Before the game gets into full swing, we meet our parents in the tunnel for wishes of good luck and encouragement, at least for the next couple hours. We keep it short and sweet as we always do. Papa and Mumma know the drill. We exchange hugs, and my parents give me their last few bits of advice, as always.

From Mumma: ‘Play it smart, May.’

From Papa: ‘Wreck ’em.’

‘All right, ladies. All right. All right.’ Coach makes her way down the line of us once we’re in the tunnel, giving each of our shoulders a firm pat. ‘I want you girls to know that it means so much to me – so much, that we are here right now. That each of you have put in the hours on the field, and off it. Many of you, I’ve watched you go home and work two, three jobs to keep yourself here. I’ve watched you wait tables and kiss frogs and literally muck shit—’

Maddie bursts out laughing, triggering the rest of us on impact. Coach rolls her eyes, but she bats away a tear. Coach Dillon, the stoic queen of OKC lacrosse, and tears? I don’t believe it.

‘And every little thing you’ve done, I want you to know that it has a permanent place in my heart. That this team has a permanent place in my heart. Always. Whether we win this, or we don’t.’ Coach sniffs, and we immediately surround her in a big Riders hug. ‘Oh, you girls,’ she laughs from inside our circle. ‘Come on. Get ready to go out there. May, darlin’, take it away.’ Coach gives my hand a squeeze, and I nod, signalling to the girls to back up.

‘Let’s do this. Riders on three, Riders on me, y’all hear?’ I grin, adjusting my goggles from where they sit on top of my head. ‘One, two, three—’

‘RIDERS!’ we scream at the top of our lungs, the loudest we ever have, just as the announcer’s voice comes on over the stadium.

‘For the very first time in history, making their Division One College Lacrosse National Championship Debut, the University of Oklahoma City Riders.’