Northampton doubles down after that, barely letting us past the center line. The only upside is they’re so focused on keeping us from scoring they’re unable to press themselves.

The scoreboard is still displaying 0-1 when we leave the field for halftime. I take a seat on the bench and take slow sips of water. Coach Taylor’s got her whiteboard out, going through suggestions of plays. I watch her marker slash, circle, and squiggle across the snowy surface until it’s time to resume play.

We obviously weren’t the only team discussing strategy, because Northampton opts for a very different approach in the second half. They’re more aggressive, pushing toward the end of the field they were formerly protecting.

Anne and our other three defenders have their first real tests of the game as I try to slow Northampton’s offense along with the rest of the midfielders. The girl I’m marking passes to a teammate, and Emma is too far away to stop the ball. The Northampton player sends it flying toward the net, but Cressida is ready. She snags the ball midair, and I let out a long sigh of relief.

I turn to head back to the center line. It takes a while for everyone else to follow, and I frown as Emma falls into position beside me for the kickoff. We’ve still got a half hour of play left, but the close call seems to have sent fresh vigor through my teammates.

Suddenly, it feels like we are playing in a championship. That extra gear I find as I near the end of a game, like a shark moving in for the kill? I’m not the only one shifting, and Northampton is entirely unprepared for us to all start sprinting faster and pressing harder. It’s an onslaught that earns us two more goals: a header from Natalie and a half-field kick from Anne.

When the final whistle blows, I’m expecting the team to flock around Cressida, who managed a shutout, or Anne, who scored the most recent goal. But they don’t. They throng around me.

Once we finally disentangle for handshakes, Natalie falls into step beside me. “Three zip against Northampton? They might as well inscribe the championship cup already.”

I laugh. “If everyone keeps playing as well as they did today? Definitely.”

“Not much we wouldn’t do for you, Captain.”

“What do you mean?”

“Anne said today was a big deal to you after their failed goal. That your dad is here?”

An unexpected lump appears in my throat as Natalie looks at me curiously. There’s no worship in her eyes right now, just friendship. “Yeah, he is,” I finally manage as we fall into line.

Cassidy is the last one in Northampton’s line. “Better luck next time,” I say with a smile.