DEFLECT

[verb] - to (cause to) change directionThe crowd cheered as the goalkeeper deflected the shot. [T]One of our players stuck his foot out and deflected the ball away (from the goal). [T]The ball deflected off my hockey stick, straight into the goal. [usually + off]The Prime Minister deflected mounting criticism today by announcing tax cuts. [T]The child's bad behaviour is often no more than a way of trying to deflect his mother's attention away from his sister. [T]Nothing is going to deflect (= prevent) me from achieving my ambitions. [T]