Go for the Goal! Read Free

for the United. “I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe. I think I’ll get plenty of playing time, but I don’t know about starting.”
    “How about Aidan?” his mother asked. “How’s he doing?”
    “About the same as me. I think he’ll play a lot on defense.”
    “At least you guys didn’t get cut,” Mr. Bradshaw said.
    “Did she really cut two kids?” Josh’s mother asked, shaking her head.
    “Yeah, really, Mom. You don’t understand. This is serious soccer.”
    “Mr. Daniel would never have cut anyone.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket and started checking her e-mails.
    “Coach Hodges isn’t a parent,” Josh explained. “She’s a real coach.”
    “You better get out of your sweaty soccerstuff and wash up,” Josh’s father said. “We’re going to eat soon. Two-minute warning.” He looked over at his wife. “Any life-changing messages?” he asked with a smile.
    “There’s an e-mail from Coach Hodges.”
    “What’s it say?” Josh asked. Changing his clothes could wait.
    Josh’s mother looked at the screen. “It looks like you have a tournament this weekend, Saturday and Sunday.”
    “Awesome! Coach said we were going to be in a couple tournaments before the season started.”
    “All right!” his father said, grabbing a fistful of air. “The United are going to take the pitch.”
    “It’s in Johnstown,” Mrs. Bradshaw said.
    “Cool!” Josh exclaimed.
    “Johnstown?” Mr. Bradshaw’s arm fell to his side. “But that’s a hundred miles away.”
    “Actually, it’s 127 miles. I just checked,” she said coolly. “The team will be playing at Johnstown Soccerplex. Coach Hodges booked rooms at a nearby hotel.”
    “Really?”
    Mrs. Bradshaw handed her phone to Mr. Bradshaw.
    “It looks like the tournament will take up the whole weekend,” he said.
    “We’re in a real tournament!” Josh exclaimed. “I can’t wait to text Aidan.”
    Mrs. Bradshaw turned to her husband and smiled. “I’m sure you and the United will have a good time in Johnstown this weekend.”

Chapter 4
    O h, say
does that star-spangled banner yet waaa-aaave … o’er the land of the freeeeeee … and the home of the …
    Happy cheers drowned out the last word of the anthem. Eight teams in shiny uniforms stood proudly on the perfectly lined, sun-drenched field. Josh was standing with the United and couldn’t believe he was part of all this excitement. It was never like this with the Flames.
    The voice on the public address system boomed: “Let the twenty-fourth Annual Johnstown Labor Day Soccer Invitational begin!”
    Some of the teams left with their fans to play on other fields. The United’s first game was there in the main stadium. They were about to face the Phantoms.
    “Come on, United!” Coach Hodges called. “Let’s huddle up.”
    This is going to be great,
Josh thought. He looked around the huddle and once again tried to match the faces with names. “What’s the name of the big guy who plays defense?” Josh whispered to Aidan.
    “Demetrius.”
    Coach Hodges began calling out the names of the starting lineup. “Aidan and Demetrius on the back line. Evan, you’re at center midfield.”
    Josh leaned into the circle, hoping to hear his name.
    “At forwards, Josh and Victor.”
    Josh and Aidan traded a quick nod. Yes! They were starting for the United!
    Now I’m going to show them—Evan, Victor, everybody—that I’m as good as they are,
Josh thought.
    “Hands in,” Coach Hodges ordered. Theteam crowded closer and piled their hands on top of each other. “The Phantoms are good,” Coach warned. “We’re going to have to play hard and play smart. Hustle on three. “One … two … three …”
    “Hustle!” the players shouted together.
    The United hustled but it didn’t help. Their passes were a little off, their offensive attack a step too slow. Evan threaded a pass to Josh as he rushed to the Phantoms goal, but the ball bounced off Josh’s heel and he lost control.