Mark My Words

53 | Back With The Madness

The way the Eagles treated the Knights was different from the start. Unlike the Cougars, who learned as the game went on, the Eagles knew what to do straight out of the arena gates. It was for this reason that less than ten minutes in, the Knights were run ragged.

Every sharp, chilled breath pierced Rosalie's lungs as her cleats tore through the grass. She pumped her arms harder, legs straining as she looked from Drew to her target, tracking the ball from one Eagle to the next before it popped overhead and soared over centerfield. Rosalie skidded hard, spikes digging into dirt as she pivoted.

The ball slammed into Erin McAlister's knee and into the hip of an oncoming Eagle, who twisted, arms up to avoid touching the ball with her hands. She popped the ball up with the laces of her cleat and curved the ball back around Erin, who shot her foot out and kicked the ball between the Eagles' legs.

Rosalie threw her arms out, and she felt Drew at her back, the silky fabric of their jersey on her arm. Beyond the screaming in the crowd and the hum of her heart in her ear, she heard Drew's breath becoming harsh. She wondered if Drew trained in stamina the same way the rest of the Eagles were drilled into since freshmen year. Running their opponents ragged was what they did best, but they wouldn't put Drew Mendoza on centerfield if they couldn't handle sprinting a goddamn mile in the first ten minutes of the game.

No, they're just as worn out as we are, Rosalie thought, watching as Erin shot the ball across the field and against Ray's cleat. The ball came fast in her direction, and Drew shifted forward.

Rosalie stiffened her arm, shoving her shoulder into Drew's side as the ball came in her direction. She caught it and skirted it away in an arch that spun her around Drew and back over the centerfield.

She ran like the legacy of Bradshaw depended on getting the ball as far from the Knights' goal as possible. She pivoted around an Eagle defender, only to crash into another, her speed and force taking them both out the instant Rosalie's shins slammed into the girl's knee.

Rosalie shrieked as she toppled over. She twisted so her shoulder hit the grass first, and she ducked into a roll before popping up with the sight of the ball just in front of her.

Knowing Drew was just a step away, she swung her leg out and slammed her cleat into the stitches of the ball. It whirled in a curved arc across the field, hissing through the grass. Rosalie skidded with the follow-through. She landed flat on her ass and looked back to find Drew slowing to a stop beside her because in the next moment, the whistle blew, and the ball bounced off of the arena wall.

Rosalie pulled her knees up and prepared to stand, only to stop at the sight of Drew holding their hand out. Rosalie clasped onto it and let herself be heaved off of the ground. Drew slapped her on the back as they passed, jogging into position as Ray emerged from the cluster of Eagles to take the toss.

Rosalie debated their options as Ray cued up to toss.

1) The Eagles couldn't keep up this break-neck pace any more than the Knights could. They were equally matched in terms of stamina which meant:

2) They were fully aware of the parrying before a shot. This much was obvious based on their initial attack on Spencer's goal. It was a failed attempt, but Rosalie could see the similarities in the Eagles' tactics to their own. It meant that they not only did their research, but they did their research on the Knight scrimmages. The previous two games weren't enough for them to gauge Joanna Spencer's weak spots, which meant:

3) Their goalie would be prepared for this.

Rosalie scanned her eyes over the Eagles around her just before Ray chucked the ball overhead where Alyssa met it closer to the Knights' goal. It was a far left shot, but Rosalie could see the reasoning for this new plan, one they only used with the Lions that landed them a goal at the buzzer. As much as Rosalie didn't want to use Joanna as a crutch so early in the game, she knew as well as anyone else on the field that Joanna would break the pace.