With the memory of a penalty-kick loss in the National District final just four days before still fresh in his mind, Patriots coach Steve Totten decided to make a radical decision in Tuesday’s Northern Region first round match at Wakefield.
With National District second seed Yorktown and Concorde District No. 3 Fairfax tied, 2-2, and the Patriots entering their second shootout in as many games, Totten took his best field player, district player of the year Trip Henning, and instead of having him take a penalty kick, he put him into the net to stop them.
The move paid off, as Henning made two saves, including the game-clinching parry on Fairfax defender Aneesh Saxena to give the Patriots a 4-3, shootout win.
“Trip always hops in and messes around in practice,” said Totten. “He guesses right, I think he guessed right on four tonight, and the one he didn’t get the other guy missed. Trip gets a great read on the ball, and I thought he gave us the best chance to win.”
With four minutes remaining in regulation and Yorktown behind, 2-1, Henning also gave the Patriots (9-3-5) the opportunity just to earn a shootout. Fairfax goalkeeper John Roman saved Henning’s blistering shot from outside the box, but Yorktown forward Kurt Freemeyer finished the rebound from a tight angle.
“I had to make up for Friday night’s game,” said Henning.
Yorktown opened the scoring nine minutes into the game when forward Mike Jennings punched in a free kick from Alex Herrera. But the Rebels (7-8-1) countered in the 27th minute when Lonnie Carter scored on a loose ball in front of the Yorktown net.
From that point, Fairfax looked to be in control, forcing Yorktown’s starting goalkeeper, Scott Gamble, to make nearly a dozen saves.
The Rebels took a 2-1 lead in the 78th minute when senior forward Mark Higdon scored off a redirected corner kick. But the Rebels suffered a setback when Lee Zielger was red-carded with just under four minutes to play.
“It’s an ongoing problem with trying to smother the game, and it catches up with us in games like this,” said Fairfax coach Martin Brillantine.
The Patriots scored on four of their six attempts in the shootout.
“We doubted ourselves a lot after Washington-Lee, and during the year we were about 50 percent from the field,” said Totten. “I just thought besides putting [Henning] in for being good, it would lighten up the mood, and it got the guys laughing, and they took their shots with confidence.”
AT A GLANCE
» The Patriots will play the Langley/Lee winner in the region quarterfinals on Thursday.
» Freshman forward Antonio Soto had an outstanding game for Fairfax, assisting on both Rebels goals.
» Fairfax coach Martin Brillantine said after Tuesday’s game he is stepping down as boys soccer coach at Fairfax after four years. He said his assistant, Kyle Morrisey, will take over the team next season.
