Non-Linear Essay – New England Championship

“A life led by a simple dream, In hope to fulfill our destiny, [because we are one family]”

My energy is gone. I’m depleted, running up and down the field. My legs begin to fill with blood, each second I become more tired. “Tick, tock,” as each minute passes, the anxiety builds, and so does the excitement. The crowd is cheering, but all of that is blocked out. At this moment in time, our surroundings are oblivious; we are focused on one thing and one thing only. As eight minutes soon turns to five, our journey begins to come to a close. Although, right now, we aren’t thinking about that. We aren’t thinking about anything, but soccer, our family, and our goal. As five turns to three, many of us realize that we now have the opportunity to achieve our goal; the goal we set three years ago, which is the goal that blood, sweat, and tears have been shed to obtain. We are so close, but yet so far.

At six O’clock at night, the team boards the vans. We are high on excitement and adrenaline, but low on nutrition and fluids. We have now won two games throughout the New England tournament, the Quarterfinals, and the Semi-Finals; what a week!

Three minutes begins to seem like five hours. I can’t take it! Defending each attack, and then moving up the field with the ball; it is like an ultimate chess match involving extreme physical pain, as well as mental pain. “Tick, tock,” three soon turns to two, and we are just that much closer.

On the way down to the hotel, we laughed, we joked, and we cramped! Everyone was experiencing both agonizing pain and extreme joy at the same time, it was worth it, we were ready. We knew that we had a chance at a New England Championship, and all we had to do was make it through the next day. We were focused. Aside from the jokes and laughter, we all had the same thought. The thought that bubbled in our minds, hidden underneath our smiles and sometimes pained faces. That thought was our goal. The fact that we were all thinking the same thing was made known not through our actions or words, but through our silence. We are focused, we have one goal, and now we have one mind.

The two agonizing minutes had passed, or so we thought. Up and down the field; players making slide tackles, crunching their opponents, only to preserve the 1-0 lead that we had. Everyone pushed themselves to the limit, gasping for air after each sprint to win the ball and every time we dribbled down the field the excitement rose. The fans cheered louder and louder as we moved up the field. Then finally, a shot is taken. Silence spread throughout the crowd, but then the silence becomes louder and louder, and as the ball misses the goal the fans loudly sigh. After every play, each player begins to freak out, thinking, “Why isn’t the game over yet…”, “I’m so tired, how will I ever make it any longer”, and “Is this ref crazy, call the game already.” The tension increases, but now the excitement throughout the stadium has turned into nerves, anxiousness, and eagerness. Still, we have one goal, and now we have one mind, ultimately united by our emotions.

As we arrived at the hotel, six hours later, we all hobbled out of the vans; some limping because of injuries, and others half asleep. Although, on the outside we seem to be tired and worn out, seemingly with no way to move forward and function, it was the overall excitement that was keeping the family awake and motivated to win the next day. We have one goal, and now we have one mind.

The final whistle sounds! The piercing noise that usually belongs to a blown whistle had never sounded so sweet. We had done it! I immediately jump up and hugged Freddy. Soon after, I went to hug my dad, my teammates, and our fans. After three long and tiring years consisting of many successes, but also many crushing defeats, we had overcome the odds. We had won a New England Championship!

We arrived at the field at around 10:00 A.M., emotions firing, and adrenaline pumping. No one spoke unless needed. The team unity and focusness was silencing. We had realized that it was our time to shine. We knew that the only way we would win was if we played, and fought, as a family. The team walked to the field together as I straggled behind, trying to catch up as they began their warm-up. As my feet touched the pitch I entered a zone, and I could see that the rest of my family had as well. Not just my teammates, but my coaches, and our fans. There was more riding on this game than just a championship. Time passed like a blur, and we lined up on the field, ready to start, and as the referee blew his whistle, the battle had begun. It was time to achieve our destiny, as one.