The energy in the stadium was electrifying.
Our team, Gotham FC, was locked in a battle with OL Reign, and it was a nail-biter from start to finish.
The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
The game was a rollercoaster of emotions.
We had some incredible plays and moments of sheer brilliance, but OL Reign fought back and evened the score just four minutes after we got the 1-0 lead.
It was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams giving it their all.
But the defining moment came in those final few minutes.
In the 80th minute, I had this feeling that I needed to make a big save.
And sure enough, the opportunity came.
OL Reign had a breakaway, and I dove to the left, making that important save.
The crowd went wild, and for a brief moment, we thought we had secured the win.
But in the 95th minute, OL Reign had one last chance.
A bouncing ball found its way into our box, and it was just me and the opposing player.
I had to make a split-second decision.
I leaned forward, touched the ball with my hands, and quickly pulled them back.
The referee blew the whistle, and the play went out for a goal kick.
Immediately, there was chaos on the field.
My teammates surrounded me, trying to figure out what happened.
After VAR review, it turned out I had touched the ball outside the box, resulting in a red card.
I was devastated.
Even though I was experiencing every emotion possible, my team had my back and reassured me the entire way into the locker room.
They told me I made the right decision and to not worry — “they got this.”
All there was left for me to do was wait in the locker room and pray.
Our midfielder, Nealy Martin, had to step into the goal to finish the game.
But then, after 12 minutes of added stoppage time, I heard cheering.
We won!
All the frustration and anger instantly dissipated, replaced by pure joy and disbelief.
We had overcome the odds, fought through adversity, and come out on top.
It was a moment I’ll never forget.
The joy, the relief, the sheer elation of winning the championship. It was a testament to the resilience and determination of our team.
We had faced countless obstacles throughout the season, but we never gave up.
And in the end, we won our first-ever NWSL Championship after finishing bottom of the league last season.
My journey to Virginia Tech
It’s moments like this you play for.
No…
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