They knew it would be a heated boys soccer rivalry — the first match between Hayfield and first-year program South County — and Hawks coach Daniel Drickey and Stallions coach Erich Gunderman got everything they expected.
But despite the fiery, intense nature of the March 27 game, which Hayfield won, 2-0, even though two Hawks were red carded by the referee, Gunderman and Drickey remain close friends and teammates themselves, as they both play for Team America, a men’s team in the Washington International Soccer League, along with Mount Vernon coach Bobby Garza and his brother Tony — Gunderman’s assistant.
“You definitely want to beat the other person, there’s no doubt about that. But you both want to make sure your teams get through the match without getting anybody hurt,” said Gunderman of the friendly rivalries with his Route 1 corridor counterparts. “We’ll moan and groan back and forth with each other, but when the game’s done, the game’s done.”
Concorde District rival coaches Martin Brillantine (Fairfax), Ryan Cox (Robinson) and Tom Torres (Westfield), also play together for Bier FC in the Washington Premier League.
“We’re all buddies, but now we’re all coaching against one another,” said Brillantine, who’s team moved from the Liberty District this season while Robinson moved from the Patriot.
Neither men’s team has had a stellar spring — the two squads are a combined 1-4-1 — but both can boast an Examiner coach of the year on the roster: Gunderman (2004) and Torres (2005).
“There’s only so much coaching you can do,” said Gunderman, “before you want to get out there and kick the ball around and get into that competitive environment.”
