Settle the Score by Alex Morgan Page B

Griffons were down by one point when Jessi, Mirabelle, and I took the field again: Griffons 3, Gators 4. Coach Darby had taken our defenders aside, and they looked like determined warriors when they joined us on the field.
    I was determined too. Determined to score. And I had my chance about three minutes into the quarter. Kristin, who was playing midfield, kicked a pass toward me that went a little wild and high. I saw two Gators running toward me, figuring it would be a free-for-all once the ball landed.
    But I stopped them at the pass. Before the ball could land, I headed it. I had just been trying to keep the ball away from the Gators, but Mirabelle pounced on it and started dribbling it in the other direction.
    I zoomed down the field, keeping pace with her. One of the Gators swooped in to try to steal the ball, and Mirabelle kicked it to me. I stopped it as it was skidding along the grass, and then I took it to the goal zone.
    â€œGo for it, Devin!” someone yelled, and I took the cue. I sent the ball flying toward the goal.
    It soared just over the goalie’s head. I saw her jump for it. The tips of her fingers skimmed the ball . . . but she couldn’t grab it. It went in!
    â€œGo, Devin!” I heard my cheering section shout, and the score was tied, 4–4.
    It was anybody’s game now, and both teams wanted it. The Gators got control of the ball next, and Zoe took it right past our defenders. She tried to score, but Zarine blocked it.
    Right after that I kicked a pass to Jessi, and the ball went high. Before Jessi could get it, one of the Gators flew in front of her and batted the ball away with her hand! Another Gator recovered it and started dribbling.
    â€œHand ball!” Jessi yelled out, and I knew she was right. But the ref hadn’t blown his whistle—again!
    I looked over at Coach Darby. That hand ball was a foul that would have given Jessi a penalty kick at the Gators goal—and a chance for us to break the tie! But Coach Darby just shook her head at me, and I knew she was thinking it was no use. If the ref hadn’t seen the foul, it was our tough luck.
    Time was running out. This was a championship game, so if we ended in a tie, we would go into overtime. That missed call had made me angry, and I was going to do my best to make sure we didn’t end in a tie.
    The Gators’ defenders were sticking tightly to me, Jessi, and Mirabelle. One of the Gators stole the ball from me (legally, this time), but I was relieved when Katie intercepted the Gators’ pass.
    She kicked it back to me, and I was swarmed by Gators again. Jessi and Mirabelle could not get free of defenders, and I was sure we would lose the ball again.
    That was when I saw Kristin, the midfielder who had kicked me the high pass earlier. She was completely free. I sent the ball zipping across the grass to her, and she was right on top of it. She took it to the goal line, shot, and scored!
    The Griffons fans in the stands went wild. We moved in to continue play, but the ref’s whistle blew before any action happened. We had won!
    All the Griffons swarmed onto the field, jumping up and down and hugging one another. Then we hurried to line up to slap hands with the Gators.
    All the Gators looked sad, but my heart broke when I saw Zoe. Her blue eyes were filled with tears. I squeezed her hand instead of slapping it. I looked behind me at Jessi, and her eyes told me that she felt sorry for Zoe too.
    I was happy and sad at the same time! As soon as the line was finished, Jessi and I ran to Zoe and hugged her.
    â€œYou played such a good game, and you scored!” I told her.
    Tears were flowing down her cheeks now. “Thanks,” she said. “It’s just—I wanted to win so bad. But I guess if I had to lose to anybody, I’d want it to be you guys.”
    â€œAt least we won’t have to play against one another anymore,” Jessi said.
    Zoe nodded. “I know. I think