Some players felt they had nothing to lose.

Others felt they had everything to prove.

Varsity girls soccer lost 2-1 in their highly-anticipated game against Lamar on March 4 — their second-to-last game before district playoffs.

The team’s previous 7-0 loss against Lamar meant they were nervous for the upcoming game. Junior center-back and captain Laila Hakki called the previous game against their rival “a large setback.”

“We honestly didn’t expect to have that big of a defeat last game,” Hakki said. “We knew that things needed to change, and we needed to have a different mindset coming into the next game.”

With Bellaire taking the lead in a 1-0 score in the first half, Lamar seemed to be playing against a transformed team. Even as Lamar scored their first goal in the second half, Hakki said Bellaire wasn’t deterred.

“As soon as that first goal was scored by Lamar, tying up the game, we made sure to keep our intensity up,” Hakki said. “Last time, as soon as [Lamar] began scoring multiple goals, we were kind of giving up in a way, and we were putting ourselves in a position where we just knew that we wouldn’t be able to come back. This game, we changed that.”

Ultimately, the game came down to the last minute. What initially looked like a 1-1 tie determined by penalty kicks vanished as Lamar scored their second goal with 50 seconds left on the clock.

“I’m disappointed in myself for the shots that they scored,” junior and goalie Lela Izaddoost said. “They were on me. I didn’t think I was gonna be able to get the second shot, but the first one, I should have been able to get. The ball went over my head. I tried to reach for it, but [Lamar] still scored.”

Despite the final score, the players were proud of their performance on the field.

“In terms of the score, we did lose,” Hakki said. “But I do feel like we won in regards to how well we played and just the turn of events compared to last game. I do feel like we dominated the game until the last 50 seconds.”

After the previous Lamar game, the team knew they had to improve their interactions with each other in order to avoid another “crushing” defeat.

“[After our last Lamar game], we started blaming one another, and that caused a lot of head butting,” Izaddoost said. “Defense started to blame offense and vice versa, although it was nobody’s fault. I think that shows that we just weren’t playing as a team. We were playing as our own separate, smaller teams.”

For junior and midfielder Meadow Lam, the previous Lamar game was “difficult” for the team.

“A lot of times when we play Lamar, emotions get the best of us, and some players take it out on their own teammates,” Lam said. “Some players started yelling harsh things at each other, and we just lost that team bond there. We never spoke of it again, though, because we all know it was just a tough moment for all of us.”

After their previous defeat, the team stepped it up with stricter practices and increased conditioning. They worked more on transitioning between offense and defense. Girls soccer coach Erin Casey said she was proud of the team and the improvements made.

“The game against Lamar was the best game we have played all season,” Casey said. “The team played with intensity, drive and grit. Lamar did not anticipate us to play so well, and we definitely came out ready to play hard.”

Not only did the players face a challenge with playing their rival team, but for some, there was a physical challenge too. Hakki and Izaddoost had to play while fasting as they observed the month of Ramadan.

“Fasting allows me to increase discipline,” Hakki said. “At all times, I’m giving my 100%. I don’t allow fasting to change my speed of play or dedication to the game.”

As fasting athletes, Hakki and Izaddoost are forced to practice and play with the same intensity as usual, despite having built up hunger and thirst throughout the day.

“I have to try a lot harder to meet the same game of play,” Hakki said. “You have to push yourself to the extreme. You have to continuously stay hyper-focused on the game and not allow fatigue to set in and change how you play.”