Hornet Boys Tame Bobcats to Go 7-0

The Herndon boys varsity soccer team (7-0) headed into Tuesday night’s match-up against Battlefield (3-3-1) undefeated and had outscored its opponents 19-2 through its first six games of the season.

Yet the Hornets had not faced such a high-caliber-team as the No.1 ranked Bobcats and needed the win to prove themselves worthy contenders in the region.

In the end, Battlefield’s ranking seemed meaningless as Herndon and its goalkeeper Jack Clarke dominated the Bobcats and earned its fifth shutout of the season with the upset win, 2-0.

On the opening kick, instead of kicking the typical, dinky back-pass to retain possession, Patrick McLaughlin drove a bomb all the way to the Bobcat keeper. McLaughlin then led his attackers on mission, aggressively pushing up field. The offense stunned Battlefield’s defenders with three quality driven shots in the first three minutes of play, displaying definite force.

A Herndon player was dragged down inside the 18-yard-box five minutes later and the Hornets were awarded a penalty kick with 31:31 left in the half. McLaughlin stepped up and drilled it in the left-side, lower ninety for the goal as Bobcat keeper Jack Eaton bit on McLaughlin’s trademark play.

“I went for my fake, which I do all the time to see which way he hesitates to,” McLaughlin said. “And then I went for the other side.”

One goal proved enough to defeat the Bobcats but Herndon was not satisfied. Bryant Fernandez rifled a one-timer past Eaton from 14-yards-out to finish off last year’s state finalists with just 9:34 remaining in regulation. 

“[Fernandez] has been our playmaker and that is why I made him a captain,” Herndon coach Sean Lanigan said after the match. “He understands the game and has great vision but his touches have been the difference. I put him in an All-Met category.”

The Bobcats did shine at times as during the second half with several quality shots on goal. Yet Clarke, who has given up only one goal through seven games, was a man possessed, snatching up every ball close to the net including a Bobcat penalty kick. Clarke dove to the left early on the penalty kick and made a miraculous save with his left foot as he fell backwards to ensure the shutout.

“The last keeper on our team was very good and went to Louisville,” Clarke said. “I knew I had big shoes to fill and I decided today was my day to shine and I came out and did it.”

Although the Hornet offense performed brilliantly, its defense stole the show. Fernandez, Sam Eaddy and Peter Sullivan rarely allowed the Bobcats past midfield. And when Battlefield looked to knock on Herndon’s door, the back three slammed it shut. Eaddy played with heart and desire, tackling and intercepting at least a dozen balls. But his finesse passing kept the Hornets in rhythm as his give-and-go and through balls kept his offense on the attack.

“This is our first big game of the season and we came out ready to play,” Eaddy said. “We thought we would be good this season but this is a bit of a surprise.”

Fernandez controlled the tempo in the second half for Herndon while playing the opposite side of Eaddy. His aggressive play paid off when he scored but he also cut off several Bobcat possessions to switch the momentum back to Herndon.

“When our defense plays really well I think we are all able to play together and dominate the whole game,” Fernandez said. “Our coach tells us to play on the floor and play aggressive.”

Lanigan said it was a huge game for Herndon but knows there is still a long road ahead.

“This was a big game on our calendar. [Battlefield] had been ranked No. 1 since preseason and I think we dominated from start to finish and for us it is more of a mental boost,” Lanigan said.

“It’s OK to be 7-0 and certainly we are proud of the record," he said. "But we always know it is where you finish, not where you start and we have a big district game coming up on Thursday. We’ll enjoy the win today but we’re going back to business tomorrow.”

Herndon plays at Centreville on April 7 at 7 p.m.