Chapter 8
“New teams today,” Coach Kelly announced. She divided up the girls for a scrimmage. This time, Fiona was on team A with Selma and Aliyah. Paula and Jess were on team B.
“Remember, our first real game is next week,” the coach said. “So today’s practice won’t be drills and exercises. We’ll just play as hard as we can, okay?”
“Yes, Coach,” the girls all replied.
“Good,” the coach said. “You have your teams. Selma, you’re in goal for team A. And Paula, I want you in goal for your team.”
With that, the coach blew her whistle. The two centers faced each other, and Coach Kelly dropped the ball between them. “Team A starts,” Coach Kelly said.
Team A’s center passed the ball to the left, where Aliyah took control of the ball and started running up the field. Fiona ran forward too, hoping for a chance to score a goal the right way.
“Hey, pass it to the hick!” Paula yelled from the goal. “Maybe she wants to take a shot from out of bounds!”
Aliyah sneered at Paula. But Jess, playing defense for team B, laughed.
“Fiona probably wants to take a shot from the cafeteria!” Jess taunted. Paula cracked up laughing.
I’ll show you how I want to shoot, Fiona thought. She cut into the striking circle and waved at Aliyah.
“Here!” she called out.
Aliyah nodded and drew back her stick. It looked like she was going to shoot.
With a loud slap, the ball flew toward Fiona. Fiona watched the flying white ball closely, and then raised her stick. The ball struck her stick at an angle. Then it veered off, headed right at the goal.
Paula looked shocked. The ball had changed direction so quickly, she didn’t have time to recover. In a split second, the ball was in the back of the net.
“Goal, team A,” Coach Kelly called out. She blew her whistle. “Good job, Fiona,” she said. “That was a smart play you just made.”
“Thanks, Coach,” Fiona said. She jogged back to midfield. For the first time since she’d moved to River City, she felt good.
Team B won the scrimmage, but to Fiona, that didn’t matter much. She was more concerned about whether she’d get to stay on the team.
After practice, Coach Kelly told everyone to hit the showers and have a good weekend.
“Fiona,” the coach added quickly. “Stay here and talk to me, please.”
Fiona glanced at Aliyah and Selma, who both shrugged.
“Yes, Coach?” Fiona said nervously. She watched as the rest of the team headed to the locker room.
“Before you get cleaned up and changed, I wanted to have a quick chat,” Coach Kelly said.
“Okay,” Fiona said.
The coach sat on the bench on the sideline and patted the seat next to her. Fiona sat down. “Remember the talk we had on Monday after practice?” the coach asked.
Fiona nodded. “Of course I do,” she said. “I’ve been studying a lot.”
“Have you?” Coach Kelly asked.
“Yes!” Fiona insisted. “Selma and Aliyah have helped me a lot. We watched a bunch of videos and practiced in the park.”
“That was very nice of them,” Coach Kelly said.
“Yes, it was,” Fiona agreed.
“Well,” the coach said, “I have to say, I was impressed with your playing today.”
“Thanks,” Fiona said, smiling.
“I could have called a penalty or two on you,” the coach added quickly. “You obstructed twice.”
“I did?” Fiona said.
The coach nodded. “Everyone does sometimes,” she added. “It’s usually not worth calling. Just wastes time.”
“I read about that,” Fiona said. “The advantage rule.”
“That’s right,” the coach said. “What is the advantage rule?”
Fiona quickly answered, “If the penalty doesn’t cause an advantage for the team, it shouldn’t be called unless it was a dangerous play.”
“Very good,” Coach Kelly said.
Fiona smiled. “So,” she said slowly, “have you decided whether you’re going to cut me or not?”
The coach looked at the ground and sighed. “Well,” she said, “I have decided.”
“And?” Fiona asked.
“And I am not going to cut you,” the coach said.
Fiona jumped up from the bench and shouted, “Yes!” She felt a huge smile growing on her face. “You won’t regret this, Coach,” she said, smiling.
“Not only that,” the coach added, getting up from the bench, “I’d like you to start at right wing for our first game on Tuesday. Think you can do that?”
“Of course I can!” Fiona replied. “Totally!”
The coach laughed. “Great,” Coach Kelly said. “Now go get cleaned up, and have a good weekend.”
Fiona sprinted to the girls’ locker room. She was thrilled. She was more than thrilled. She was so happy that she was still on the team!
“I made it!” she cried as she ran up to Aliyah and Selma.
“We knew you would,” Selma replied.
“We wouldn’t have wasted our time otherwise,” Aliyah joked.
The three girls hugged.
“So are you happy you switched from ice to field?” Aliyah asked.
Fiona nodded. “Sure,” she said. “And I’m just as happy to have two new friends on the team with me.”
