by Fred Bowen
“Watch out for the blue one!”
“I got that red one!”
“Come on, Aidan! Knock ‘em higher in the air.”
After a few losses, the team started working together, and all eighteen players were moving around the field, calling to each other.
“I’ve got this one.”
“Heads up over there!”
“This one is coming your way!”
Eighteen balloons danced in the soft autumn afternoon.
“Here’s another!” Coach shouted as she tossed still another balloon into the happy mix of players.
The balloons stayed up. All nineteen.
“Here’s another. Keep talking to each other.”
Twenty!
“Another.”
Twenty-one!
One balloon, unnoticed at the edge of the field, floated dangerously close to the ground. Josh leaped for it like a goalkeeper trying desperately to make a save. The balloon bounced off his fingertips and fell to the grass.
Josh rolled onto his back and screamed at the sky. “Aaarrgh!”
“All right. Twenty-one, that’s a big win. That’s enough for today,” Coach said. “You guys did a good job talking to each other. That’s the idea. Bring that talking to your teammates to the pitch on Saturday.”
“Hey, Coach. What do we do with all of these balloons?” Aidan asked.
“Pop ‘em. But be sure to pick up all the pieces.”
The team gleefully stomped on the balloons with their cleats.
Pop!
Pop!
Pop!
After picking up the balloon remains, the United players walked toward the parking lot, still laughing and talking.
“Remember, we have the Columbus Day tournament this weekend,” Coach Hodges called after them. “I’ll e-mail everyone.”
Josh walked with Aidan, Evan, and several other United players. “That was an awesome exercise, Evan,” he said. Then Josh stopped as if he had forgotten something. He turned to the field.
“Hey, Coach!” Josh shouted.
Coach Hodges looked up.
“Happy Birthday!”
Chapter 15
Josh, Aidan, and Evan, along with several other United players, stared up at the big Columbus Day tournament board.
“I can’t wait to see our score posted,” Kadir said.
“Yeah. I want everybody to see this one!” Mario said. “Three to nothing. We totally dominated!”
Patrick pointed. “Hey, look. They’re putting up our score now.”
“Way to go, United!” Josh shouted. The United players traded fist bumps and high fives.
“Man, we were scoring like crazy,” Evan remembered. “I thought Aidan might even put one in from midfield.”
“Okay, that’s enough celebrating. It’s just one game,” Coach Hodges said from behind the group. “Our next game is in one hour. Looks like we’re playing the Extreme. Rest up and be back here in forty minutes.”
“Forty minutes?” Josh repeated. “I guess we’re not in the losers bracket anymore.”
In no time, Josh was back at the field playing soccer tennis with Aidan, Evan, and two other United players. They were still talking about the United’s 3–0 win.
“We played so great,” Josh said.
Evan left-footed the ball to Aidan. “We’ll have to be even better this game,” he said. “We’re playing the Extreme. They’re the real deal. They won that second tournament we were in. Remember?”
“Oh yeah. Who are those two guys they got?”
“The Franco brothers. Both of them made the regional team.”
Minutes later, the United ran onto the pitch for the second game.
Evan was right. The Franco brothers were very good. One played forward, the other played center midfield. They controlled the early play with their lightning moves and quick passes. Soon, the Extreme were threatening the United goal.
“Help out. Drop back!” Coach shouted, pumping the palm of her hand in the direction of the United goal.
Josh could see Aidan and the other United defenders struggling to keep up with the Franco brothers. He moved deeper into United’s defensive zone.
Just then, Evan darted out and intercepted a crossing pass. The United midfielder pressed the advantage by passing to Josh on the wing. Josh dribbled a short distance, then skipped a pass back to Evan sprinting upfield. Evan broke into the clear. The last Extreme defender scrambled to cover him.
Evan blasted a shot, low and hard, at the far post. The Extreme goalkeeper leaped and knocked it away with a desperate fist-punch.
Evan’s run, shot, and near goal made the Extreme more cautious. They hung back on defense for the remainder of the half as the United pressed the attack. The score was tied 0–0 at halftime.
Aidan flopped back on to the grass. “Those Franco brothers are beasts on the field,” he said, trying to catch his breath. “At least you guys got that run near the end of the half. That took some of the pressure off.”
Evan leaned toward Aidan. “I remember the older brother—the guy playing forward—from the regional team tryouts,” he said. “Listen, here’s what you’ve got to do with him.” Aidan was all ears as Evan continued. “You got to crowd him, play him real tight. He gets frustrated if he doesn’t get the ball with some room. One more thing—overplay him to the right. He loves to go to the right.”
Aidan took Evan’s advice and played the older Franco tight and tough in the second half. Unable to get his own shot, the older brother laid off a pass for his younger brother midway through the second half.
With a quick touch and a quicker step, the Extreme midfielder created enough space to bend a perfect shot into the upper corner of the United goal. It happened so quickly that Patrick, the United keeper, didn’t have time to react. He stood flatfooted on the goal line.
Goal! The United were behind, 1–0.
Wow, those Franco brothers are incredible, Josh thought.
After the goal, the Extreme began to play it safe and fall back on defense. They looked happy, almost relieved, to hold on to their one-goal lead.
