Breakaway

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Breakaway Page 10

by Andrea Montalbano


  Goal.

  “How’s that for believing, LJ?” Tabitha said with a giant smile.

  “Well, if I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have believed it. That was the first-ever pirouette penalty kick in history!”

  chapter 19

  Every player, parent and coach knew the deal: winner takes all. No ties allowed. This was the rematch. Defending league champions, Castle Creek was the home team—in white. They were heavily favored to win, having finished a perfect 9-0 season. At 7-1-1, the blue and yellow Brookville Bombers were no slouches, but of course, they would be playing without a key player: Lily James.

  The Bombers had banded together and begged their coach to reconsider the suspension, but Chris wouldn’t budge. His rule was a two-game suspension, and if that meant Lily missed the final, so be it.

  LJ took her place on the bench.

  “Let’s do it, Bombers!” Lily shouted as the girls warmed up. Lily watched with pride as Vee and Tabitha kicked around. They’d spent hours that week behind the restaurant working on juggling, shooting and anything Vee and Lily could come up with to boost Tabitha’s soccer confidence. She must have nailed a hundred penalty kicks.

  Lily felt someone’s eyes on her. She looked up to see Castle Creek’s Molly Barrelton watching her from midfield. She had her short brown hair held back by a white headband. Vee said she’d breezed through the State Select Team tryout like David Beckham in a Tiny Tots camp. Molly put her foot on top of the ball as she watched Lily and gave a nod to the sidelines. Lily didn’t have to look long to notice the man in white beaming at Molly.

  Lily spied Liam, Tomás, Billy, Dina, Pop Pop and her mother setting up camp on the sidelines. For the first time ever, Katerina’s was closing for Saturday lunch so that everyone could attend the game. She couldn’t remember the last time both her parents had made it to a game. In fact, she was sure it had never happened before.

  The energy on the sidelines was explosive as the teams took the field. Lily had never seen or felt anything like it. The players were jumping up and down in the brisk fall air, warming their bodies and expelling nervous tension. Coaches were shouting before the whistle even blew. Even little kids picked up on the excitement, sticking close instead of running off to play on their own.

  One quick beep of the whistle made clear it was going to be one heck of a match. Girls on both sides scrambled for every ball, tackling with no hesitation. Chris had assigned Sue to stick one-on-one with Molly Barrelton, a strategy that seemed to be working. Molly wasn’t able to hold on to the ball for long, and Lily thought she looked frustrated. During an early play, Vee dribbled the ball to the corner and sent in a perfect cross. Amelia got her head on it and the ball just glanced off the crossbar.

  “Way to go, Vee!” Lily cheered. “Let’s go, Bombers!”

  The Bomber parents were going bananas. The energy was electric, and Lily was certain her team could score. Suddenly one bellowing voice was heard above the others, reverberating like a church bell in a silent square. “Castle Creek! Castle Creek!”

  Heads on the field turned. A large woman in a bright blue hat sat high atop the bleachers. That woman must be an opera singer or something, Lily thought. The high-pitched voice was like a crowd-silencing aria. All that could be heard was “Castle Creek! Castle Creek!”

  “Play on!” the referee commanded after an instant, and the goalie launched the ball back into play. From there, things started falling apart for the Bombers. Castle Creek began taking cheap shots. Chris was quickly on his feet.

  “Ref! That tripping was intentional!” he called after Reese was knocked down at midfield. The Bombers were getting pushed around.

  The tide was turning.

  The whistle blew. “Player down!”

  Lily’s head shot up. It was Vee again. The crowd finally quieted as Chris rushed to Vee’s side. She was holding her right ankle and a grimace covered her face. Chris helped her to her feet. It was the same ankle she had rolled in the last game.

  “I’m okay,” she told Chris. Tomás came to the bench with a concerned look on his face. Lily’s mom charged over to provide medical backup. “I’ve got lots of ice!” She reached into her ratty macramé bag.

  Vee limped for a few steps and then jogged around.

  “She wants to stay in,” Chris said to Vee’s father as he exited the field. Tomás nodded his okay, and the referee blew the whistle.

