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The first time I ever played against Ashleigh Johnson was at a tournament in Florida when I was about 12 years old. Jerseys NCAA Cheap . Ashleigh was a goalie and I noticed her right away. She was incredible, getting out to her legs like no one I had ever seen. I remember getting super competitive trying to score on her, even trying to match how high she got out of the water. My team ended up winning, but I never forgot how talented Ashleigh was.Years later, when Ashleigh began training with us on the U.S. womens water polo team, I knew for a fact this was where she belonged. At the time, Ashleighs main focus was simply on making the team, not history. She was just going out there to do her thing and trying to achieve her dream. She never thought of herself as different.In reality, Ashleigh did stand out. First off, all of the women on our national team are from California and competed in college there as well. Ashleigh is from Florida and goes to Princeton. Moreover, she is the best goalie in the world, and considerably the best player in the world.I can tell you from experience that finding an opening to score on Ashleigh is difficult because, unlike most goalies, she plays with an attacking mentality. Most goalies have a defensive mentality whereas Ashleigh attacks the ball. Shell leave her cage to anticipate the steal and often dares opponents to shoot against her. When a shot flies past me, Im already swimming to offense because I know Ashleigh will block it.Ashleigh is changing the way water polo is being played. Of course, shes changing the game in other ways, too. She is the first African-American woman ever to play on the U.S. womens water polo team, and was instrumental in winning the second straight gold medal for our program at the Olympics this past summer in Rio.In the last couple of years, Ashleigh has recognized a door was opened for her to be a role model, and she hasnt shied away from walking through it.I remember a team meeting during our training for the Olympics in which we talked about female empowerment. Ashleigh spoke about the impact she could have on others, both in and out of our sport. She said that growing up she never had anyone like herself to look up to in water polo, and now she could be that person for other young African-American girls. She could show what was possible.Ashleigh is simply a pleasure to be around. Whether shes at a function getting an award or around little kids, her kindness and poise make people feel comfortable when theyre around her. She has an incredible light that she emits, and her smile lights up the whole room.When I face Ashleigh in practice, I am brought back to the first time we played against one another as little girls back in Florida. I want to get a shot past her, I want to beat her, but she never, ever, makes it easy. I am lucky to have someone who brought out the best of me then, and continues to bring out the best in me today. I know my strong, intelligent and kind teammate is going to make a big difference in the lives of countless others, just as she has for us.More on Ashleigh Johnson? The Undefeated: Johnsons beautiful saves ?Story ?? What drives Olympic gold medalists ?Video ?? Inspiring words from Olympic stars ?Story ?The IMPACT25 is espnWs annual list of the 25 athletes and influencers who have made the greatest difference for women in sports. Explore the 2016 list and more content at espnW.com/IMPACT25. Discount NCAA Jerseys . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. China Jerseys Wholesale . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. http://www.cheapjerseysncaaauthentic.com/ ;. How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. MONTREAL -- The NHL-leading Montreal Canadiens are once again streaking. Only this time, its in the opposite direction.After matching or setting franchise -- and league -- records en route to a 13-1-1 start, the Canadiens are now 0-2-1 in their past three games after falling to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night in Raleigh. Now theyll head home to face a Toronto Maple Leafs squad on a roll, rested and waiting in Montreal.Its the second meeting in three weeks for the historic rivals, and the final on at the Bell Centre. The teams last squared off on Oct. 29 in Montreal, with the Canadiens skating away with a 2-1 victory.The Canadiens gave up three goals in six minutes in the third period against Carolina to see a 1-0 lead become a 3-1 deficit. It marked the third straight game of at least three goals allowed for Montreal and while they connected three times of their own in Tuesdays overtime loss to Florida, theyve only scored three goals total in their two other losses.I think the effort was there, Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said after the loss to the Hurricanes. You need puck luck and we dont have the puck luck lately.If theres been one bright spot during Montreals recent slide, its the play of defenseman Andrei Markov. The 16-year NHL veteran picked up a pair of assists against the Hurricanes to extend his point streak to seven games and moving him into a tie with Yvan Cournoyer for seventh place on the Canadiens all-time assists list.Carey Price, who made 37 saves in their last meeting with Toronto, will get the start in goal on Saturday but Therrien didnt confirm any other potential line-up changes. Rookie Charles Hudon, called up from the AHL on Thursday, replaced Sven Andrighetto. He could earn another go after picking up an assist and leaving an impression oon his coach. Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic. .Well see, but he played really well, Therrien said. He played well for a first game, I thought he created offensively, really responsible on the ice. I thought the kid competed really well. Im pleased with his effort.For the Maple Leafs, November has been much kinder than October was. After posting a 2-4-3 record in the opening month of the season, Toronto has won six of its eight games so far this month. And not only has Mike Babcocks group been winning, its been doing so with plenty of offense of late; Toronto has scored at least six goals in each of their most recent four wins.The young Leafs have made headlines for their offensive efforts and while the likes of Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander have generated most of the buzz, rookie Connor Brown added his name to the conversation on Thursday night. Brown became the fifth Maple Leafs player to record a four-point night with two goals and a pair of assists in a 6-1 win over the Panthers.Im slowly getting more comfortable with the puck and more comfortable making plays, Brown told TSN after the game. Offensively it was a bit of a slow start but I feel good defensively and I feel like Im in the right spots.While the offense has been rolling, its been doing so without much help from the power play. Toronto has scored just three times on 19 opportunities with the man advantage and has been held off the scoresheet in four of the past five games.Opponents arent scoring much on power plays either against the Leafs, who have allowed just three goals on the penalty kill and have denied the opposition of any power play tallies in six of eight games this month. Wholesale Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys Stitched Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2019 Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Wholesale NFL Gear Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL White Jerseys Discount Jerseys NFL T-shirts From China China NFL Hoodies Nike NFL Jerseys China ' ' '