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About Kickers #2: Fake Out
Product Description Introducing a soccer series for new readers Kickers #2 The Kickers soccer league is heating up, and Ben's team, the Bobcats, has two losses, one win, and one tie. Ben knows he can pull his team out of its slump and right into the league play-offs with his new move: the fake-out. He practices the tricky footwork every chance he gets. But every time he tries it on the field, he flubs up, loses the ball, and hurts his team. Meanwhile, everyone else is faking him out. Is Ben out of his league? In his Kickers series, award-winning author Rich Wallace offers action-filled novels about the Bobcats, a fourth-grade coed soccer team, and their bid for the league play-offs. About the Author Rich Wallace is the acclaimed author of many books for young readers, including Wrestling Sturbridge, an ALA-YALSA Best of the Best Book for Young Adults; Shots on Goal, a Booklist Top 10 Sports Book for Youth; Perpetual Check; and the Winning Season series. He coached soccer for several years, beginning when his older son joined a team in kindergarten. Rich Wallace lives in New Hampshire with his wife, author Sandra Neil Wallace. You can visit him on the Web at www.richwallacebooks.com. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Stuck in Concrete Ben ran toward the soccer ball, eager to stop the rush of the Panthers. His team held a narrow 2-1 lead with just a few minutes remaining. "Go, Bobcats!" yelled Ben's teammate Erin, who was on the sideline. "Get that ball." A Panther player reached the ball first, and he sprinted down the field. The kid was taller than Ben and very thin. Ben moved into his path, ready to knock the ball free. From the corner of his eye, Ben could see players from both teams rushing toward the goal area. It was a blur of blue shirts on the Bobcats and green ones on the Panthers. The Panther ran along the sideline, skillfully controlling the ball. But Ben stayed with him, not allowing him to angle across toward the goal. The player stopped suddenly, stepping on the ball and pulling it back toward him. Ben stumbled as he tried to pivot, and the Panther sent a crisp pass to a teammate. Ben's teammate Mark cut off that player's path, and another Bobcat ran over to help out. They had him trapped! He has to pass, Ben thought. Get ready to spring! The player Ben had been covering looped behind his teammate and yelled for the ball. The pass bounced wildly toward him, but he fielded it cleanly and came face to face with Ben. Ben stood squarely this time, keeping himself between the ball and the goal. He won't get around me, Ben thought. The Panther dribbled the ball straight toward Ben, then dodged to his left. Ben sprang in that direction, but suddenly the Panther was past him, taking the ball the other way. In two quick steps, he was in front of the goal, and he fired it hard into the net. The game was tied. Ben couldn't believe it. He'd been faked out, and it had cost the Bobcats a goal. "Let's move!" shouted Mark. "There's still time." But time was running out quickly. The Bobcats moved up the field, but the Panthers were playing tight defense. Mark passed to Ben, and Ben put his head down and charged. A trio of players in green shirts blocked his path, so Ben turned and passed the ball to Jordan. But no one got off another shot. The referee blew his whistle and the game ended. Ben hung his head as he walked off the field. Erin patted his shoulder. "Hey, a tie isn't so bad," she said. "It's better than a loss." "Not much," Ben said. Especially since it had been his fault. He was sure he'd had that player stopped, but he'd been left flat-footed as the tying goal was scored. "That kid made you look like you were stuck in concrete," said Mark. Ben winced. Last week, he would have been ready to fight Mark over a remark like that. They'd been enemies for the first few games before starting to play like teammates. Was Mark s
