Between the Sticks

Between the Sticks — page 5 — I bounced on my feet ready to move No one gets by I told myself Torry and Marcus double-teamed the guy with the ball I closed in toward the goal with our other defenders The ball squirted free I raced toward it but Ernie got there first for the Cyclones He planted his foot and drove the ball toward the corner of the goal Spencer dived stretching and reaching He deflected the ball over the back of the goal but then fell to the ground and howled My wrist Spencer yelled rolling onto his back The referee blew his whistle and ran toward Spencer waving for our coach to come over Clear away boys the ref said Ernie stepped over to me He looked shook up I didn’t kick it that hard he said It happens I replied You didn’t hurt him on purpose Ernie’s a good guy He’s in two of 6

Between the Sticks — page 6 — my classes and we’ve played baseball together Besides I think he hurt it when he hit the ground not the ball It took a good five minutes to stabilize Spencer’s wrist and get him off the field He shook his head as he walked past our team I heard him mumble Finish this thing Where were we the referee asked glancing around The Stampeders goalie knocked it out Ernie said Right The ref nodded Corner kick Cyclones How much time is left I asked The ref looked at his watch Forty seconds when they put the ball in play He rolled it toward the corner Then the ref yelled We need a goalie He was pointing at the empty net We’d overlooked that little detail 7

Between the Sticks — page 7 — Griffin Lane Coach called Yeah I took a few steps toward him Get between the sticks he said referring to the goalposts Spencer left the gloves on the ground there Who me I asked You’ve got to be kidding I hadn’t played goalie since third grade and I’d promised myself I never would again I yielded seven goals in half a game back then Seven goals on seven shots Not a single save Of course I was a lot younger then that was four years ago I love playing defense it suits me just right I’m not fast enough for the front line and I get exercise-induced asthma from sprinting too much Plus there’s less pressure on D than there is in goal It’s just for a few seconds Coach said trotting onto the field again We’ll figure out a new strategy before the next one Don’t worry this game’s almost over 8

Between the Sticks — page 8 — Sure it was But these last few seconds were everything Ernie had the ball in the corner and his teammates were packed into our goal box Even their goalie had come all the way up the field for this final attempt They had nothing to lose this late in the game I pulled on the gloves I should have put on the goalie shirt too but we weren’t about to ask Spencer to try to take it off So I told the ref I was ready The sweat on my back turned cold Javon shook his fist at me No problem Griffin he said They won’t even get a shot Ernie lofted a high looping kick that seemed to hang in the air forever I stood tense arms spread ready to pounce in any direction One save I thought One save and we win Torry Marcus and players from both teams soared into the air hoping to head the ball away from our goal or into it Shoulders collided and players grunted The ball hit the ground 9

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