Team

What a Great Team!

Selin, age 13

It was the weekend of District cup and I was 11 years old. District Cup is a soccer tournament in which most CYSA teams participate. The tournament takes place in the fall, and my team won most of our games and qualified on to the finals.

Selin on goal

During the championship game we played hard, scoring in the first half. However, the other team scored too. At the end of the game when the final whistle blew, the score was one to one. With a tie the refs had to decide what to do.

"Hey Strikers!" our coach announced, "I don't know what will happen but we'll probably do a penalty shootout. Selin, you will go in goal."

Right then, I got a lump in my throat. I was scared to death because all the pressure was on me.
"Selin, you will go in goal, and when it's time for the fifth penalty shot, you take it," said the coach. Then he announced our team's first four shooters.

When the refs called up the shooters from both teams, they went to the middle of the field and sat in a circle.

The first goal would be shot on me. I knew what to do. I stood more to one side so they would defiantly shoot to the opposite side. Then the ref blew the whistle. My opponent shot, I slid, and yes, I saved the goal!

All our parents and my team went wild. Then, my teammate shot on the other goalie and scored. The shootout kept on going like this, back and forth; we scored, they scored. When it was the fifth time for our team, I was up. The score was three to four. The pressure was on because if I made it, we could win.

	In the right place, at the right time

I concentrated for a moment, took a breath, and shot! But unfortunately, I missed. When the other team took their turn, they scored on me and the game was tied—four to four. There were two more shots to be taken, one for each team. My teammate shot and she made it. But when the other player came up, I was nervous. The girl got ready and so did I. Everybody held their breath. The ref blew the whistle and the girl missed the goal entirely. We won!

My whole team ran toward me. "Oh no. Stampede!" I thought and I ran away so I wouldn't get run over. Eventually, they caught me. That day is one I'll never forget. I call it "the day that I showed my goalie skills."