I think there is fewer than ten minutes
left in the game.

The enemy team is dribbling
down the line of painted white turf.
They pass around our midfielders and
cross the ball.

They shoot and

score

We are still winning.
The score is two to one.

Kick off.

We have seven more minutes of game.

Here they come again.
Our enemy kicks a through ball and it goes
straight over the defense and me.
The enemy team shoots
and

scores.

We are tied two to two.

Kick off,

again.

There is three more minutes of game.
Here they come for the last time.

The enemy will score,
and we will lose.

The offense approaches

I stop them and
pass the ball up.

Get the ball out!
I scream.

My teammate launches the ball to our forward like a rocket.
The forward dribbles like a speed demon
from half field to the enemy goal.

He shoots.

The

Rolla Knights

score.

Three to two.

Game

Over.

—Tanner Mertens