before he could identify who had said it, the coach showed up and started practice.
“Hi, team,” Coach Bradley greeted them. “Let’s get going. Lou, Jerry, Stookie, and Roy, we’re going to practice shooting on
goal today. Bucky, you and Jason are our goalies.” Jason started to groan, but at a look from the coach he turned it into
a cough. “The rest of you will be doing tackling and dribbling drills.”
Stookie’s heart soared when he heard the coach’s plan. It was as if the coach had decided to help Stookie reach his goal of
making a hat trick.
I bet he saw the paper, too,
Stookie thought.
Greg must be right; coaches must want theirstrikers to make hat tricks. Well I won’t let Coach Bradley down!
For that part of practice, Stookie worked harder than he ever had. Each time he faced Bucky or Jason, he sized them up carefully.
Then he kicked the ball with all his might to a spot he hoped the goalie wouldn’t reach in time. He faked Jason out more times
than not, but Bucky was much quicker. He only made half his kicks good against the ’Cats regular goalie.
Still, when it was time to switch to another drill, Stookie was sure he’d improved. Of course, kicking a goal during a practice
wasn’t quite the same as during a game, but Stookie wasn’t worried. Somehow, he’d make his three goals the next game. He was
sure of it.
Chapter 3
T he game against the Black Hawks started right on schedule the next day. Stookie Norris took his position at center field.
Jerry Dinh lined up on his right. Lou Barnes was on his left.
The Soccer ’Cats hadn’t played the Black Hawks before, but Stookie wasn’t nervous. He had his game plan in mind and was sure
he could make it work.
The ’Cats had won the toss. At the referee’s whistle, Stookie gave the ball a gentle kick to Jerry. Jerry prodded it forward
with his foot,picking up speed as he dribbled downfield. Stookie and Lou kept pace with him, ready to help out if Jerry got in trouble.
Sure enough, a tackier charged Jerry. Jerry saw him coming and booted the ball cleanly toward Stookie.
Now’s my chance!
thought Stookie. He raced forward, dribbling as fast as he could. A halfback came forward to meet him.
“No, you don’t!” Stookie muttered. He sidestepped the Black Hawk, taking the ball with him. The halfback put on the brakes,
but he was too late. Stookie was already five feet farther downfield and moving fast.
Now two fullbacks double-teamed him. Out of the corner of his eye, Stookie saw Lou wave for a pass. Stookie hesitated.
If I can just get past the double-team, the goal will be right in front of me,
he thought.
Then it will be me against the goalie. I’m sure I can beat him!
He decided to go for it. It took some fancyfootwork—and one little shove the ref didn’t see—but he made it around the two fullbacks. Suddenly it was Stookie against
the goalie, just like in practice the day before. With a mighty kick, Stookie walloped the ball to the high right corner.
Swish!
Goal! Stookie jumped in the air, fist pumping. “One down, two to go!” he cheered. He looked around for his teammates, expecting
them to congratulate him. But most of them just yelled hooray and started back to their positions. They didn’t want to be
called for delaying the game.
Only Lou had waited, and he wasn’t cheering. In fact, he looked puzzled.
“Stookie, didn’t you see me waving?” Lou called as they trotted back toward midfield. “I had a clean shot at the goal. You
didn’t.”
Stookie shrugged. He didn’t know why Lou was concerned. He should have remembered that Stookie was going to try for a hat
trick this game. And that meant taking asmany shots on goal as he could. If Lou didn’t remember, well, Stookie wasn’t about to remind him. To do that would risk tipping
off the defense. Lou would just have to figure it out for himself.
Meanwhile, Stookie wasn’t just going to stand around waiting for plays to
“Hi, team,” Coach Bradley greeted them. “Let’s get going. Lou, Jerry, Stookie, and Roy, we’re going to practice shooting on
goal today. Bucky, you and Jason are our goalies.” Jason started to groan, but at a look from the coach he turned it into
a cough. “The rest of you will be doing tackling and dribbling drills.”
Stookie’s heart soared when he heard the coach’s plan. It was as if the coach had decided to help Stookie reach his goal of
making a hat trick.
I bet he saw the paper, too,
Stookie thought.
Greg must be right; coaches must want theirstrikers to make hat tricks. Well I won’t let Coach Bradley down!
For that part of practice, Stookie worked harder than he ever had. Each time he faced Bucky or Jason, he sized them up carefully.
Then he kicked the ball with all his might to a spot he hoped the goalie wouldn’t reach in time. He faked Jason out more times
than not, but Bucky was much quicker. He only made half his kicks good against the ’Cats regular goalie.
Still, when it was time to switch to another drill, Stookie was sure he’d improved. Of course, kicking a goal during a practice
wasn’t quite the same as during a game, but Stookie wasn’t worried. Somehow, he’d make his three goals the next game. He was
sure of it.
Chapter 3
T he game against the Black Hawks started right on schedule the next day. Stookie Norris took his position at center field.
Jerry Dinh lined up on his right. Lou Barnes was on his left.
The Soccer ’Cats hadn’t played the Black Hawks before, but Stookie wasn’t nervous. He had his game plan in mind and was sure
he could make it work.
The ’Cats had won the toss. At the referee’s whistle, Stookie gave the ball a gentle kick to Jerry. Jerry prodded it forward
with his foot,picking up speed as he dribbled downfield. Stookie and Lou kept pace with him, ready to help out if Jerry got in trouble.
Sure enough, a tackier charged Jerry. Jerry saw him coming and booted the ball cleanly toward Stookie.
Now’s my chance!
thought Stookie. He raced forward, dribbling as fast as he could. A halfback came forward to meet him.
“No, you don’t!” Stookie muttered. He sidestepped the Black Hawk, taking the ball with him. The halfback put on the brakes,
but he was too late. Stookie was already five feet farther downfield and moving fast.
Now two fullbacks double-teamed him. Out of the corner of his eye, Stookie saw Lou wave for a pass. Stookie hesitated.
If I can just get past the double-team, the goal will be right in front of me,
he thought.
Then it will be me against the goalie. I’m sure I can beat him!
He decided to go for it. It took some fancyfootwork—and one little shove the ref didn’t see—but he made it around the two fullbacks. Suddenly it was Stookie against
the goalie, just like in practice the day before. With a mighty kick, Stookie walloped the ball to the high right corner.
Swish!
Goal! Stookie jumped in the air, fist pumping. “One down, two to go!” he cheered. He looked around for his teammates, expecting
them to congratulate him. But most of them just yelled hooray and started back to their positions. They didn’t want to be
called for delaying the game.
Only Lou had waited, and he wasn’t cheering. In fact, he looked puzzled.
“Stookie, didn’t you see me waving?” Lou called as they trotted back toward midfield. “I had a clean shot at the goal. You
didn’t.”
Stookie shrugged. He didn’t know why Lou was concerned. He should have remembered that Stookie was going to try for a hat
trick this game. And that meant taking asmany shots on goal as he could. If Lou didn’t remember, well, Stookie wasn’t about to remind him. To do that would risk tipping
off the defense. Lou would just have to figure it out for himself.
Meanwhile, Stookie wasn’t just going to stand around waiting for plays to
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