Chapter 5
Three days later, the Raiders were back on the field for their next game. This time they were playing the Mariners.
Gina looked around at her teammates. Everyone was in a good mood today. Unlike after the first game, no one was acting annoyed with her.
Maybe everyone was just tired at the end of the game, Gina thought. She knew she could get grumpy after a long, tiring game.
“Remember, ladies,” Coach Grant was saying, “we can win this one as long as we work as a team.”
“If all of us work together, we can definitely win,” Becca whispered to Gina.
Gina nodded excitedly. She was all for working together . . . as long as the Raiders won.
The referee blew the whistle, and the Raiders and Mariners gathered for the kickoff. Lara kicked the ball down the field, and Becca stopped it with her knee.
“Keep on it, Becca!” Coach Grant shouted.
Gina stayed close to Becca, making sure to keep herself open. When one of the Mariners’ players got close to Becca, she passed the ball to Gina.
Gina dribbled the ball down the field and remembered to pass it to Lara. Lara stayed on the ball, bringing it in close to the net. She kicked it past the defenders. Goal!
“That’s the teamwork I’m taking about!” Coach Grant shouted. “Keep it up, ladies!”
The Raiders jumped up and down, but didn’t have long to celebrate. The Mariners took possession of the ball and got to work moving it down the field.
Gina was impressed with their speed. The Tigers would have to stick to the Mariners like glue if they wanted to stop them. Becca made a move to steal the ball away, but the Mariners’ player was too quick. She did a swift backward pass, sending the ball to a teammate behind her with the sole of her cleat.
They’re good, but we need to be better, Gina thought.
Gina tried to get ahead of the Mariners’ player controlling the ball, but the other girl was too quick. Almost before Gina knew what had happened, the girl dodged around her and lobbed the ball into the Raiders’ goal.
The rest of the Mariners cheered as the ball hit the back of the net. The game was now tied 1-1. Both Rachel and the defense looked irritated.
“Shake it off,” Coach Grant called. “Focus, girls!”
“We have the ball now,” Gina said to Becca. “Let’s make sure we keep it.”
Becca grinned. “My plan exactly,” she agreed.
The game was on again, and the Raiders stayed on the ball. They had their passing down, and Gina did her best to stay open. Lara passed the ball to her, and Gina dribbled down the field.
“Pass, Gina!” Coach Grant shouted from the sidelines.
Gina passed the ball up the field to Becca, who took off, weaving in and out of the Mariners. When a Mariner snuck up beside her and made a move for the ball, she passed it back to Gina.
Gina could see the goal up ahead. She wanted to score and put the Raiders in the lead. Suddenly, a Mariners’ defender was at her side. Gina knew it was risky, but she refused to give up the ball. She wanted to make that goal.
“I’m open!” she heard Amy yell.
“Pass the ball!” Coach Grant shouted.
Gina ignored them and dribbled faster. I can do it, she thought stubbornly.
But suddenly a Mariners’ defender swiped the ball away and kicked it up the field in the opposite direction. A Mariners’ midfielder quickly ran after the ball and started dribbling toward the Raiders’ goal. The defense was there, but they weren’t fast enough. Goal!
The first period was over. The Mariners were up by one, and the Raiders were glaring at Gina like it was all her fault.