Once we kick off everything goes smoothly until almost the end of the second half of extra time.
In the 114th minute the Aussies push everyone on their team forward and they flood the box. Logarzo brings the ball into the box and battles with Abby, but a couple second later Logarzo fires a shot low to my right. I quickly get down and parry the ball away, but, unfortunately, the ball rebounds back into the fray of players.
Foord sprints towards the ball and takes a quick shot. Right before Foord connects with the ball I raise my leg up, as i'm still on the ground, and a second later Foord's shot hits my foot and ricochet's out for a throw in.
The throw in amounts to nothing, but I stay on my toes and hope the rest of the game goes smoothly.
In the 119th minute of the game Alanna intercepts a pass meant for Tobin then she plays the ball up to van Egmond. Emily then plays the ball out wide to Raso so I come off my line a bit. Once Raso has the ball she crosses the ball into the box. Kerr gets on the end of the cross and gets her foot to the ball which sends the ball over my head.
"Oh fuck." I say as I scramble back to my goal line.
Right before the ball goes across the line I dive back, reach a hand up, and smack the ball back into the field then I fall to the ground as the whistle blows.
"Are you alright?" Becky asks as my teammates surround me.
"Did it go in?" I question.
"No we cleared the ball up field." Abby says.
"What's with the whistle then?"
"We're going into Penalties." Christen says. "You alright?"
"I'm fine." I say and hold my hands out.
The girls help me up then I grab my water bottle and towel before I head to the bench. When I get to the bench Ash once again pulls me into a hug then Alyssa hugs me.
"Okay how the fuck did you do that?" Alyssa asks.
"Seriously." Ash says. "That ball was going in."
"Uh...Luck?" I say.
"Luck my ass." Ash says then we all move to the team huddle.
"We're shooting first." Julie says. "And we're shooting in front of the Australian fans.
"Audrey do you wanna take one?" Vlatko asks.
"I'll go first." I say.
"Alright." Vlatko says and chuckles. "First five will be Audrey, Christen, Tobin, Lindsey, and Kelley."
"USA lets go." The ref says.
I grab my water bottle and my towel then I walk with Mackenzie Arnold and the ref to the penalty area then I set my water and stuff off to the side. I then head to the ref, take the ball, and set it down on the penalty spot. Once that's done I back up to the edge of the 18 yard box, take a deep breath, and wait.
A moment later the whistle blows so I do my run up then I side foot the ball into the bottom right of the goal putting us 1-0 up in the penalty shootout.
When the ball hits the net I kiss the tattoo of my Mom's name on my wrist then I walk to my stuff. Once at my stuff I put my gloves on then I take a drink of water as Kerr approaches. Kerr finally gets to the penalty box so I get on the goal line and wait for the whistle. After the whistle blows Kerr does her run up then she puts her foot through the ball.
When Kerr hits the ball I dive towards my right, which is the way Kerr shoots, and a moment later I parry the ball up and over the crossbar.
"YEAH AUDI." I hear Kelley's loud ass voice yell as I get off the ground.
Once I'm off the ground I walk over to my stuff as Christen comes up to take her penalty.
Christen buries her penalty past Lydia Williams which puts us 2-0 in the shootout.
After Christen scores she comes over and hugs me then she heads back upfield as Raso comes to take the second Australian penalty.
When Raso gets to the 18 yard box she grabs the ball, sets it down on the spot, then she backs up and waits for the whistle. A moment later the whistle blows so Raso runs up and shoots to my left. I time my dive perfectly and get my hands on it, but the ball hits the top of my hands so there's a chance it could go in.
As I fall to the ground I watch as the ball hit's the crossbar and bounces away from goal.
"Thank fuck." I mumble then I get up and head to my stuff.
Tobin's next to shoot so I wait around with my stuff and watch Tobin drill the ball straight down the middle and past Lydia Williams, who guessed left.
"You got this little Solo." Tobin says as she hugs after she put us up 3-0.
Tobin heads back upfield so I get on my line and wait for Emily van Egmond to set up her penalty.
Once my club teammate has set up her penalty the whistle blows then Emily runs up and puts her foot through the ball. I then dive to my left and look the ball right into my hands.
"Holy fuck." I mumble when I realize I just saved three penalties.
"MUNCHKIN." Ash yells as she and Alyssa run ahead of all the girls.
Moments later Ash and Alyssa get to me first so Ash picks me up then they sandwich me in a hug.
"Okay you may actually take our jobs." Alyssa says.
"I'd rather not." I say as we stop Hugging.
Once the hug is over Alyssa steps away then Ash takes the game ball from me before she backs away.
"AUDREY." Kelley yells as she jumps towards me.
"Ah." I say as I catch my Mom's girlfriend.
Once I've caught Kelley the two of us are tackled to the ground by everyone else.
"Ow." I mumble into the grass.
A couple minutes later everyone gets off me and I'm passed around for hugs then I grab Ash's towel and give it back to her. After that's done I grab the match ball and run towards the friends and family area of the stands. When I get their I find my Mom then I hop over the barrier and hug her.
"Well damn Babygirl." Mom says then she kisses my head.
"I can't believe I did that." I say.
"You did great Audrey." Mom says.
Mom and I hug for a little longer then I take the ball, jump back down onto the field, and head to the locker room. Once in the locker room I put my game ball and gloves in my bag then I take off Alyssa's jersey before I take a shower.
After my shower I dry off, put my necklaces on then put my earrings and nose ring in before I put my clothes on. Once I'm clothed I leave the locker room then head back to the pitch. When I get on the pitch I head to the friends and family area and look for my Mom.
Eventually I find her so I hop the wall then I approach my Mom.
"Audrey?" Mom says then I see a light switch in her head and she get's really sympathetic. "Oh baby come here."
I run to my Mom then bear hug her and let the tears flow.
Two years ago today was when I was rescued from my captors.
"You're safe now Audrey" Mom says and runs her fingers through my hair. "You're safe."
YOU ARE READING
Free Solo
FanfictionAudrey was around the US Women's national team for the first 18 years of her life, but something happened and she's been gone for almost 4 years. What's going to happen when she comes back?
