Last Kiss

June 30th2015 

"Ladies and gentleman welcome to the 2015 Women's World Cup Semifinals match. Today's game is the most anticipated game of the century, where the US Women's National Team will square off againstGermanys Women's National Team.  

 On one side we have,the No.1 goalkeeper in the world,Hope Solo. Whose only allowed one goal this whole tournament, which was 4 games ago, playing the best soccer of her life right now.  

The other side we have,Solo's former National Team back-up keeper, Ashlyn Harris. Who is also playing the best soccer we've seen from her, She has managed a clean sheet every game this tournament. I guess having Hope Solo as a mentor has paid off.  

Harris has been under a magnifying glass with the media since her unexpected signing with the German NT just 5 months ago...   

US soccer President Sunil Gulati released a statement yesterday to US Fans: 'We ask that the fans remain respectful toward the GWNT as they have any other team we have faced this tournament. We want all the fans to enjoy the game and continue to support the US in an appropriate manner.'  

As you could imagine the stakes are high, emotions are higher, and the tension is the highest. This game just might be more interesting than the WC final..." 

~~~ 

Everyone is in their pregame rituals, the locker room might as well be empty with how quite it is. The team is supposed to line up in the tunnel in 15 mins, but Ali doesn't want to. Walking into that tunnel she will have to face her former teammate, the woman who choose to leave her, who cowardly ripped her heart out in the still of the night. It's 5 months now and the wound still feels fresh, the wound is still very much open. Ali doesn't want to face Ashlyn, seeing her in person, wearing the Germany Kit, will only validate the betrayal once and for all. (It's now or never Krieger, it's game time. World Cup Semifinals. No one is going to take this from you. Not even her. ) 

Everyone was stealing glances at the brunette, sending silent prayers to whoever is up there listening, that she can make it through this game. Seeing as how Ali could barely hold back tears as they watched the footage of the Germany team, they all knew that this game was going to be hard.  

No one on the team had heard from Ashlyn, not even Whitney. This game was going to be the first time they saw her in person.   

Whitney was wounded that her best fiend hadn't reached out to her. After multiple attempts of unanswered calls and text, she gave up. Never did she think she'd see the day when Ashlyn was not a part of her life. Regardless she didn't hate the keeper,even though she wanted too, she couldn't bring herself to do it. Ashlyn was still her best friend. She just hoped that the blonde knew she still cares about her, even though the team had a planthat might say other wise.  

"Bring it in Ladies!" Abby says getting everyone's attention. Ali closes her eye's, inhales deeply, (This is it) with the exhale she opens her eye's and is met with piercing blue one's that have continued to ground her the past 5 months. Those blue eyes that have only shown compassion and strength towards the defender, unlike others who show pity and sorrow.  

Right now those blue eyes are telling her 'I'm right here, I've got you.' Hope stands up and so does Ali. They both silently make their way to their teammates in the center of the locker room. Hope looks at Ali one more time and gives her a small nod. Ali nods in return,the small gesture unknowingly gives her the strength she needs. 

"You have all given your blood, sweat, tears, hearts, and souls to this game, to this team, to this family... I can continue to give the best speech I've ever thought of, but I won't... not today... all I ask of each of you, is too play the game we love, as the family we have come to be. We stay united, proud and strong. Family on three."  

Everyone brings their hands in, game faces on, ready for what lays just beyond the doors leading to the tunnel. "Ali" Abby looks over to the defender signaling for her to take over.  

Ali takes in a deep steady breath, "One. Two. Three!" 

Carli is the first one out the door followed by Hope, the team agreed that leaving the locker room already in order was the best option. It projects unity and organization.   

Hope had suggested it, she wanted to make sure Ashlyn was no where near Ali while they were in the tunnel. Even though Hope knew Ali would have to shake the keepers hand in the beginning and end, she wanted to minimize the necessary interactions to protect her right back.  

The Germany team was already lined up in the tunnel.Some of the players talking to each other.

Hope couldn't help but to see the No. 1 greenkeepers jersey, with Harris printed across the shoulders. Ashlyn was standing tall, shoulders squared, hands at her side. Her head was level as she stared at the pitch in front of her.  

Once Hope was side by side with the blonde she turned her head to get a better look at the women she had once known. She notice the ever so slight clenchin Ashlyn’s jaw, she had to hold back the smug grin she felt coming on. 

Hope’sglare was burninga hole on the side of herface, but Ashlyn kept staring straight ahead.Once Hope saw the camera crew she turned her head forward. (It's go time) 

We have notheard a single word out of the US team since they stepped out of the locker room. They came out of the locker room already lined up in order, which is something we have never seen before. You can cut the air in the tunnel with a feather. The normally rowdy bunch is quite, the determination on their faces is uncanny. 

Not one of them aresmiling as the walk on the pitch. Everyone's attention will be on the hand shakes between the US and former teammate Ashlyn Harris...” 

The starting ceremony went by too quick for anyone's liking.The teams turned to face each other, Germany walks as U.S. stays in place. 

 US: Lloyd, Solo, Sauerbrunn, Krieger, Holiday, Morgan, Brian, Rapinoe, Health, Johnston, Klingengberg 

Germany: Sasic, Harris, Maier, Krahn, Bartusiak, Kemme, Laudehr, Goessling, Mittag, Popp, Leupolz 

Carli heldher hand up, angled outto Sasic, doing a modifiedhand shake where you grip the thumb and upper part of the hand instead. Theymake eye contact, nodding her head to the captain who nodded back.  

