Circa 2018
"Okay, we need to go out wide and then cut back in the center behind the line. We can break them if we stretch them out."
"I mean yeah, but I-"
"No, no, Alex you just need to pass out instead of driving. It'll work, I know it will. They're weak individu-"
"But, Julie, I want to-"
"We can do this though. I know it's late, but if we just stretch them..."
"I want to score though." Julie stops her tactical ranting and stares at her sister. Alex nervously rubs her hands together and blushes a little realizing how childish that sounded. "I mean, uhm, I can pass it out and then cut inside and take the shot?"
Julie rolls her eyes at her, "Mhm, yeah, you can take the shot." She walks away from her to get set and calls over her shoulder, "Out first Lex! Don't be a ball hog!"
-
"Why do you keep doing that?" fumes JJ pulling Alex off the turf for the fifth time. Every time she's gotten the ball she ended up tangled in their defense. "I don't understand why you can't just-"
"Jay," warns Carli walking up to the pair. She eyes her blonde and shakes her head shortly as a signal to knock it off. She looks at Alex once she's gotten her self stood up. "Are you going to stop doing that or do you like being run over?" Lex can't help but blush at the reprimand of not only her mama but her captain. "I know you want a goal, I know it's been a while, but pass the ball to the outside-"
"I told her that twenty minutes ago!"
Carli's head snaps back at Julie and the younger woman smartly walks a bit away to not get any of that rage radiating off her skin from being interrupted. Carli would rather her kids hit her than interrupt her.
"I...I tried to pass it out, but there wasn't an angle and-"
"Uh uh." Carli shakes her head stopping Alex's pitiful rambling explanation of her not using her brain. "You're being selfish. Pass that ball or he-" she nods off towards the coach standing by the bench- "is subbing you." Alex bites her lip. "We win, Lexi-" Carli pats her shoulder- "not I." Alex nods her head after her as she walks off to where she should be when the penalty is taken.
-
"Morgan receiving from Ertz. She's driving down the middle."
"We've seen this before, will she breakthrough or-"
"It's at Tobin Heath's feet on the flank! Man, she is dangerous. We haven't gotten to see much action from-"
"She's sending it central! Off Morgan's foot... Goal for the United States!"
"Alex Morgan has been trying all night and her effort has finally paid off. A beautiful assist from Tobin Heath and an incredible goal for the one and only Alex Morgan. Those two are unstoppable together."
"This whole team is on fire. Julie Ertz with the steal in the lower middle third to start that incredible combo, then Morgan pulling that defense to her which left Heath open on the wing, Heath then taking no time at all to make the decision to send it right back over the top and Alex being able to anticipate that move and finish is amazing."
-
"Alex Patricia!" The twenty-eight year old spins around towards the voice. Carli breaks out into a big smile once she and her daughter lock eyes. As soon as she gets close enough, Alex jumps into her arms and wraps her legs tightly around her waist.
"Mama, I did it! I scored!" Carli laughs as her daughter sighs dramatically and throws her head back, "oh, it felt so good."
Kelley shakes her head from beside them, she and Alex were talking, "you are so dramatic Al." She smiles while walking into the locker room, "You act like you don't do that all the time." Alex rolls her eyes after her friend and Carli chuckles while adjusting her in her arms.
"You are being a bit of a drama queen," teases Carli lightly. She presses a kiss to the side of her head while carrying her to her locker. Alex's mouth drops open shocked and Carli laughs more. "Hey, hey-" she bounces the girl up, "you're allowed to be dramatic because of how hard you worked for that tonight. I'm very proud you scored babe and I'm so happy you finally stopped being a knuckle head and passed the ball off. I thought those defenders were going to have to break leg before you stopped being so stubborn." She sets her daughter down on her feet and smiles knowingly, "I know you were just hungry-" she mocks Alex's dramatic attitude by widening her eyes- "starving-" she tickles her quick- "for that goal so it's okay this ti-"
"I told you to pass it!" exclaims Julie breaking up their moment. "Oh, and what happened when you passed it?" She cups her ear and leans in. When Alex doesn't answer she turns to her youngest sister who is just trying to ask Carli if she can stay in Sonnet's room for movie night and has no idea what happening to answer.
"Uh..." Mal looks confused between all of them before looking back at Julie and answering unsure, "she scored?" Mal gives Alex a little hug and smiles at her, "congratulations that was sweet." She steps back and tries to ask Carli about movie night but gets cut off by Tobin walking into the conversation first.
"She only scored because of me so I'm the one who should be getting all the praise." The oldest kid smirks proudly. "Without me she'd be nothing."
Carli frowns and warns, "Tobs... not true, but very good assist." The mom smiles and kisses her cheek, causing her to blush profusely and Carli to be the one smirking. "I'm very proud of you. That was such good, quick thinking."
"Technically it was my idea so I should get credit."
Carli smiles at her almost youngest child and pulls her in for a hug and kisses her hair, "You had a very good idea Julie Beth. You played really good tonight too. I'm so proud of you too."
"But prouder of me right?" asks Alex.
"Did I do good?" asks Mal now worried because she hasn't gotten any hugs and kisses like her sisters. Carli sighs and lets go of Julie and scoops up her youngest and kisses her nose making her smile.
"You did so good. I'm very proud of my little monkey too." Mal beams.
"Since you're so proud," Christen finally joins the party, she puts her hand up, "-I know you're proud of me too it's cool I played great- can we go get ice cream?" Carli feels all five of her girls' puppy eyes at once and sighs not able to resist it and nods. Chris grins and walks over and kisses her cheek smiling cheekily, "thanks mama."
Carli rolls her eyes playfully and returns the kiss before bouncing Mal up more, "uh huh, you're welcome."