another shot near the top of the penalty area.
Seeing his teammate, Evan pivoted and laid a pass off for Josh. This time Josh did not miss. He hit the ball squarely and drilled a hard shot just inside the far post and past the diving Storm goalkeeper.
Goal! It was all tied, 1–1.
The United crowded around Josh to celebrate. But Josh and Evan wouldn’t let them celebrate too much.
“We need another one.”
“We still have time.”
“Don’t let up.”
The United went right back on the attack.
Josh settled a pass on the wing. Seeing an opening to the goal, he rushed forward,attacking the net. The Storm defenders and keeper reacted quickly to cut him off, so Josh chipped a high, soft pass to an open space near the Storm goal.
Evan sprinted to the ball. After letting it take a single bounce, he volleyed it into the back of the net.
Goal! The United were ahead, 2–1.
This time the United celebrated in a wild, roiling circle. When the game ended a few minutes later, they celebrated all over again with chest bumps, high fives, and loud cheers.
The United had beaten the Storm, 2–1, for their first win of the season.
The players didn’t want to leave the pitch after the victory. Even when they finally walked off together, they were still talking about the win.
“What a comeback!”
“Bring on Manchester United.”
“We got a one-game winning streak!” Evan shouted as he pumped a finger to the sky.
“And a two-game undefeated streak!” Aidan added.
Josh elbowed Evan. “Watch out guys,” he said. “Evan’s gonna want to score all the time now.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Evan said.
“Why not?” Josh asked. “After all, you got the game winner, didn’t you?”
Evan smiled. “I was just helping the U.S.S.
Inchworm
get to shore.”
Chapter 13
W hat’s for lunch?” Josh asked as he pushed his tray along the cafeteria
“Chicken nuggets and tater tots,” Aidan answered.
Josh shrugged. “I guess that’s better than sloppy joes.” When he reached the end of the line, he looked around the cafeteria. “There’s Chris and Nick. Let’s go sit with them again.”
Josh and Aidan made their way to a table in the far corner. “Hey, guys,” Josh said. “Got any room for a couple of old teammates?”
“Sure.”
Josh and Aidan sat down and started eating their lunch.
“I know why you guys are so cheery,” Chris said. “You finally won one.”
“Are you checking our website
every
week?” Aidan asked.
“Haven’t missed a week yet,” Chris replied.
This time Josh was glad the United had a website.
Chris elbowed Josh. “I saw you got another goal too. How many goals you got this year?”
“Four. Four in nine games,” Josh said. “How’d the Flames do on Saturday?”
“We won again, 4–1,” Nick said.
“We played great,” Chris said. “We had the ball in their zone the whole game.”
The boys ate in silence for a while. One of Josh’s chicken nuggets slipped out of his hand onto the floor.
Chris started counting. “One second … two seconds …”
“No way I’m picking that up off the floor and eating it,” Josh said.
“Come on,” Chris insisted. “Five-second rule.”
“Forget it.”
Chris leaned back from the table. “So what’s the big difference? Why did you guys finally win one?”
“I don’t know,” Aidan said. “We just played more like a team. You know, passing it around. Especially in the second half.” He looked at Josh and added, “Then there was Josh’s great idea.”
“What was that?”
Josh popped a tater tot into his mouth. “I suggested to Coach Hodges a couple weeks ago that we do some kind of team-building exercise every practice.”
“Like what?” Nick asked.
“One was with a blanket. We all stood on it and had to move it about 20 feet,” Josh said.
“What’s so hard about that? Chris asked.
“We were all standing on the blanket!” Aidan pointed out. “We weren’t allowed to get off.”
“Did you
Seeing his teammate, Evan pivoted and laid a pass off for Josh. This time Josh did not miss. He hit the ball squarely and drilled a hard shot just inside the far post and past the diving Storm goalkeeper.
Goal! It was all tied, 1–1.
The United crowded around Josh to celebrate. But Josh and Evan wouldn’t let them celebrate too much.
“We need another one.”
“We still have time.”
“Don’t let up.”
The United went right back on the attack.
Josh settled a pass on the wing. Seeing an opening to the goal, he rushed forward,attacking the net. The Storm defenders and keeper reacted quickly to cut him off, so Josh chipped a high, soft pass to an open space near the Storm goal.
Evan sprinted to the ball. After letting it take a single bounce, he volleyed it into the back of the net.
Goal! The United were ahead, 2–1.
This time the United celebrated in a wild, roiling circle. When the game ended a few minutes later, they celebrated all over again with chest bumps, high fives, and loud cheers.
The United had beaten the Storm, 2–1, for their first win of the season.
The players didn’t want to leave the pitch after the victory. Even when they finally walked off together, they were still talking about the win.
“What a comeback!”
“Bring on Manchester United.”
“We got a one-game winning streak!” Evan shouted as he pumped a finger to the sky.
“And a two-game undefeated streak!” Aidan added.
Josh elbowed Evan. “Watch out guys,” he said. “Evan’s gonna want to score all the time now.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Evan said.
“Why not?” Josh asked. “After all, you got the game winner, didn’t you?”
Evan smiled. “I was just helping the U.S.S.
Inchworm
get to shore.”
Chapter 13
W hat’s for lunch?” Josh asked as he pushed his tray along the cafeteria
“Chicken nuggets and tater tots,” Aidan answered.
Josh shrugged. “I guess that’s better than sloppy joes.” When he reached the end of the line, he looked around the cafeteria. “There’s Chris and Nick. Let’s go sit with them again.”
Josh and Aidan made their way to a table in the far corner. “Hey, guys,” Josh said. “Got any room for a couple of old teammates?”
“Sure.”
Josh and Aidan sat down and started eating their lunch.
“I know why you guys are so cheery,” Chris said. “You finally won one.”
“Are you checking our website
every
week?” Aidan asked.
“Haven’t missed a week yet,” Chris replied.
This time Josh was glad the United had a website.
Chris elbowed Josh. “I saw you got another goal too. How many goals you got this year?”
“Four. Four in nine games,” Josh said. “How’d the Flames do on Saturday?”
“We won again, 4–1,” Nick said.
“We played great,” Chris said. “We had the ball in their zone the whole game.”
The boys ate in silence for a while. One of Josh’s chicken nuggets slipped out of his hand onto the floor.
Chris started counting. “One second … two seconds …”
“No way I’m picking that up off the floor and eating it,” Josh said.
“Come on,” Chris insisted. “Five-second rule.”
“Forget it.”
Chris leaned back from the table. “So what’s the big difference? Why did you guys finally win one?”
“I don’t know,” Aidan said. “We just played more like a team. You know, passing it around. Especially in the second half.” He looked at Josh and added, “Then there was Josh’s great idea.”
“What was that?”
Josh popped a tater tot into his mouth. “I suggested to Coach Hodges a couple weeks ago that we do some kind of team-building exercise every practice.”
“Like what?” Nick asked.
“One was with a blanket. We all stood on it and had to move it about 20 feet,” Josh said.
“What’s so hard about that? Chris asked.
“We were all standing on the blanket!” Aidan pointed out. “We weren’t allowed to get off.”
“Did you
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