ғᴏᴏᴛsᴛᴇᴘs | ᴋᴍ ✔︎

Mewis

"I kinda like it when you hurt me."
- FLETCHER.

| Kristie |

First game of the regular season, we're all feeling good about the upcoming months after a successful preseason. We start our season at home, hosting Portland, which raises mixed feelings for myself. As a professional I want to win. As the girl hopelessly in love with Portland's newest player, I'm nervous but excited to see her in person again.

"You look like you're gonna throw up." Rachel whispers behind me, as we wait for the Thorns to line up in the tunnel.

"You're behind me, how can you tell?"

"I just can. Relax." She pats my back encouragingly as I hear the patter of multiple cleats closing in, and the white jerseys lining up beside us.

The referee signals us out to the field, thankfully before I cave in and search for Cody's face. We go through the anthems, handshakes from the opposition, a wink and mischievous smile from the newest Portland signing, which gains chuckles from my teammates, even Rachel.

| 3rd Person |

"If you're just tuning in, we're here in Houston for the opening game of the NWSL season, and what a day it is for a game of soccer. We have the Dash hosting the Thorns, and we get our first look at Cody Morgan for Portland, the youngster wearing number 16, and we're interested to see how she plays alongside Heath."

"Play has been pretty even, no cards yet but there have been a few fouls, some players leaving some marks on the opposition. Houston slightly edging it in terms of possession, but Portland doing well to keep the team in orange out of the danger areas."

"Daly plays the ball to Mewis, who skips away from Morgan and plays the ball to Ohai. The forward breaks through the D and gets a shot off, but it's pushed aside by Franch and out for a corner. It'll be the last bit of play before halftime."

"Surprisingly it's Daly who opts to take the corner, sending it into the box. The Thorns keeper gets a fist to it and punches the ball away. The referee blows the whistle."

"That was an interesting half. Cody Morgan played well, but I'd like to see more from her. I think the more she begins to settle with this team, we'll see the kind of form she showed during her time in England, where they still rave about her. Franch is doing well to keep her team in the game and now needs the midfielders and forwards to step up and get the job done."

"On the other side, Houston have come close but just can't find that final piece of magic to get that ball in the net. If they keep doing what they're doing, it'll only be a matter of time before they're winning this game."

"The teams are back out and looking eager to get the game restarted. The referee takes count, making sure neither team has snuck on an extra player, and now that he's satisfied he signals the start of the second half."

"Halfway through this second half and Portland are a completely different outfit to what they were in the first forty-five. They're more aggressive, passing the ball quicker. The link-up play between Carpenter, Morgan, Sinclair and Heath seems to be proving vital as the team in white break free and the counter attack is on. Morgan carrying the ball up field, plays the through ball for Heath who slides the ball into the box for Sinclair, and the Captain doesn't fail to get the opening goal!"

| Kristie |

Fuck?

I want to be annoyed, angry, frustrated, but when I see Cody grinning like that I just crumble.

"Come on, focus! We're not out of this yet!" Daly yells as the teams reset.