Chapter 32

***Angelica***

We were down by a goal in the eighty-fifth minute of play. Our team’s layout is the four-four-two-field set. Jasmine and I are forwards, I am at left and she at the right. Paula, our left wing midfielder passed the ball to me down the sideline. I didn’t have a clear shot at the goal so I passed it back and to Paula, who passed it long to Jasmine. Jasmine controlled the ball getting past the last defender and scored in the left corner. That was the equaliser we needed.

This is the championship match of the season. A lot of us would not be here next year because most of us are seniors, so this win was more than just a win to the team. This was our toughest match yet. The school team has done well throughout the season. Our worst result so far was a draw. We went at the end of the first half a goal down and during the second half the defence of the opposing team was tight. We hardly had openings to get the ball in to even give their keeper work. We managed in the last five minutes to get a breakthrough and now we have equalised. We got an additional two minutes in stoppage time, and if neither team scores its extra time. It’s in the second minute of stoppage time. Elisia has the ball. She saw Alex open and past the ball to her. Jasmine and I are running down the side waiting for a pass. Alex past the ball to Jasmine, and Jasmine seeing me open lobbed to ball in the air towards me. I remember jumping for the ball and the keeper charging towards me.

***Tina***

Angelica and the rest of her team were spectacular. This game was the kind of game that had you at the edge of your seat biting your nails. It was the second minute of stoppage time. Angelica was in the perfect position to get the ball and give her team the winning goal. Jasmine passed the ball over to Angelica. Angelica went for the ball. The keeper came out for the ball as Angelica went in the air to head the ball in. She collided with Angelica sending Angelica in the air. Angelica being the athletic person used her hand to break her fall as she came down. The force of the collision gave the ball enough flight to get past the goal line. The crowd of supporters jumped to their feet. The team flocked themselves on her and piled one on to of the other on Angelica. We were blocked by the crowd, and when everyone had calmed down and the team dismounted, Angelica remained on the ground motionless.