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Playing goalie in a pinch, Eric Hernandez excels in feisty loss to Battlefield
In World War II, they used to ask for volunteers to lead reconnaissance patrols behind enemy lines.
Fauquier soccer player Eric Hernandez would be the kind of guy to raise his hand for such dangerous duty.
On Friday night, Hernandez performed the soccer equivalent, offering to play goalie for the first time in his varsity career, with the opponent being powerful Battlefield.
Hernandez was sensational, allowing just two goals, before shifting to midfield, where he excelled in creating several quality scoring chances before eventually being ejected with 54 seconds left in a 2-1 loss to the visiting Bobcats.
Despite playing an admirable game without starting goalie Jose Guzman (away at a funeral), the loss stung.
“I felt we outplayed Battlefield and should have won the game, said Fauquier central defender Chase Davenport. "We let two unlucky goals in.”
FHS coach Victor Hernandez agreed.
“I told the boys we lost the game, but we came out of that game as winners.” said Hernandez, whose team fell to 1-2.
As always, a close soccer game is a matter of perspective, and Battlefield coach Ott Pimsaen gave the host Falcons credit for taking it to his favored team.
But he was also upset with his undefeated Bobcats, who he thought lacked focus and were perhaps riding high on their press clippings.
Now 4-0, Battlefield is viewed as the Cedar Run District favorite and features a dynamic attacking unit led by forwards Franco Buzzalino and Adam Clements.
“Our guys didn’t play the way they should have. We expect them to play a certain way. We’re ranked in the top five in the Northern Virginia rankings, and I think it got to their heads,” said Battlefield’s second year coach.
“They figured this team was not ranked, so they could take it easy and not do things the things they are taught to do.”
Pimsaen criticized his defense and his starting goalkeeper for Fauquier’s goal.
Less than six minutes into the game, Fauquier took a 1-0 lead on sheer hustle.
Matt Murphy sprinted to catch a loose ball deep in Battlefield territory and sent a crossing pass into the box, where Ray Figgins nodded a soft header over Bobcat keeper Jack Eaton into the net.
It wasn’t the most majestic goal ever, but it was a moment of exuberance that set the tone for Fauquier. "That was a sweet goal," said Falcon coach Hernandez.
But Pimsaen didn’t like it. “It was poor marking in the back and a lack of concentration by our back line and goalkeeper,” said Pimsaen, who removed Eaton late in the first half in favor of normal No. 1 keeper Alan Hinton.
As a driving rain intensified, Battlefield soon seized control of the midfield, and began attacking relentlessly. But a resistant Falcon defense anchored by Fauquier’s rock steady central defender Davenport was up to the task.
Hernandez also was a highlight film, as he blocked a hard shot from Buzzalino in the 13th minute and again from Buzzalino in the 18th...See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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