My First JV Goal

Drew Brumm, 15

It was a beautiful hot sunny day, a great day to play soccer. I heard an engine behind me, so I looked back to see the other teams' bus driving toward the field. The bus stopped about three yards away from the stands. I tried to see the team through the windows on the bus, but the reflection of the sun blinded me. It took a second or two for me to regain my sight. By the time I did, the other team had moved from the bus to the other side of the field.

I watched them warm up for a while and then started warming up myself. Joe and I passed the soccer ball back and forth to loosen up. We passed the ball for about three minutes and then heard someone yell, "Everybody in!" It was our coach, Steve.

The whole team ran to him. It took a while for everyone to get into a huddle, but when we did, coach started calling out the starting line-up. I crossed my fingers, hoping he would call my name. I had never started before, and what better day to than today.

In our last game, I had made two assists. I think I proved that I could play well enough to start. Steve began calling out the starting lineup: "Joe, center forward, David, left forward, JD right forward." Then I heard it, "Drew, right half."

It was shocking. I was starting! I was so happy, and also afraid. What if I messed up? If I did, the chances for me starting again would be next to none. Despite my fears, I managed to get to my position. I looked across the field to the other team. They were HUGE! They looked like seniors. They were wearing blue jerseys with red shorts. Their jerseys were Umbro, from what I could see of them. I pulled my eyes away from those uniforms and looked at Joe, who was calling the coin toss. I heard him say, "Tails."

Then the referee said, "Tails it is. Warriors, do you want the ball or do you want to pick the side?"

"We'll take the ball," Joe answered.

Joe came back to the midfield line and looked back at Chris. He then looked at the soccer ball that was beside his left foot. The referee blew his whistle, Joe passed the ball with the outside of his foot to David, and David turned the ball around and passed it to Chris. Chris brought the ball up the field past the midpoint, and passed it to me! I was stunned, but knew what to do. Looking up, I saw Joe open, up the line. My foot hit the sphere, and it took off. The ball hit Joe's foot dead on, and he took the ball to the goalie box line and took a shot. The ball soared through the air, and was caught by the other teams' goalie.

The goalie looked around and punted the ball to the thirty-yard line on their side. One of their players got the ball and started running down toward our goal. I ran after him reaching closer with every step, until I was beside him. Then I side-tackled him. The ball went flying the other way and JD got it. He ran down the left side of the field and crossed the ball. The soccer ball flew over everyone's head, and dropped on the far side of the goal. The goalie jumped on top of the ball before Joe could get a shot off.

The goalie then punted the ball, but he messed up. The ball came right to me! I stuck my foot out to stop the ball. It worked. The ball stopped right in front of me. I started dribbling the ball down the field until I got near the corner flag. Once there, I crossed the ball in the air toward the goal. The ball hit the ground, bounced up, and one of the other team's players touched it with his hand.

The referee blew his whistle and yelled, "Hand ball in the box, penalty kick Warriors!" This meant that one person, from our team, would have one shot, one on one, with the goalie.

Everyone on our team started yelling to coach, "Let me take the kick!" Coach then looked up at me and answered, "Drew, take it!" I was elated! The entire team looked at me, and gave me advice. I walked to the penalty kick line and there the referee handed me the ball.

"Place the ball anywhere on the line, kid, and don't kick until I blow my whistle," the referee informed me. I put the ball down on the middle of the line and walked back to the eighteen-yard line.

Turning around, I saw everyone looking at me; I was so nervous. I looked at the goalie, and the referee blew his whistle. Terrified, I started toward the ball; at first running and then stutter stepping, to make sure my left foot was on the left side of the ball when I kicked it with my right. Then impact, the ball soared to the upper left corner of the goal. The goalie jumped, but was too slow. The ball hit the back of the net.

My team yelled, "Great shot, Drew," and the crowd of people in the stands yelled too. I just stood their in amazement.

That game I scored my first J.V. soccer goal, started, and also made two assists! That was the greatest game of my life, and I will always remember it, at least until next season!