But I Can't Lose Her

the only way to get what you want - 38

in this world is through hard work - tiana, princess and the frog

"Okay, girls. This is it. First game. I need you to keep your focus and show me all that fire you've been putting in over these first few practices," Coach orders, looking at our whole team. Even the JV girls stand with us in the circle. We're all one team. "Captains, say your part."

"Alright, girls. You've got this." That's all Chelsea says before putting her stick in the center of our circle and every other girl does as well. We clash them together, hyping each other up. "All right. Fight song on three. One, two, three!"

"We are warriors, we are Chiefs! We are Pumas and we defeat!" we shout in unison, cheers going through our pack after our sticks stop hitting.

"Go, go! You've got this, come on," Coach encourages, and since we have a little time before the other team decides to get out on the field, Harper and I do our stick shake we try to do before every game.

When we finish by clicking them together three times and then swinging them back to our sides, she smiles and pulls her goggles down, turning away, her french braid whipping towards me.

I walk away to the goal, nodding to my teammates. Audrey, our goalie, nods to me and stomps one of her feet, her sign of being ready. I look over to my other defense player, Chelsea, and she nods as well. Our third back, who is more so a midi, Madi, looks back and gives me a thumbs up.

We are so ready to win.

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For the first quarter it was dead on defense. The ball wasn't even getting close to us. Of course that's a good thing, but I want to do something. It's not even like we're putting any goals in, we're just piddling in the circle.

We listen to Coach say the same thing she's been saying since I was a Freshman.

"Girls, I need you to get your head on that ball. Every year, we're so close to states, and every year we miss out by a game. So don't start the season like that," she orders and we all nod, ready to go back in.

"One, two, three," Chelsea starts and we all cheer out.

"As Pumas we defeat!"

We run back out, still energized, but I can tell a few of our key front players are getting tired. One goal, at least. Come on.

The second quarter is the same, along with the third quarter. We're so close to getting it in, but they have great defense. Just terrible offense. We've already had a corner, but they put Melissa at the top of the circle instead of Harper. Idiots.

"Come on, you guys. We are so close. We want Coach to be happy, we want to be happy, so put a damn ball in the goal. We can be tired later," Chelsea encourages, and the way we walk back out on that field makes me inspired.

The whistle blows and I can already see a change in attitude. But it being the last quarter, it's not just our  attitude that's changed. Somehow, Oakville gets it away from Sierra and brings it down the center, dodging Madi.

I automatically fall back, watching Chelsea move up. I hold my stick flat on the ground, standing on the left of Audrey as they approach on the right. Number 23 gets right past Chelsea, and I feel my heart rate increase through my fingertips. This is my time.

I don't leave my post position, and I watch as Audrey studies the girl for a moment or two, before she strikes the ball. On instinct, I move towards it, my stick blocking it by a mere centimeter. I try to stay out of shock and flick it back towards Chelsea on the side, watching as the girl huffs and runs away.