It’s State Cup, the soccer tournament every kid dreams of winning, and your team made it to the elimination stages of the tourney. It’s a long and grueling two-hour drive to the field of the highly anticipated match. After finding a parking spot, you leave the car and search for your fellow brethren amongst the sea of the other competing teams at the sports complex. After locating your team, you warm up, stretch, and prepare mentally for the battle to come. The referee’s whistle blows signaling for you and your team to step on the field. The ball is kicked and the battle begins. It is physically tiring and your mouth quenches for a drop of water. Back and forth, great plays and missed opportunities from both teams, but by the end of the first half, the opposers managed to get the upper hand and score a goal. Your team refuses to put their heads down, and they continue to fight going into the second half. After making passes, taking shots, and being subbed off and back on again, the score remains 0-1 and the clock is ticking. You ask the referee, “How much time” and he responds, “3 minutes”. So this is it, only time for one last push. Did you make your mom drive you all the way out here for nothing? The play starts from the back. A pass from the defense to the midfield, to the winger. He takes it up the field down the sideline, and with seconds left he crosses it in and there you are in the box ready to make the shot… and you make it! Your teammates run to you with excitement and celebrate the goal but the battle is not over yet. Moments later the final whistle is blown and the game concludes, moving on to the most dreadful and anxiety-inducing activity in the world. Penalty kicks. Seven members from each team step up to the half-field line to determine one winner. Your team takes the first kick and it goes in but the other team matches. Your team makes their second shot, but the other team matches. Your team makes the third shot and the opposers miss. They missed! All that’s left to do is score the rest. Unfortunately, your team misses the fourth shot, but the other matches. Wait, they missed it again! If your team makes this next shot you win. Your player places down the ball and backs up getting ready to kick. All the parents on the sideline, players on the field, and coaches on the bench say a little prayer in their heads. He starts running towards the ball and kicks it toward the goal. He made the shot! You won the game.

This is a true story from 4 years ago, and it’s moments like these that make the game so special to me. Soccer has always been a big part of my life as it has kept me mentally, socially, and physically healthy. Throughout tough times in my life, soccer was used to burn steam and keep my mind off things. Having stress because of school was a big problem that soccer helped me overcome. Everything about soccer just makes me happy whether it is scoring goals or the end-of-the-season pizza parties. Running around, doing tricks, and kicking balls with my friends will never get old. I have been making soccer memories since I was 4 years old and will continue to do so until my body gives out.