The United went on the attack with a series of quick passes at midfield. Evan dribbled forward, charging hard to the top of the box. An Extreme defender challenged him with a skidding tackle.
The referee blew his whistle and reached into his shirt pocket.
A yellow card!
The United had a free kick near the top of the box. Evan spun a dangerous ball toward the right side of the Extreme goal. Sensing the curve of the ball, Josh raced to the spot, got his foot on the ball just in time, and redirected it toward the goal. The ball flew by the Extreme keeper and into the net!
Goal! It was 1–1. Tie game.
The entire team crowded around Josh in celebration.
“Let’s get another!” Josh shouted.
The two teams battled hard. Aidan marked the older Franco brother close, sticking to him like a second skin. Finally, the star forward threw his arms up in frustration.
“Come on!” he shouted at his teammates. “Get me the ball.”
With Aidan blanketing their best player, the Extreme fell apart.
The United controlled the ball and the play. They filled the pitch with passes and shouts of encouragement.
“Pass back!”
“Look up. On your right.”
“Start it over.”
“Keep it moving!”
“Josh is open. On the right.”
“Cross it.”
Josh floated a crossing pass toward the front of the Extreme goal. The keeper rushed out and tried to grab it but got stuck in a tangle of players.
The ball bounced loose. A foot flashed forward in the confusion. The ball flew into the net.
Goal! The United were ahead, 2–1.
“Who scored the goal?” Evan asked as the team jumped up and down together.
“Who cares?” Josh howled. “We scored.”
The team held on for the 2–1 win. Al
l the United players and fans went wild.
“All right!” Coach Hodges bellowed above the cheering players and parents. “We’re going to the finals!”
“We’re in the super-winners bracket!” Josh yelled to Aidan.
Coach held her hands above her head for silence. “The finals are at noon tomorrow,” she announced. “We’ll have a late breakfast at the motel. Any questions?”
“Yes,” Josh dad’s said. Everyone looked toward him. “Where are we all going to eat dinner tonight?”
“Yeah. Let’s celebrate!!!” Victor shouted.
The United players and parents again burst into cheers.
Chapter 16
Good, you’re all here,” Coach Hodges said as she came into the breakfast room at the motel.
The United players pushed a group of tables together to crowd around their coach. The parents, who had been drinking coffee and talking soccer, moved closer and stood in a quiet semicircle near the coach and her players.
“Listen up,” Coach started. “The team we’re playing today—the Vipers—are very good. They have Ricky Abu at center midfield and a bunch of other outstanding players.”
“Abu is OD,” Evan whispered to Josh.
“What’s that?”
“Olympic Development.”
“Wow!”
“So we’re going to have to play sixty minutes—together,” Coach continued, “to beat them.”
The moment Josh saw the Vipers warming up, he knew they would be tough. They moved through their passing drills with the breezy confidence of a pro or top college team.
“Is number 10 Abu?” Josh asked Evan.
“Yeah.”
Josh nodded. “I figured.”
The referee blew his whistle and the teams got ready for the championship game. The Vipers started fast, keeping possession and staying a half step ahead of the scrambling United. Patrick made several saves to keep the United in the game. But he didn’t have a chance when Abu spun free near the goal and left-footed a shot into the upper corner.
Goal!
The Vipers had jumped on top 1–0.
But unlike early in the season, the United did not give up. They got possession and then got lucky.
Victor sailed a crossing pass from the left wing toward the front of the Vipers goal. Josh leaped up in a crowd of Viper and United players. The ball banged against the side of Josh’s head and ricocheted off a defender’s leg—past the stunned Vipers goalkeeper—and into the net.
Goal! A lucky goal. But still a goal.
The score was tied 1–1.
“That’s your goal,” Aidan said, pointing to Josh as the team celebrated.
Josh shook his head.
“It is,” Evan insisted. “You were the last guy on our team to touch it.”
Josh smiled. “It’s our goal.”
The score stayed tied deep into the second half. The Vipers and their star midfielder controlled play. Josh could sense the United hanging on, almost hoping for a tie.
Late in the half, Abu spun past Aidan, who was marking him closely, and sprinted toward the goal. Demetrius, the other United defender, raced over and took Abu down with a hard tackle just as he crossed into the penalty area.
Tweeeeeeeeeeeet! The referee held up a red card.
A penalty kick.
The United were down a man. Demetrius was out of the game.
“Maybe he’ll miss,” Josh whispered to Evan as the teams got behind the penalty line and Abu got ready to kick.
“No chance,” Evan said.
Evan was right. No chance. Abu drilled the kick into the left corner.
The United were now behind 2–1.
Coach made some changes, substituting in fresh players for tired ones.
“Five minutes to go!” Coach shouted from the sidelines. “Give it everything you’ve got. Take some chances. Go for the goal.”
The United kept hustling, but Josh could feel the game slipping away. Up a player, the Vipers skillfully kept possession and the ball in the United zone.
Just when time was running out and any chance of tying the game was slipping away, Aidan stole a pass and charged upfield. He saw Josh racing up the right side and angled a perfect pass to him.