  Within minutes Castle Creek was on the attack. Molly Barrelton broke free of her mark. Vee was trying to stay in the game but just wasn’t herself. The only Bomber playing with any heart was Tabitha. She was running back on defense, pouncing on every ball. Lily looked to the sidelines and saw her mother settle back down. She was not happy to spy Mr. Gordon next to the concession stand. Soon enough Opera Lady started up again, and Lily just prayed for the half to end.

  With just two minutes left in the half, the Bombers pulled an offside trap—a move they’d learned specifically for Castle Creek. When the sweeper gave the signal, the defense moved forward to try and trap the Castle Creek offense behind the last defender and draw a penalty. The only problem was Riley’s view was blocked, and all the screaming made it impossible to hear Sue yell, “Now!”

  Only two girls in the defense moved forward, leaving Riley back by the goal and Molly Barrelton all alone and onside.

  A deep booming voice sounded from the other end of the bench.

  “Punish that! Punish that mistake!” the Castle Creek coach roared.

  Lily cringed.

  Castle Creek found the open Molly. Tabitha and Vee gave chase, but they had too much ground to make up. Opera Lady launched into a frantic solo and the Bombers crumbled. Molly breezed past Riley. Beth came off her line, but Molly kept her cool and scored easily.

  The whistle blew ending the half, and Castle Creek acted like they’d already won. The Bombers dragged themselves off the field in full bicker. Riley fumed at Sue’s call. Olivia glared at Riley. The team was tearing into one another. Even Chris looked dejected. His long face hung down and he shuffled his feet side to side. Lily knew he was trying to think of the right words.

  “Girls. I’m going to do us all a big favor and not talk about the first half of this game. I think the best thing we can do is just forget it. We’re only down by one goal, and we have the whole second half to win this game. Let’s just erase what just happened ...”

  Lily watched the girls’ faces. She saw Vee rubbing her ankle. Sue had tears of frustration in her eyes, and Tabitha was staring off to the side. Lily followed her gaze. Mr. Gordon, Mark and Griff had arrived. Oh, perfect, Lily thought. There were only a few minutes left before the second half began. Lily had to do something. These were her girls. She knew Chris wasn’t reaching them. They couldn’t go back on the field in this state of mind. They’d lose for sure.

  There was stony silence after Chris finished his speech. Lily stepped forward.

  “Coach, can I say something to the team?” she asked. Chris nodded.

  Lily took a deep breath and stared at the ground. She knew she didn’t have much time.

  “Hey, guys, I’ll make this quick. I wish I could be out there with you, but I can’t. I made some mistakes and I’m sorry. I apologize to you all for not being on the field. I know I’ve let the team down. I’d give anything to be playing today. Believe it or not, I’ve learned more about being a team player by getting kicked off.

  “Castle Creek is a good team—and they’ve got one really loud lady—but that doesn’t make them the champions. Not yet, at least. So they scored. So what? This game isn’t over by a long shot.”

  Lily looked at her teammates. Every pair of eyes was on her except one: Tabitha had hers closed. Lily smiled.

  “The most beautiful part of this game is that it doesn’t just begin or end on the field. We win together or we lose together. We’re a team: a team that sticks up for each other, a team that helps each other. A team with heart.”

  Lily paused and thought for a second.


  “So if we’re a team with heart ... hearts beat, right?”

  The Bombers all nodded.

  Lily put her arm out, palm down. “Well, I say today, we beat the tar out of Castle Creek.”

  Vee stood up and put her hand on Lily’s. Tabitha opened her eyes and stood up. One by one, each Bomber joined the pack until it was just a tight circle of players and a pile of dirty hands.

  “Everyone close your eyes and picture this,” Lily commanded. All sixteen girls squeezed them shut. “Believe this: We are all Brookville. We are all Bombers, and today ... we are the champions!”

  The girls lifted their arms like a fountain and shouted together, “Champions!”

  chapter 20

  Both, squads took to the field and Lily sprinted down the sidelines. She spied Aunt Dina and her grandfather at the concession stand.

  “Dina!” Lily shouted as she rushed over to her aunt. “What are you doing way over here?”

