<v Speaker 3>in the moment, I think, like you know, I know

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<v Speaker 3>everything and this is bad, like it's It was definitely

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<v Speaker 3>a lot of stress and anxiety, and I just I

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<v Speaker 3>think looking back at it now and I try to

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<v Speaker 3>kind of like pass that on to the young guys,

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<v Speaker 3>like just be patient, It'll be okay, because I mean,

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<v Speaker 3>obviously that happens to young guys and even though it sucks,

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<v Speaker 3>like you'll get happened.

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<v Speaker 5>Essentially, what helped you the most.

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<v Speaker 3>During that time for me just being able to communicate back,

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<v Speaker 3>like efficiently with a medical staff, but also just have

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<v Speaker 3>a family, Like I said, the audlet aspect of it two,

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<v Speaker 3>and I think the school aspect two, because I mean

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<v Speaker 3>I was able to know that, you know, things don't

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<v Speaker 3>happen to work out, I do have somewhere else that

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<v Speaker 3>I could go.

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<v Speaker 5>How cool has it been over this past run to

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<v Speaker 5>be I.

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<v Speaker 8>Mean, honestly, you're playing a starting All Star consideration kind

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<v Speaker 8>of a US level.

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<v Speaker 5>You're getting consistent games and rising to the standard.

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<v Speaker 8>Just when you think back to those times when it

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<v Speaker 8>was hard.

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<v Speaker 5>How rewarding is it to have what you're having right now?

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah?

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<v Speaker 3>Really rewarding in the sense that because when I was,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, fifteen, sixteen years old, For me, it was like,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, a black hole, like it felt like I

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<v Speaker 3>wasn't gonna get out. So obviously seeing where I am

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<v Speaker 3>now and being able to look back at it does

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<v Speaker 3>it does feel good. But at the same time, at

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<v Speaker 3>the end of the day, it's like you have to

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<v Speaker 3>stay levelheaded.

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<v Speaker 4>It's been three games, which in the Crank scheme of

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<v Speaker 4>things doesn't mean anything. So you know, it's just a

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<v Speaker 4>matter of just onto the next, on to the next,

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<v Speaker 4>on to the next.

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<v Speaker 3>Because three good games could mean nothing with you, they

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<v Speaker 3>played ten battles.

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<v Speaker 1>So big thank you to everybody at Atlanta United for

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<v Speaker 1>making this possible and most especially thank you to f

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<v Speaker 1>Rain for taking the time to speak with us. We

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<v Speaker 1>always love to see players as they make that journey

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<v Speaker 1>from the Atlanta United Academy and f Raan was one

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<v Speaker 1>of the first academy players that Atlanta United ever had,

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<v Speaker 1>all the way through the second team and then into

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<v Speaker 1>the first team and thriving at the MLS level and

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<v Speaker 1>for f Rain, thriving at the international level with his

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<v Speaker 1>beloved Bolivia. Love seeing these stories. This is why we

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<v Speaker 1>love having a hometown club like Atlanta United. Hopefully we

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<v Speaker 1>will see you at Mercedes Benz Stadium. This week two matches,

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<v Speaker 1>Chicago Fire on Wednesday Charlotte FC on Saturday. Both are

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<v Speaker 1>available on ninety two nine to the Game and the

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<v Speaker 1>Odyssey App, as well as Apple TV's MLS Season Pass,

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<v Speaker 1>and you can listen to our radio call there, just

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<v Speaker 1>choose the home team radio option. Pregame coverage on radio

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<v Speaker 1>starts at sea thirty with Abe Gordon and Madison Cruise.

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<v Speaker 1>Kickoff will be at seven forty for both matches with

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<v Speaker 1>myself and Mike CONTI hope to see you there, and

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<v Speaker 1>if you can't join us in person, you can join

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<v Speaker 1>us on the radio or on the Odyssey App.