Never give up!

by Maddy
(North Carolina)

This past season of my High school career, my sophmore year, we were playing a team called Tuscola. This team has always been considered the power house of our conference; it was a very large scool with alot of talent.

My school has had an amazing soccer program for many years and we have always been in the top rankings but could never seem to beat this team.

We never gave up hope that we werent as good or even better than Tuscola. A couple games into our season we were scheduled to play this team, we arrived at the field very early, and ready to play ball.

We did our stretches and runs and our before game prayer; we were ready to go; but the only thing missing from this game was our head coach. She also coached the middle school team for our county and she had to be at their game.

But we had our great assistant coach to cheer us on, but we all wished she was there to cheer us on as well.

After the coin toss and the divison of sides, the whistle blows and the game starts, we right away started off playing very good. A little over halfway into the first half they get the ball and started making a mad dash towards the goal, I am the goalkeeper and i was down, set and ready.

Their star forward came bombing down the left wing; she was very fast. She cut away from my defense, reared back took her shot (it was not a too great of a shot to the lower left side of the goal) but it was placed just above the lower V.

I dive and thought I had it, it slipped through my hands, i couldnt get there fast enough through all the clutter. They Scored. Tuscola 1, Franklin, 0. I kicked myself for that one, but we played hard till halftime and the score remained the same.

At half time we got our water and sat down and talked about the half. We all played really solid and hard, it just so happens that they scored on one of the few mistakes we made. I told my team i was sorry for not making the save, they didn't blame me of course, we are all very supportive and are very close.

Our asistant coach told us we were playing great and to keep it up, that our coach would be proud. We rested, stretched and got some water, and then it was game time. Before we went back out onto the field I remeber taking aside one of our lead scorers, who just so happens to be one of my closest friends and told her-"Rashaune, you can do this, WE can do this."

I reminded her of two years ago when we were in a positon like this and we ended up winning. "we have got this Ray," I told her, "I believe in you. Coach isn't here yet, but she will be, lets make her proud." I gave her a hug and told her I loved her.

Back on the field We pushed and pushed our hardest. We were playing so well together, it was a beautiful thing. We had very many close beautiful shots, but non of them could seem to find the back of the net. About halfway through the first half, the game still 1-0, I glanced over at the bench to see our head Coach standing there cheering us on!

I yelled to my teammates "Coach is here!" Coach is here!" " We got this guys, come on! Come on!" "I believe in you!" and all of a sudden a new light shown through my teamates, they got a little more pep in their step and glide in there stride.

Time was running low, 8 minutes left and we had yet to score, but we hadn't let them score either. I was getting antsy, I wanted to win this game so bad and so did my team. We never gave up. At that time our Varsity team was stretching on the sidelines and cheering us on.

My two best friends were on that team and with them cheering my name and cheering us on it gave me and my team the confidence we needed. Then with about thirty seconds left in the game our crisp passing and phenomanal teamwork got us somewhere an amazing pass from my little sister Kelsey on the wing to the middle forward just above the 18 (who just so happened to be Rashaune the girl i had a talk with).

She had room, she stopped it with her left foot, slid it around a lone defender in front of her with her left foot, planted her foot and reared back with incredible form and kicked the ball towards the goal. It went soaring past three defenders and a midfielder to finally pass the goalkeeper and smack the back of the net. Goal.

Franklin 1, Tuscola 1. I screamed, leaped in the air and looked back at the clock. 11.2 Seconds left in the game. We all ran and hugged Rashaune, We dog piled her. it was the greatest Feeling in the world!

We still had time on the clock so we all hurried back to our positions. We held them back. We ended up tying the Power house of our conference, which has never been done after years of losing to them by one goal season after season, game after game.

We did it. We proved ourselves. We made them cry that game, but that is not the point, the point is we worked together and never gave up! Teamwork is key! Tuscola is a team that we respected, they were the ONLY team in our conference that shook ALL of our hands and told us good game. and we respected them, and they respected us. Franklin and Tuscola were now tied for first place in the AAC soccer Conference.

After the game, we all hugged our coaches and celebrated. Our assistant coach said that while shaking hands the head coach of the other team said with a smile; "You just had to wait till the last 11 seconds to score on us, huh coach?" And then said, "Were looking forward to playing you again."

This is a memory I will NEVER FORGET. I love my team and coaches and all our fans. We did it. Together. So what i'm trying to say is, you should nevr give up, on your team or yourself. You can do it. Nothing says it better than our team quote. "Without Teamwork, You are Nothing."

-Maddy Brown