Audrey's POV
"This is some serious Deja Vu." Mal says as we rest in the locker room at halftime of our Round of 16 game.
We're playing Canada and just like back at the 2020 olympics, the score at halftime is 3-0.
This time we're not even playing bad.
Canada have gotten three bullshit penalties which has allowed them to be up 3-0.
Dumb ref.
"Here." Julie says and hands me the captain's armband.
Julie was on the end of a Desiree Scott tackle at the end of the first half and she has a concussion so she's coming off.
"Shouldn't Christen have this first?" I question.
"We want you to have it." Christen says.
I nod then Julie puts the armband around my arm.
"Who's subbing in for you?" I question as I look at the blonde
"Rose is then Lindsey is gonna shift down to the 6." Julie says.
"Okay." I say then I go over the new line up in my head.
Aubrey's in goal while Kelley, Abby, Emily, and Tierna are in defense. Lindsey, Sam, and Rose are in midfield then myself, Alex, and Christen are up front.
"Let's go ladies." Vlatko says then everyone gets out of their seats.
"Let's go Balto." I say.
My dog and I walk out of the locker room, down the tunnel, and onto the pitch. Once on the pitch I lead Balto down to the end of the bench.
"Stay here Balto." I say then Balto barks.
I pet Balto for a moment then I head onto the field and get ready for Canada to resume the game.
Once Canada resume the game we go into all out attack mode and instantly it works.
In the 56th minute I pass Sam the ball around midfield, but she's immediately fouled so we get a free kick.
"Take it Audi." Kelley says and I nod, grab the ball, and set it down then wait for the whistle.
While waiting for the whistle I survey the field and find who to cross towards.
When the whistle blows I run up to the ball then cross it to the back post. Everyone, except Kelley, crashes the front post which leaves the center back free at the back post. The ball falls right to Kelley and she easily heads the ball into the net cutting the score down to 3-1.
Once the ball hits the net someone grabs the ball then the team run back to our side of the field to restart the game.
Moments later Canada restarts the game so my teammates and I go into all out attack mode again.
In the 75th minute, Canada are lazily passing the ball in between their defense to waste time and with each pass I get more and more annoyed.
After I've had enough of the time wasting I jump one of the passes and intercept the ball then I race towards goal.
As I cross into the 18 yard box, I get ready to shoot, but right before I can pull the trigger, someone comes through the back of me and takes me down to the grass.
After I hit the grass I look up and see Chapman smiling down at me then I hear the whistle blow so I roll over onto my back just in time to see Chapman getting a red card.
"HOW?" Chapman yells as my teammates come over and huddle around me.
"Audi you okay?" Alex asks as I catch my breath.
"I'm tired of these shitty fucking players fouling me all the damn time." I say then Christen and Alex help me up.
"Do you wanna take the pen?" Christen asks.
"One of you take it." I say. "I need water."
Christen and Alex nod so I start walking over to the bench.
Once at the bench I take a few drinks of water while Alex buries the penalty making the score 3-2 Canada.
After the ball hits the net someone grabs the ball then the team run back to our side of the field to restart the game.
Moments later Canada restarts the game so my teammates and I go into all out attack mode again.
In the 89th minute Sam receives a pass from Aubrey then she turns and jogs upfield, but Beckie closes her down so she passes to me. Once I have the ball I sprint up field towards the Canadian goal, but Desiree Scott moves to shut me down which leaves open space. Christen notice the open space and she sprints into it while she call for ball. I pass the ball into Christen's path and when Christen gets close to it she puts her laces through the ball and sends it goal wards.
Once the ball leaves Christen foot all of us watch as the ball dips just under the crossbar then hit the net which means the score is 3-3.
"Thank fuck." I mumble as the ref blows for full time.
After the whistle blows we head over to the bench to rehydrate while getting the last minutes instructions before extra time starts then we head back to our positions to resume the game.
The first half of extra time is a bit boring, but once the second half of extra time starts I realize this half is gonna be stressful.
In the 112th minute Aubrey tries to pass the ball up to me, but it gets cut out by Shelina Zadorsky. Zadorsky then sends the ball back upfield to Fleming who then passes the ball to Huitema. The striker then shoots at goal and it goes past Aubrey putting us 4-3 down.
