#30 ๐Ÿ˜ฎ The toughest GOAL on earth ๐ŸŒ

The most dangerous goal

Standing next to the steel post of a field hockey goal on a starry winter evening, a column of steam rising off me, I would wait for the opposing player at the top of the scoring circle to take a shot. My friend Kris, the goalie, would stand in the centre of the goal, while Jay and I, the defenders, covered a goalpost each. Kris was fully kitted out with a helmet, groin guard, and dense foam safety gear covering nearly his whole body. Jay and I each had a mouthguard, a pair of shin pads and our bones.

Iโ€™d be gasping for breath from the exertion of sprinting madly about, and my heart would be pumping so hard Iโ€™d almost be at the point of nausea. Waiting for that shot on goal โ€“ on us โ€“ with a ball as hard as concrete that can hit 160kph and change direction with the slightest nick of stick or foot โ€“ it felt like the height of danger.

I loved it.

THWACK.