  “Oh, Pop Pop needed another hot dog,” Dina answered with a sigh. “Boy, LJ, I hope your team can get a goal. Or two.”

  “We will,” Lily said firmly, “but we’re going to need your help.”

  Lily explained what she had in mind and Dina just laughed. “You got it, squirt.”

  The whistle blew, signaling the start of the second half. Lily turned to go.

  “Brutta?” Pop Pop blurted suddenly.

  Lily turned around and stared at the old man.

  “Hai fame?” he asked, offering his chili dog.

  “No, I’m not hungry, but thanks, Pop Pop.” Lily laughed. The sharing of food was quite a peace offering. She hugged her grandfather, noting how fragile yet fierce he felt in her arms. Lily smelled something different.

  “Pop Pop, are you wearing cologne?” she asked, sniffing the air.

  The old man winked and kissed Lily on the cheek. She hugged him again and sprinted back to the bench.

  “Where were you?” Chris asked.

  “Getting reinforcements.”

  All the crazy energy of the first half was gone. The Bombers started the second half like they were winning 3-0, not losing 0-1. Vee and Sue were working it up the middle, connecting on passes and trying to break into Castle Creek’s eighteen-yard box. It was clear Castle Creek had a simple strategy: hold on to the lead. They had moved two of their strong midfielders into the defense and were crowding the box. Every time the Bombers pushed forward, defenders overwhelmed them. There was just no room to play.

  “Work the outsides, girls!” Chris called, trying to create more space behind the defense. Vee responded by sending balls outside to Tabitha on the wing.

  “Hold on to it as long as you can, Tabitha,” Chris directed. To Lily he said, “If she can draw a few defenders to the outside, maybe we’ll have a chance of hitting Vee in the middle.”

  LJ nodded; she’d been thinking the same thing.

  The whistle blew. Reese, the Bombers’ midfielder, was booked with a yellow card for tripping after the Castle Creek forward made a move toward the Bomber goal. “Next one’s a red, Coach,” the ref called to the sidelines.

  “Ref, substitution!” Chris called. “Reese, come take a break.”

  Reese came to the sidelines and sat next to Lily on the bench. “It’s getting ugly out there,” she said.

  “I know you’re all getting tired,” Chris said. “But you have to keep your head about you. This is no time to start fouling. Castle Creek is just too dangerous on free kicks.”

  Molly Barrelton placed the ball down about twenty-five yards out, definitely in a position to prove him right. Beth, the Bombers’ goalie, called for a four-person wall. Sue, Tabitha, Amelia and Vee lined up ten yards in front of the ball, creating a human wall between the ball and the goal.

  “Back it up,” the ref said to the wall. As the girls inched backward, Opera Lady got her second wind.

  “Castle Creek! Castle Creek!” she sang.

  Oh no, not again, Lily thought. She searched the sidelines with her eyes.

  “Castle Creek! Let’s do it again, Castle Creek!” Her voice polluted the air like secondhand smoke.

  “Darn,” Chris muttered under his breath.

  As Opera Lady opened her impressive mouth to start another round, a chant began on the other side of the field.

  “De-fense! De-fense!” Aunt Dina shouted at the top of her lungs.

  “Castle Creek!”

  “De-fense!” She was standing now, raising her arms to get the Nuts and Berries to join in. “De-fense! De-fense!”

  All the parents responded. BlackBerries and video cameras were down. Every Bomber fan in sight took up the cause. Soon the entire field was staring at the crowd, including Molly, the wall of girls and the referee. The game had come to a complete standstill as the cheering sections had a championship of their own.

  Some of the players covered their ears, and the referee’s restart whistle was drowned out by the crowd.

  “Stoooooop!!” a voice finally cried from the field. “Please! Aunt Bella, just stop!”

  It was Molly Barrelton. Aunt Bella’s face was red, and sweat ran down the sides of her face. Mercifully, she was silent. Lily thought she looked exhausted. Dina and the Bomber crew gave one last “Defense!” for good measure and then went quiet too.

