Winning

     It definitely amazes me just how much winning can boost your adrenaline and completely change your mood. It starts with the anticipation, even hours before it is time to take the field. You feel the butterflies start to build in your stomach. As the time approaches, ever so slowly, the fluttering begins to rise up your body all the way to your throat and head. You feel nauseous, you know longer look forward to playing. Instead, you just want it all to be over before it even begins.
     It hits you hard, the moment you step off the bus, everything become real. You are here, this is happening, you can not mess this up! As you prepare for the game, stretching, doing warm up, your heart beat pick ups and your start to shake slightly. Adrenaline rushes through your body with every heart beat, with ever breath. The whistle blows and you know its time. You take the field, and suddenly everything fades away. Nothing matter but getting the ball and keeping it away from your goal. You go through the game, hardly realizing the passing time. Your focus stays on the ball, on winning; despite the pushing, the falling, the checks, the yelling, you keep your focus. You're snapped back to reality by the buzzer. 
     The half is over and you are up by one. Your coaches talk to you telling you what you do wrong and what you need to do to win. Most importantly, they tell you that now is not the time to relax; it is the time to give it your all, push harder than you ever thought you could. Time to play again, the adrenaline keeping your focus and pushing your determination. This half you are more aware of the time, you want to use it to your advantage. The fouls begin to get more intense as the game pushes on. But your team starts to work as one. Always where you need them, they have your back.
     You push past exhaustion, push through pain and your team begins to gain a lead. Nothing could stop you know. Not only are you winning, your team is playing like never before, they are playing like a true team. You begin the count down five minutes, then its down to two, and before you know it you are counting down the last ten seconds. At one second left you begin to turn around to run to your goalie and teammates. But, before you turn completely, you see out of the corner of your eye a shot, one final shot. Right before the the buzzer sounds the ball passes by the goalie straight into the net.
     Its a feeling like no other. You can't contain it. The team runs to each other. Everyone is jumping and screaming. You are so high on excitement and joy that nothing could ever touch you. No matter how horrible you may feel before that moment, you can't contain the way winning makes you feel. Personally, I love it!