When Ashlyn approaches Carli, the midfielderbarely touches her hand, while Ashlyn tires to grip hers. Their eyes meet but only for a second causing the keeper to clench her jaw. Hope and Becky do the same.  

Shetakes in a deep breath, shallows the lump in her throat, and fights back the tears by clenching her jaw even more. Ali is next. The blonde looks at the defender, hopeful for some reason, and reaches out for Ali. Ali doesn’t look at her but shecan see her eyes are glazed over, it pains Ashlynto see it.Right when their hands are about to touch Ali pulls away,(Suck it up Harris. You did this.) She sees Lauren put her left hand on Ali's shoulder, Ashlyn feels her heart drop, and continues walking.  

No one shakes their former teammates hand, it's more of a high five. Making Ashlyn wish they would have just slapped her across the face, that would have hurt less in her opinion. But she gets it, they have every right to be mad. (What did I do… Not now. You have a game to play Ash.  

"U.S.A in white. Germany in red. There's the whistle and we are under way here in Montreal." 

Right off the bat Germany brings the pressure on the US side, bringing numbers forward, attacking the back line with ferocity. The black line is called upon over and over, proving through out the tournament that they are a brick wall.  

When ever Germany loses possession they attack with avenges to get it back, almost like a pack of wolves, getting two/three players on the ball to win it back.  

In the 6th minute the US gets a corner kick. Pinoeraisesher hand, sends in a perfect kick, as Tobin and JJ cross paths throwing off their defenders. JJ goes unmarked and heads the ball tothe goal. 

"IT'S SAVED BY HARRIS! The US almost getting to the back of the net, but what an amazing save by Harris... Germany with the goal kick to Maier, who'ssending it up the left to Goessling. She sends it across to the right, Leupolzpicks it up sending it up to Popp who's wide open. Popp shoots it to the upper 90. SOLO!sends it over the cross bars. Matching Harris save for save. It's going to be abattle of the two best Goal Keepers."   

Both teams are attacking relentlessly. 

"Ali Krieger with the throw in. 4 years in Germany, played with and against some of the players you see here tonight. Krieger played on the back line of the Washington Spirit with Harris askeeper, I can only imagine what it feels like to be on the pitchwith her right now. " 

In the 14th Tobin sends a perfectly positioned ball up the middle to Alex,as she breaks away with one touch and shoots it. Ashlyn stretches out her leg and blocks it just in time.  

The pace stays high but neither team can capitalize.  

"28th minute brings a free kick for Germany,potentially dangerous spot for the US. Either Goesslingor Maier set up to take it. Maier runs over. Goesslingsends it up. And it's cleared away... But their aretwo player's down." 

Ali jumps up to head it away, along with JJ and Moe. She sees the ball fly over her head and turns just in time to see Moe clear it, but she hears a loud thud and tries to catch Moe as she falls, knowing she went head to head with Popp. (oh shit)  

"Moe!" she yells out. Moe hits the floor on her back,but rolls over,face down on the pitch. Ali hears her grunting in pain, "Moe can you hear me? Hope!" She looks to the Keeper, "I'm right here Moe." 

Hope was still in goal making sure Germany didn’t counter, when she heard Ali yell her name, shesummed for the medical staff immediately before running to the midfielder, joining Ali. When she gets there Moe tries to push herself up. "Moe don't move" the Keeper says, she puts one hand on Moe's back and the other on her head gently to calm her.  

"Fuck! It hurts!" Moe says through gritted teeth, kicking her legs. 

"I know kid, just wait for the staff ok" Hope reassures her teammate, running her hand up and down Moe'sback to try to sooth her. She's never heard Moe cuss before. (Fuck, at least she's talking and moving) 

The rest of the 11getover to the downed player for support. Sticking with Moe till they know she's good to go.  

"if you look,the interesting thing you see here is all the US players were over there around their fallen teammate. The German players were all by the bench content with letting the medical staff handle it. Except for Laudehr who rushed to Popp and held her head still until the staff made it out. It just shows how close nit this US team has become, they have said it before, they are a family and treat each other as such" 

After about 3 minutes both players stand up receivingan applause. Popp runs back to her bench with blood still running down, whileMoe walks off the pitch slowly. After being giving a thumbs up, both Popp and Moe run back on the pitch a few minutes after play is resumed. 

42nd: Germany is on the attack, the ball goes to the left. Kling runs after it and with the help of Moe blocking Mittag, she slips it through to Pinoe. Pinoekicks it back to Holiday, who launches it a cross the to the right.  

Ali is running full force, the ball lands a few yards in front of her,she beatstwo German players. The crowd is going crazy as Ali streak's up the right, sending the ball just a head of Alex.  

Ashlyn coming up off her line just a little bit to challenge Alex, when she see's Ali lob it to the forward.  

Alex looks like she's about to send a rocket towards Ashlyn, when instead she kicks it with her left foot to a very open Ali Krieger running straight for the goal.  

"Krieger is wide open! It's a...OH MY GOODNESS!!!! WE NEED A REPLAY OF THAT!! That was unbelievable!" 

Ali jogsback up the pitchwith her head held high, while Ashlyn lays on her side catching her breath. 

"You see Harris just launch herself, flying through the air like superwomen. With an incrediblegrab, tucking the ball safely into her body. It almost looked like it was going straight threw her fingertips.I have no idea how she was able to recover from Morgan faking her out, that Ladies and Gentlemen is the best save I have ever seen.Withher fingertips!I'm not sure Hope Solo could have made that save." 

With 4 minutes of stoppage time add, neither team can get to the back of the net. With the whistle sounding the US all jogsstraight to the locker room. The score 0-0.

"Hey" Ali turns around to see Hope.

"Hey yourself" She smiles as they walk into the locker room together.