Emma's POV
"Here you go Bubba." Christen says and hands me the line up sheet for today's game.
"Thanks." I say then I look at our line up for our final game of the group stage
1-Emma Harris (C)
5-Kelley O'Hara
7-Abby Dahlkemper
12-Tierna Davidson
19-Crystal Dunn
8-Julie Johnston
16-Rose Lavelle
3-Sam Mewis
20-Catarina Macario
13-Alex Morgan
23-Christen Press
In our 2nd group game we beat Nigeria 3-0 with goals from Kristie, Sophia, and Moe.
In our 2nd group game Vlatko changed the entire line up so that every outfield player would get at least one game in the World Cup, but I still remained in goal.
After I look at the line-up I realize we're at the stadium.
"Let's go Shadow." I say then my service dog and I stand up as we stop outside Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand.
After the bus stops everyone grabs their bags then we get off the bus and head to the locker room.
When I get to my locker I take my AirPods out, take out my nose ring, take off my necklaces and my rings, then I put my jewelry and AirPods in my bag.
After I'm jewelry free I take off my blazer, my white button down shirt, my dress pants, and my Chelsea boots then I put on my pink sports bra and my black compression shorts.
Once I'm only in a sports bra and compression shorts I put on my short sleeve lime green undershirt, my warm up top, then I put on my game shorts. I then sit down in my locker, put my long long curly brown hair up in a ponytail, put on my socks and put on my black and gold boots.
After my boots are on I tape my wrists, hands, and fingers then I put on my black and white keeper gloves before I head onto the field with the other keepers.
When I get on the pitch I run through my warm ups with the keepers for a while then head back to the locker room.
Once in the locker room I change out of the training top and change into my lime green keeper jersey while the coaches do their last minute talks.
After the last minute talks are over we are told to head to the tunnel so I grab my towel and water bottle then I head to the front of the line in the tunnel.
Minutes later we are told to head out onto the field for the prematch stuff so I lead our team out onto the field
Once on the field we stand in a line and stand in silence for the Spanish anthem.
When our anthem starts, myself, Sam, Abby, Alex, Christen, and a few more ladies all take a knee.
After our anthem plays we shake hands with the refs and the Spanish team, do the starting XI photo, then I do the coin toss with the Spanish captain.
Once the coin toss is done with I head to our bench and do our team huddle.
After our team huddle I lead Shadow to the sideline.
"Stay here Shadow." I say then Shadow barks and licks my face.
I smile at my Service dog and pet her head then I grab my towel and my water bottle and head to my goal.
Once I'm at my goal I hang my towel on the net, put my water bottle outside the net, then I stand in my goal as the game kicks off.
"LET'S GO BABY." I hear my Mom shout. "YOU GOT THIS."
- - - - -
"We played like fucking dog shit." I say as I hug Ash.
"We got first place and that's all that matters."
"Barely." I say then I grab my towel and my drink bottle.
We tied Spain 0-0 and in all honestly we should've lost.
Every aspect of our game sucked.
Actually I'm gonna toot my own horn here.
I fucking saved our asses.
"Hi Shadow." I say when I notice Shadow running to me.
Once Shadow gets to me I sit down on the ground next to her then I love on her a bit.
"Ready to go?" I ask.
Shadow barks and licks my face then the two of us stand up and walk to the friends and family section.
"MAMA." My kids shout.
"Hi Babies." I say then my Mom and Serena hand me my kids.
Once my kids are in my arms, I squat down so the can love on Shadow for a bit while I love on them as well.
After a few minutes I realize I'm the last one on the field so I look at my kids.
"Can you two go with Oma and Gigi for a little bit while I head back to the hotel then I'll meet you all for dinner?"
My kids nod then they kiss my cheeks before I pass them back to my Mom and Serena.
"See you soon Baby." My Mom says.
"See ya." I say then Shadow and I head to the locker room.
Once at my locker I pull out my chair for Shadow to sit on then I change out of my kit and head to the shower.
After my shower I dry off, put on my tracksuit, put on my shoe's, then I put on my jewelry and pack up my stuff.
When I finish packing my stuff up I sit down in my chair then Shadow jumps into my lap and let's me hold her.
"You alright?" Christen asks.
"I'm fine." I mumble as Shadow nuzzle's me. "Just gonna keep my mouth shut so I don't piss anybody off and so I don't scare the kids."
"The kids aren't here right now." Christen says.
"And you know you're free to speak your mind." Alex says.
"Fine." I say. "We played like fucking dog shit and if we're gonna advance past the next round then some people need to fix their shit."
"What do you mean some people?" Kelley asks.
"I mean you Kelley." I say as I lazily run my hands over Shadow. "I had 12 fucking saves today and 10 of them were because you either got caught too high up, you couldn't get back quick enough, or you didn't clear the fucking ball."
Lucia Garcia and Jenni Hermoso ran all over Kelley and I was over the moon when Vlatko subbed in Sonnett in the 56th minute.
"Let's not have this conversation here." Vlatko says. "We can review tomorrow."
"Come on Shadow." I say as I grab my bag. "Let's go to the bus."
YOU ARE READING
Serendipity
FanfictionIn Emma's 21 years of living she has been to hell and back. She relies on a handful of people to keep her going. When one of them breaks her who will be there to pick up the pieces?
