The final buzzer was deafening, but Matt's triumphant roar carried through it. Neil looked up, needing to see the numbers to believe it. Relief was almost enough to take him off his feet, but the heady rush of victory put the breath back in his lungs. He looked across the court for Kevin, but Kevin was striding toward the goal. Neil turned a bit more so he could see Andrew again, but the sight waiting for him took some of the edge off his excitement.

Andrew was kneeling just inside the goal line with his racquet in his lap. Neil heard Dan's excited voice as the subs were allowed onto the court, but he didn't wait for his teammates to catch up with him. He ran after Kevin and reached the goal right after Kevin did. Kevin didn't have to ask what was going on. He'd lied to cameras for years and he knew how to buy Andrew time. He crouched in front of Andrew and reached for Andrew's racquet, adding to the illusion that Andrew was inspecting his racquet for damage.

Andrew let go with one hand and gestured. Kevin gestured back as if they having an actual conversation. The only sound either of them made was the desperate gasp of air through clenched teeth as Andrew tried not to get sick in front of the crowd. Kevin turned the racquet some and dug his gloved fingers into the head. Shattered wood split beneath the pressure, showing off an awful crack all the way down to the handle. Neil winced at the sight and checked the court floor for an indent.

The rest of the team fell in around them, bringing the celebration to their strikers and forming an impromptu barricade around their fallen goalkeeper. Matt smacked shoulders and helmets in excitement and bared his teeth in a jaw-breaking grin.

"That's how we do it! That's how we do it, Foxes!"

Andrew let go of his racquet and got to his feet, but he was obviously unsteady. Neil expected him to fall, but Nicky slung an arm around Andrew's shoulders and yanked Andrew close to him. It let him take some of Andrew's weight without it being too obvious what he was doing. Andrew looked ready to say something about the unasked-for help, but Nicky didn't give him a chance to argue. He pumped his fist and whooped.

"That was awesome! We are going to own this season!"

"That was sloppy," Kevin said as he stood. "We barely had it."

"Oh, shut up, sour face," Nicky said. "Save your grouching for the ride back and stop spoiling our moment of glory."

"Seriously." Matt gave Kevin's helmet a vigorous rub. "Would it kill you to smile when no one's paying you to?"

Matt didn't wait for an answer but turned to Allison as she finally joined them. She was already clean and changed out for the ride back, and her wet hair was pulled out of her face in a tight ponytail. Neil saw how red her eyes were and looked away. Matt scooped her up in a hug that took her feet off the ground. "You're amazing."