  “Play on!” boomed the referee, and the whistle blew again. All eyes returned to the field as Molly prepared to shoot. Beth got set on her goalie line. This was a do-or-die situation. Molly approached, but something looked off. Her timing was wrong; Lily recognized it at once. Molly wound up having to stutter her steps as she reached the ball and as a result leaned way too far back. The ball went sailing harmlessly over the goal.

  The Bombers crowd gave a demure cheer and Lily, Chris and the rest of the bench shared a group exhale and hug.

  “How much time left?” Reese asked Chris.

  “Two minutes,” he answered stonily. “We’ve got to get a goal. Now.”

  Beth sprinted behind the goal to retrieve the ball and sent it upfield. It glanced off Amelia’s head and there was a mad scramble at midfield. Once again, Molly Barrelton somehow emerged with the ball. Lily was on her feet. It took all her will not to run on the field.

  “Stop her!” Lily yelled.

  Out of nowhere a blur of blue and yellow swooped in. Vee. She stole the ball from Molly and sent a looping pass over the defense. The ball landed in open field. Castle Creek had moved up for the free kick, and finally there was space behind the defense. The ball was loose. Like a gazelle, Tabitha swooped in and began dribbling toward the goal.

  Oh, please don’t yell anything stupid, Lily willed as she watched Mr. Gordon jump to his feet. Luckily, he was too shocked to say anything. He and Mark watched with open mouths as Tabitha headed to goal.

  The crowd stood.

  It was just Tabitha and the goalie.

  Breakaway.

  The Castle Creek sweeper gave chase. Tabitha crossed into the box, slowed down and raised her head to shoot. The goalie came forward. The sweeper caught up. Tabitha gave one last touch.

  The sweeper grabbed at Tabitha’s arm. She grabbed her uniform. Tabitha tried to get the shot off, but it was too late: the defender grabbed her from behind and pulled her to the ground. Lily heard a whistle.

  Lily jumped up. Was the game over? No! It couldn’t end like this! Tabitha was tripped!

  “This isn’t football, ref!” Chris yelled. “That’s a card!”

  Lily was surprised to see Mr. Gordon approach the field, point at the ref and yell, “Hey, that’s my kid!”

  Tabitha slowly got to her feet and shook off the penalty. The referee held up his hand to keep her father off the field, then flashed a red card from his back pocket. The sweeper was ejected from the game. The referee then sprinted over to the little white mark twelve yards from the goal. He pointed to the ground.

  “Penalty kick,” he said. “Coach, choose your kicker.”

  The Bombers fans erupted. The Castle Creek crowd booed and berated the ref
eree as a cheater. One mother accused him of taking bribes.

  “Vee, you take it,” Chris called from the bench. He glanced down at Lily.

  Vee picked up the ball and shook her head no.

  “Is it your ankle?” Chris called.

  Vee shook her head again. She walked over to Tabitha and held out the ball. Before Chris could object, Lily grabbed his arm.

  “She can do it,” she said.

  “Tabitha?”

  “Tabitha.”

  Tabitha looked to the sidelines. Slowly, Chris nodded.

  Tabitha placed the ball on the kicker’s mark. Lily watched her eyes. She looked only at the ball. Don’t look at the goalie, Lily willed. Whatever you do, don’t look up.

  The sideline was silent. Lily thought Mr. Gordon looked green in the gills, like he was about to throw up. The Bombers gathered together and held hands. The goalie watched Tabitha’s every move.

  Tabitha took a few steps back.

  She stood up straight.

  Her eyes were shut tight.

  Lily inhaled.

  Tabitha kept her eyes closed and lowered her head. She opened them slowly and looked only at the ball.

  The goalie studied her—Tabitha’s eyes, her feet, her body posture—but Tabitha gave nothing away.

  The whistle blew. Lily was too nervous to exhale.

  Tabitha raised herself on her toes ever so slightly and then stepped forward without hesitation. Her eyes and head never moved from the ball.

  At the last possible second, she adjusted her foot position.

  The ball went low and right. The goalie was caught flat-footed, not knowing which way to lean. When she saw the direction of the shot, she laid her body out and reached as far as she could. Her fingertips brushed the ball. It veered farther right. There was a clang as leather connected with the inside metal post. Then the netting moved with a telltale swoosh.

 

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