1 Down, 2 to Go

10 seconds. All or nothing. 10 seconds. The crowd is cheering louder than when Obama won the election. Everything in you is telling you to scream! But you just can't. All you can manage is to stare straight ahead and a heartbeat. A foot connects with the ball, one of our feet. It's sailing closer. 3 seconds. It's in! No. The goalie slaps it away. 1 second. The roar of the crowd is deafening, but even more so is the gasp from your team as they recognize that a shoot out will determine todays result and your team's future is on the line. Your second family might be torn apart 2 games too soon. 5 players are chosen. And of course the amazing goalkeeper. The first steps up to the PK. Arranges the ball just right. In a flash, the ball hits the back of the net. The crowd is ecstatic, as well as yourself, but the referee's whistle screams out. The rejoicing is cut short. The shot didn't count, she didn't wait long enough to kick it. Re-do. Another rocket, straight into the crossbar. She charges the ball and sends it in, but it's too late. Up walks their first girl, and our goalkeeper positions herself just right. The strike, deflected! An even game. Up walks the next of our girls, with an amazing shot that doesn't quite get in. Next. We get scored on. Crap. Shouts of encouragement ring out, and it'll all be ok. It continues like that, goal, miss, goal. Until finally, it's the last shot. If we block it, the game is ours. Silence. Absolute silence. And tension so high you could stab through it with a toothpick! Their girl kicks it, it looks bad for us. But, with a stretch of the fingers and a beautiful dive, our beloved goalie saves the day and pushes the ball away. In the next instant, we charge out onto the feild and we're jumping and hugging and screaming, even a few tears. Through to the next round, Albert Lea Girls Soccer. What an amazing team I have.