Wilder Dreams

Chapter 23

I'm done with the training, and the tests. Its been a week. We're preparing to go against Norway. We're in the locker rooms. A few of us have headphones on, and others jamming out to music Pinoe is playing. Other then that we're pretty quiet. We're all trying to get in the zone. This is my first Cap, my first game. I'm surprisingly in the starting 11. I'm left wing forward. I'm up front with Alex and Tobin.
We all walk out and wait for Norway. I'm the last one in line since I'm #25. A lot of thoughts going through my mind. I'm holding hands with a girl but I wasn't paying attention to her until she said something, and her voice was so familiar
"Oh my gosh, Hi Casey!" I say to her. She just smiles. We head out and man the feeling is amazing. I finally have my country's Jersey on. The energy is amazing. They play Norway's anthem. When USA's anthems played. I felt myself want to cry out of happiness. I held it in though. After the anthem, Becky and Norways captain shook hands. We got in position. They blow the whistle and we begin.

Norway has possession of the ball. Between the defense. I'm hot on their tail right now. I'm putting pressure on the defender making her make a short pass enough for Alex to get on it. She was running close to goal and she had 2 defenders on her tail making her pass it to me. I passed it to Lindsey. She passes it back and forth with Kelly. Kelly making her way up the pitch passes It to Tobin. Taking it up the right flank and kicks it to Alex. Alex jumps up to head it but misses. Landing on a defenders feet who kicks it away. We run back, Norway is making there way to to goal. They kick it off target.

It's the 24th min. I need to get a touch on the ball. Right now Tobin's making run and the defender kicks it out, giving us a throw in. Tobin takes it. She throws it to Alex who heads it but misses again. Lindsey gets a touch on it. Kicks up to me and i bring it down with my chest and turn, I kick it up and I bicycle kick it in. It goes in!

(Like that bicycle kick)
I've scored my first game in my first cap. The team runs to me and a few jump on me. The crowd is still cheering. I honestly didn't think that would work. We still got time on the clock. We get back into position. Nothing has happened so far. Many shots off target from both teams.
We're in in 40th min. Close to half time. Lindsey has the ball, and she kicks it to Becky. Becky kicks it to Kelly. Kelly passed to Ali who goes long. I see the ball heading towards me. I head it towards Alex. Who automatically kicks it in as soon as it hits her feet. The goalie got her finger tips on it but it went anyway. I run and jump on her. She catches me. We celebrate and soon we're in half time. Jill talks to us about communication and pressure. I'm playing all 90 mins. Carli coming in for Lindsey, and a few subs coming in later in the game. We head back out there.

"Hey Sagey show them how great you are!" Carli yells towards me. It's something she says to me whenever we play together. I hold up my finger up and she does too. We're number one. When the whistle blows, Alex gets the ball and kicks it back to the our backline. Our backline has possession of the ball, passing it back and forth. We got to work on patience. I get a touch on it, and I kick it back to Carli. I run towards goal, and she kicks it back to me. I get a Norway defender in front of me. I fake kick the ball right and she puts her foot out, causing her to loose a little of her balance. I run left and I kick it to Carli, she heads it in. 3-0, Carli runs to me. We hug and celebrate. Norway gets a touch on the ball, they break through defense and score. It's okay though, cause we're up 2 and we're on the 75 min. We got this.
Carli gets the ball. Causing Alex, Tobin and I make a run. She passes it to Alex, but the defender steps up and kicks it back. Lindsey heads it to Ali. Ali kicks it over towards me. I run, and it lands by my feet.
(How the play goes. Below)

I  have a defender in front of me. I go right and I kick it anyway. Whether it goes in it not. It does though. As soon as it hits the back of the net. Everyone screams. I run to Alex and she hugs me. Carli runs up and hugs me too. She ruffles my hair. After my goal, there wasnt anymore goals. We won today's game. I was given the ball of the match. I held it up and then I kissed it (yes I know gross but it was in the moment). The team signed it and we're about to head into the locker rooms

"Dude you killed it!" Tobin tells me and she jumps on me. I catch her, I hold her up. There's music playing, and everyone cheers. I hold up the ball and everyone cheers louder. Tobin gets off my back. And I get stopped by an interviewer

"I'm Steven Blackwell, and I'm here with Sage Wilder. Women of Match. How are you?"

"Hi! I'm doing good" I tell him and the camera man. One of the trainers comes over and hands me a towel. I take it and thank him. I wipe my face

"This is your first cap, and you've scored twice and assisted the rest. Was it a tough game?" Steve asks me

"It was a good game, and it was played fairly." I tell them.

"What's been the best part of being here? and finally playing with the national team, we know you've always been ready for it and you were falled into some injuries" he asks me. Ever since I was called up, my fans have been posting more pics of me and telling others about how inspirational I am. Everything that's happened sparked a lot more talk about me in FIFA soccer.

"The best part has been playing with these amazing women, the goals today we're all really from them. I give credit to them because the ball didn't magically land on my feet, I wouldn't have done it without them." I tell the camera. After that it's questions on the game and what I think we should work on. After that, I was walking by the stands. I saw Casey and her parents. I wave, and I tried climbing into the the stands but the guards held me back a little. I do it anyway and I reach over and hug Casey. We take a couple pics. I get back down and head to the Locker room. When I walk in, I'm engulfed in hugs, we start cheering.