Chapter 9

PLAN IN ACTION

It wasn’t always smooth, but the plan worked.

Berk shouted “Goal!” whenever Ryan needed to stay put, and “Now!” when he needed to charge.

After a few games, Berk didn’t need to make the calls anymore.

Ryan was figuring it out on his own.

Ryan kept making spectacular saves.

This time the saves were keeping the Titans ahead instead of covering up Ryan’s own bad decisions. It made playing goalkeeper much easier.

The Titans easily advanced through the league playoffs and the first two rounds of the state tournament.

In the state championship, they again faced the Cosmos, just as they had the year before. This was it, their chance to go to nationals for the first time ever.

The Cosmos were a great team, and they had a powerful offense. That was clear in the first half, when the Cosmos pressured the Titans’ goal.

Berk and the rest of the defense kept the ball away from the goal for most of the half.

Ryan made a few saves, too, and did a great job of playing the position fundamentally.

Early in the second half, Berk intercepted a pass at the top of the penalty area.

Looking ahead, he heard Peter yell “Send it!” as he took off down the sideline. Berk booted the ball high down the field, ahead of Peter.

With his speed, Peter beat the defense and controlled the pass.

He closed on the Cosmos goal and boomed a heavy shot toward the far upper corner.

As the ball hit the webbing of the net, Berk and the rest of the Titans yelled.

They were ahead!

Now they only needed to protect their lead. Against the Cosmos, it wasn’t going to be easy.

Throughout the rest of the half, the Cosmos pressured the goal. Like many teams, they tried to advance the ball to the corners, then cross it into the middle of the field.

Ryan never budged on those plays. He was able to intercept several crossing passes as a result.

In the final minute, the Cosmos made one last rush up the field. They moved the ball into the corner, and a Titans defender rushed to challenge.

Berk moved to cover a player. But with the game on the line, the Cosmos brought more players into the zone.

The Titans defenders couldn’t cover them all.

The Cosmos player kicked the ball toward the front of the goal.

Ryan froze. Berk could tell he was trying to decide if he should run out to try to play it or if he should stay in the goal.

Ryan stayed put. He saw the ball going toward an unguarded player near the penalty-kick dot.

Ryan prepared for the shot. He crouched low and kept his hands ready.

When the ball bounced off the player’s foot, Ryan was ahead of it.

His sprawling dive met the ball perfectly. And, instead of knocking it away, Ryan caught it. He clutched it tightly as time expired.

The Titans were champions again!

Peter and Berk rushed to their keeper. Ryan still held the ball to his chest.

“You did it!” Berk yelled. “You did it!”

Ryan looked him in the eye. “No, we did it,” Ryan said.