This may be our last run, Josh thought, stopping the ball with a quick touch and sizing up his next move. He spotted Evan in the center, sent the ball to him with a swift kick, and kept running. Evan dribbled around a Viper defender and skidded a pass back to Josh advancing past midfield. Josh back passed to Aidan, hustling after the play with Viper forwards trailing him.
The United kept passing the ball faster and faster.
To Evan.
To Josh.
To Aidan.
Then back to Josh, who was open on the wing. Last chance, he thought as he sent the ball spinning toward the goal.
The Vipers goalkeeper was ready. He crashed into the crowd of players and fisted the ball.
Still running upfield, Aidan met the bouncing ball near the top of the penalty area. With a quick touch of his right foot, he lofted it back toward the goal.
Josh, Evan, and a cluster of the Vipers watched as the ball floated over the goalkeeper and slipped under the crossbar, into the net.
Goal! The score was tied, 2–2.
A minute later, the referee blew his whistle and the game was over. Or was it? The referee called the two coaches over to the sidelines.
“What’s happening?” Aidan asked as the coaches and referee talked. “Are we playing overtime?”
“I don’t know,” Josh said. “Maybe it’s a tie.”
“No way,” Evan said, shaking his head. “This is a big tournament.”
Coach came back to the team. She was smiling. “Penalty kicks,” she announced. “Best of five kicks.”
“Who’s gonna take the kicks?” Josh asked above the noise.
Coach studied her clipboard for a moment. “Okay, let’s have …
Victor.
Aidan.
Kadir.
Josh.
And Evan.”
Coach pressed into the circle of five players moving nervously about, getting ready for their penalty kicks. “Pick a spot,” she instructed. “Don’t look at the keeper. Just pick a spot and let it go.”
All the players on the field got behind the penalty line.
The United goalkeeper and Vipers first shooter looked lonely as the shooter set the ball on a spot ten yards in front of the goal and got ready to kick.
It’s a big net. It’s an easy shot, Josh thought, trying to psych himself up for his turn. Of course, that’s why everybody expects you to make it!
“Hey,” Evan said, getting the attention of all the United players. “Hook ‘em.”
Without a word, the United players locked elbows.
The Vipers shooter drove the ball into the corner.
1–0.
Victor did the same.
1–1.
The next four kicks were all good. The score was 3–3.
The Vipers were up again. This time Patrick, the United goalkeeper, guessed right. He dove straight out to the left and knocked the Vipers shot away.
It was still 3–3 and Josh had a chance to put the United in the lead.
Josh placed the ball down on the spot. He stepped back slowly, counting his steps and trying to breathe deeply.
His mind was racing. Don’t aim too high. Don’t look at the keeper. Just hit it solid.
Josh took one last deep breath. He stepped forward, keeping his head down. He felt a tingling sensation streak through his body as his right foot hit the ball—solidly. He looked up and saw the ball leap into the back of the net.
The United were ahead, 4–3.
But not for long. Abu coolly tied the score again with a low blast that grazed the inside of the post.
4–4.
It was all up to Evan. Standing back with teammates, Josh locked arms with Kadir and Aidan. “Come on, Evan,” he whispered under his breath.
<
br /> Josh was almost afraid to look, but he had to. He saw Evan drive forward and the Vipers goalkeeper leap, anticipating the direction of Evan’s shot. At the last instant, Evan hooked the ball in the other direction, bouncing it into the other side of the goal.
Evan turned to his teammates and raised his arms high above his head in the shape of a V for Victory: 5–4 in penalty kicks!
In a flash, the players ran together. Evan, Josh, and Aidan were at the center of the happy United players.
The tournament-champion United.
The six-wins-in-a-row United.
The new United.
Chapter 17
There he is,” Josh said, pointing to the cabin near the entrance of High-Top Park. “Come on.”
Josh and Aidan waved goodbye to Josh’s father and walked quickly across the parking lot toward the cabin. Evan greeted his teammates with tight handgrips and quick shoulder bumps.
“That guy Berkeley is here again today,” Evan said. “Let’s get going. We got a lot of climbing to do.”
Berkeley smiled when he saw the three boys in their United jerseys. “Hey, it’s the soccer guys. How’s the team doing?”
“A lot better,” Josh said. “We’ve won six games in a row.”
“We even won a tournament over the Columbus Day weekend,” Evan added.
“Evan scored the game winner,” Aidan said, trying to lift his teammate’s arm in triumph. “We won on penalty kicks.”
“Whoa … sounds like you guys are doing a lot better than the last time I saw you,” Berkeley said. “Maybe that climbing session did the trick.”
“And all the team-building stuff Josh started,” Aidan added.
“Hey, what about me?” Evan protested. “I came up with the balloon game. I thought that was awesome.”
“What about Ms. Littlewood?” Josh said. “If she hadn’t assigned that research project, we wouldn’t have found out about the 1999 Women’s World Cup Team.”
“I don’t know what you guys are talking about,” Berkeley said. “But never mind. Let’s get started.” Berkeley looked over the boys’ heads. “Where’s the rest of the team?”
“It’s just the three of us,” Josh explained. “We figured this would be a fun thing to do together.”