I take a deep breath as I step onto the crowded soccer field, my body shivering in the cold night air. Groups of parents and referees surround the perimeter of the field, there they chat quickly and tensely. Everyone is anxiously waiting to see who will win the tough football match that is expected to take place in a few minutes. I shake my head in disbelief, wondering how this game will end. Could the underdogs win? Yes, they can. They have to do it, otherwise the other team will rub it in our faces. With my mind swirling with conflicting thoughts and emotions, I call for the ball, jumping into the passing drill my team is doing to help us warm up. As we pass and pick up, we speak to each other in hushed tones, exchanging words of encouragement about how we will do in the final game, the one that, if we win, will send us to the regional championships and give us the opportunity to play in a tougher league. “Don't worry about this game,” says one of my younger teammates. "We're just here to have fun." "No, we're not!" another older teammate intervenes. “We are here to win and to finally demonstrate that trans...