Saving the Team Read Online Free Page A

team?” I asked. “Then why are you here?”
    â€œMy mom,” said Frida. “I’m in drama club, and she wants me to be more ‘well-rounded,’ whatever that means. Thinks it’ll help me get into college. Heads up!”
    Unexpectedly the short girl with the strawberry-blond hair, the one who had been nervously chewing the endsof her hair, emerged from the pack with the ball, nobody anywhere near her. She dribbled up just past the halfway line when she saw the goal was empty. “Shoot it!” someone screamed.
    The girl, who had been lost in concentration, looked up like she was surprised that she wasn’t all alone on the field. When she saw everyone’s eyes on her, she grew flustered and stopped suddenly. The ball kept rolling as she stood like a statue, frozen in place.
    â€œThat’s Zoe,” Frida said to me, shrugging. “She gets really nervous if anyone is watching her.”
    I felt bad for Zoe, but I saw my chance and charged forward and stole the ball from her. I headed toward the middle of the field. Looking up, I saw Jessi streaking in from the left wing. Applying just the right amount of lob, I floated a pass toward her, right between two defenders.
    â€œJessi!” I yelled out. Since the eighth graders couldn’t agree on who should play striker, Jessi went in and grabbed the spot while they were too busy arguing to notice. She caught the ball in stride and one-timed it right past the other side’s goalie, completing a beautiful goal. Score! That had to have gotten Coach’s attention. I looked up to make sure she had seen, but Coach had an arm around Zoe and was giving her a pep talk instead of watching the game.
    Jessi ran all the way from across the field to toss her arms around me in a huge hug.
    â€œSuch a great pass!” she exclaimed. “Sock sisters for life!”
    I giggled, but the smile was wiped off my face as Mirabelle brushed by us midcelebration, her lip curled up. “Oh, get over it. It’s one goal.”
    Jessi gave Mirabelle a dirty look and then rolled her eyes at me. “I’m sure if she scores, it will be the biggest deal ever. So lame.”
    On the next kickoff I moved to get the ball so I could look for Jessi again. From out of nowhere Mirabelle, who was on the other team, flashed in to take the ball away from me. That was lucky , I thought. Mirabelle then floated a perfect pass of her own to another player, leading to a gorgeous goal. “Nice pass, Mirabelle,” Coach said. Great, now Coach was watching.
    And Mirabelle was good . Fully engaged now, she kept twirling right through the chaotic pile of girls, showing off tricky step-overs, behind-the-back dribbles, and fancy ball juggles.
    â€œSomeone stop her,” I said, gasping for breath after Mirabelle scored.
    Then I saw Coach Flores look at her stopwatch and reach for her whistle. Scrimmage was going to end! I had to do something drastic if I wanted to be remembered for anything at all.
    If I could stop Mirabelle, I would give everyone something to remember. The next time Mirabelle hurtled toward me, I lunged at the ball.
    Anticipating my move, Mirabelle countered with a full 360-degree spin. I lost my balance and sprawled out on the ground, getting a mouthful of grass as she flew past me. I got my head up in time to see Mirabelle finesse the ball into the top left corner of the goal.
    Coach’s whistle blew. “That’s enough, girls,” she said. “You were all wonderful! Remember, no matter how you performed today, at least you all gave it your best. That’s what counts. Tryout results will be posted tomorrow. Nice work, everyone.”
    I dropped my head down, totally humiliated. Coach Flores had to be kidding. I’d totally blown it. As Frida stopped to help me up, Mirabelle pranced by and mimed holding a video camera in her hand.
    â€œYouTubed,” she teased.
    Brushing myself off, I stared after