Chapter 34
I watched as across the field Jason juked Sean, who was going in for a shove, causing the 24 year old to fall into the ground, skidding on the turf while Jason took a shot on goal. The stand-in goalie blocked the shot while the other team scrambled to get open. Finn escaped his midi defender, earning a pass from the goalie. He turned and ran while Anthony and Tyler both rammed into his side, causing him to stumble while he launched the yellow ball to Malik, an attack player
near me.
If men's high school lacrosse was one thing, this was a whole nother thing. Everyone put their all into tackles that were perfectly executed in a way not many people could do. Every move was so perfectly calculated that it might even look illegal to a plane eyed viewer. It was like pre 2009 nine rules basically.
I loved it.
I don't think a day goes by without three of us ending up on our asses at the bare minimum. It's usually more.
Malik took off towards me and I got on him, using my free arm to push on his shoulder from the side. The weight of my body caused him to trip, the ball going into the air. My own stick snatched the rubber orb in the head of the crosse. I went to run it back up the field when Alex, from the other team, slammed into me chest to chest at the same time as Malik ran into the back of my side, trying to check my stick from around. In slow motion I watched as I fell in between the two men, sandwiching me as Alex's momentum carried his body over me, leading him to land on Malik and crash them both into the ground at the same time as me.
The turf burned my knees and fire shot through my arms where we didn't wear elbow pads. This is why I liked grass. I didn't waste time though, I scooped up the ball that had just fallen to my right before anyone running towards the goal before they could get up.
I was on my feet and charging away from them in seconds. I got passed the first restraining line when Sean came up on my front right and checked my stick at the same time Mason, a defender for the other team, pushed me with the shaft of his stick on my left, sending my body down flat on the turf with an 'uhf'. I could literally feel my body sliding on the fake plastic grass as Sean got the ball and ran over my body.
Paid shot through my arms and legs, or more specifically my right ankle. My cleat had been planted when I was pushed sideways, causing my body to twist away from my foot. Thank God I didn't feel pain in my knee. That could have been a career ending injury, I thought to myself while slowly getting up.
I heard a whistle blow when I picked up my stick. Since the game had stopped, I took the moment to check out my forearms, both raw with specks of blood where the grass had given severe burns. This is what you get for playing on an old football field instead of a nice grass one like the pros.
"Mason! You good?!" Coach shouted from the other side of the field. I gingerly put weight on my right ankle to find that it was only sore.
"I'm good!" I yelled back extra loud so he could understand me through the helmet and mouth guard.
"You sure?" Sean's weary voice asked from behind me. I turned around to face him where he held the ball five feet away. "That was two compilation worthy hits in a row."
I had the humor to laugh about it. I loved those videos with lacrosse players just getting decked. Most of those shots were illegal but those two shots were very legal and very awesome. "I'm fine man. Don't worry about it."
I assured Sean that I was alright again before apologizing and resuming his position, ready to run. The whistle blew and he was off towards the goal that I was supposed to be protecting. My feet pounded on the ground, sending shocks through my legs as my long strides caught up to him at the same time Anthony went to guard Sean.
I heard a whistle blow when I picked up my stick. Since the game had stopped, I took the moment to check out my forearms, both raw with specks of blood where the grass had given severe burns. This is what you get for playing on an old football field instead of a nice grass one like the pros.
Sean juked Anthony with a spin inwards, heading towards the goal. I took my stick and reached around to check him over the shoulder. The metal cracked in the cool indoor air and the ball fell to the ground at the same time Anthony shoved Sean, making him stumble too.
We were so close to the goal that Rob ran out from the crease and scooped the ball so he could chuck it up field. There wasn't anyone for him to pass to, so I took my spot in the goal should he lose the ball and not get back it time. It was a common thing to practice but not many goalies usually left the crease. In last years championship the goalie for Yale actually tackled a player about to make a shot. That's ballsey.
Rob found someone open and launched the ball down the field with perfect aim, landing the yellow rubber ball perfectly into Jason's stick where all he had to do was turn and make a shot in the goal, almost from the side. The ball swished the net as it flew past the stand in goalie signaling my teams point.
Told you we were good.