"Fuck." I mumble as Canada celebrate
Once Canada have stopped celebrating we restart the game and once again go in to all out attack mode.
In the 118th minute Kadeisha Buchanan runs at me after intercepting Aubrey's goal kick so I shuffle backwards while waiting for her to make a mistake and lucky for me she does.
Buchanan takes a heavy touch that gets away from her and we both sprint to the ball. I get there first so I meg the Canadian then head up field. Zadorsky is the next Canadian player to get to me so I do a few step overs then, as Shelina tries to steal the ball, I nut meg her as well, dance around my former teammate, then keep sprinting up field. As I get closer to the goal Sheridan comes off her line and at the last moment I chip the ball over Sheridan.
Once the ball leaves my foot, my legs get taken out from under me by Sheridan so I flip over the Canadian keeper.
As I'm flipping I hear the American fans cheer so I know the ball went in which means the score is 4-4.
After I've completed a full flip, I land on my feet then I stretch my arms out and pose.
As I pose I hear the clicks of cameras then those sounds are drowned out by the American fans cheering.
"RUGRAT." Christen shouts then someones picks me up.
"THAT WAS SICK AS FUCK." Kelley shouts as the whistle blows to signal the end of extra time.
My teammates hug me then we head to the bench where the rest of the team hug me.
Once everyone has hugged me I get pulled to the side by Christen who talks to me about some stuff then I tune everything out.
I only tune back in when my shoulder is squeezed.
"What?" I question then I notice I'm standing at the halfway line.
"I know you're getting into penalty mode." Christen whispers in my ear. "But you're about to have to take your penalty."
"What's the score?" I question.
"It's 4-4." Christen says as I watch Leon get ready to take her penalty. "We're going second. Alex, Tobin, Myself, and Lindsey all made our penalties...now we just have to see what Leon does."
The entire stadium gets quiet as the ref blows her whistle then we all watch as Leon takes her penalty.
"YES AUBREY." Everyone shouts when Aubrey saves the penalty.
After the penalty save I make the long walk up to the penalty spot.
When I get to the penalty spot I take the ball from the ref, set it down on the spot, then back up and wait.
While waiting I stare straight at Kailen Sheridan.
Once the ref blows her whistle the stadium gets dead silent then I start my run up.
When I get to the ball, I plant my left foot down, swing my right foot back, swing it forward, then I chip the ball straight down the middle.
Sheridan, who dove right, tries to get a touch on the ball, but she ends up watching the ball hit the back of the net meaning we've won.
Once the ball hits the net I take off towards the corner flag, take off my shirt, throw my shirt, then I knee slide towards the corner flag.
"AUDI." One of my teammates yells then I'm taken to the ground.
"You're so fucking lucky that worked." Julie says.
"That was the cockiest thing I've ever seen." Tobin says.
The rest of what the team say get lost in one jumbled mess so I wait for everyone to get off of me then I stand up and hug everyone. After the hugs I go grab the ball out of the net then I walk over to Jessie.
Jessie and I hug for a little bit then I head over to the friends and family section and hug my Mom.
"Why are they happy?" I whisper as I hug my Mom. "We almost went out in the round of 16 to a shitty team."
"You won Audrey." Mom says.
"The only time winning on penalties is a good thing is when it's a final." I say. "Other wise it just means we weren't good enough to get the job done in 90 minutes."
"Well here's what you do." Mom says. "In the next game you go out and you destroy your next opponent."
"Oh I am." I say. "You can be on that."
"That's my girl." Mom says then she kisses my head. "We'll see you and Kelley later at dinner."
"Okay." I say then I hug Athena and Chase before I head to the locker room with Balto.
"Why do you look pissed?" Mal asks.
"Nothing that needs to be addressed right now." I say as we enter the locker room.
"Alright." Mal says. "I'm gonna go call Maya."
Mal skips off to her locker so I head to mine then sit down in it and watch the girls celebrate.
While I'm watching the celebrations happen I have only one thought in my mind.
Why the fuck are we celebrating?