Page 74 of Take Her On

The referee whistled for the captains to join her for the coin toss and handshake. Maya gave Jamie’s arm a squeeze and jogged over.

It was on.

The Hornets, like their sister university, were a physical side, using their shoulders and strength to shield the ball and knock the opposition off balance. Millton needed to meet them at that level.

“Step it up!” Maya shouted, pushing the defensive line up the pitch. She checked her shoulder, noting where the Hornets’ striker was, before turning her attention to the ball. Leah called for it on the wing, and Noodle lofted a perfect through-ball for her to run onto. With a quick flash of her feet, she sidestepped the defender and put a lofty cross into the penalty box.

Jamie jumped into the air, but a shove from the Hornets’ centre-back sent her flying.

Penalty! The whole team roared, sticking their hands in the air. But the referee waved play on. What? How could she not see that?

Noodle and Aiysha crowded the ref, making their case as Jamie brushed herself off. But the ball was still in play, and the Hornets were quickly making their way up the field. The supporters roared.

“Get back!” Maya called. “Play to the whistle!”

They whipped their heads around and started sprinting down the pitch, but too late. The Hornets’ number eight dribbled into the empty space in the midfield. Split between two players, Maya had to make a decision. Go to her and stop the attack, potentially opening up a pass to their striker, or stay with the striker, leaving the midfielder with too much space.

Come on, Maya.

The Hornet glanced up, her short black hair pulled into a small bun on top of her head, and they locked eyes. She mis-stepped, playing the ball too far in front of her, and Maya pounced, decision made. She pushed her legs as fast as she could to close the distance, fire pulsing through her muscles. Stretching, she slid in to swipe the ball out of play with her feet.

But the other player beat her to it. She tapped the ball around her and played it in to the now unmarked striker to slot into the back of the net. Maya groaned, looking up from the ground as the Hornets erupted in celebration. She smacked her palm into the Astroturf.

This game is about to get a whole lot more interesting.

After a stern telling-off from herself and Coach for not playing to the whistle, they started the second half fired up and fighting to regain their ground. Tackles were coming thick and fast, and Jamie in particular was at the heart of most of them.

Maya’s eyes were drawn to her, unsurprised to find her jogging up and down the Hornets’ defensive line and frustrating the defenders. There was a reason Maya had loathed Jamie so much in the first place—she was a nightmare to mark. Since having Jamie on her own team for a change, Maya had been able to appreciate her footballing talents. The way she pulled defenders out of position before using her speed to break away and receive the ball. That fantastic left foot and her ability to score from angles that seemed improbable. It was hard to tell from her position in defence if Jamie was winding the opposing team up like she used to do to her, but thankfully she seemed to have shaken off the Hornets’ earlier comments.

Millton pushed back against their physicality and started winning the battles in the middle of the park. Their passes found each other easily, and the Hornets struggled to keep up.

They just needed a goal.

Tiny—Millton’s 5’2 but incredibly quick right-back—received the ball on an overlap from Leah. Jamie called for the ball on the edge of the box, setting herself up for a shot.

Maya’s breath hitched in her throat. Hit it!

But the Hornets’ tall defender stormed in with a last-ditch tackle, swiping Jamie’s legs. A strained scream tore through the air.

Maya’s heart fell into the soles of her boots. She sprinted over, her chest burning with the exertion.

Jamie cradled her ankle, whimpering and swearing under her breath, her eyes squeezed shut in a grimace.

Cries from the supporters and teammates swirled around them, and Maya tried to squash the dread sinking into her stomach. She crouched down, noting it was the same ankle she’d injured a few months ago. Her leg was shaking. Not a good sign.

“Jamie, are you okay?”

“Fuck. Fuck. It’s my ankle. I think I’ve rolled it.”

“Ah, shit.” Maya hung her head. An ankle sprain could mean Jamie was out for weeks…and the Harriers game was coming up. They needed her. She was their top goal scorer. If Jamie couldn’t play then—

“I’ll be fine.” Jamie attempted to stand but winced and yelped in pain.

“You need to stay still,” Maya scolded, guiding her back to the ground. “Don’t inflict more damage.”

“I can’t be injured, Maya. I can’t.” Jamie groaned, and Maya rubbed her hand over her back, feeling useless.

Coach arrived with the physio, puffing and pink in the face, and they helped carry Jamie off the pitch. The player had been given a yellow card, and Millton had a brilliant free kick opportunity on the edge of the box. But Maya didn’t care anymore. Her heart wasn’t in it. It was stuck on worrying how serious Jamie’s injury would be.