Starting Strong: Homewood freshman boys remain undefeated
Most attention is paid to high school varsity teams, and for good reason. Those athletes are entering their last year or two of school. They’re bigger. They’re more experienced, and more is on the line for both the boys and girls participating, as well as for the parents, who have just a year or two left before their kids head off to college.
But as soccer’s popularity continues to grow, Homewood High School is seeing one of the largest classes of freshmen players enter this year. And this freshman team has started the season strongly, maintaining a 4-0-2 undefeated record at the halfway mark this spring season.
Monday saw two remarkable comeback efforts at Vestavia Hills in a double header against Vestavia and Northridge. Against a strong Vestavia team, Homewood gave up a goal early in the second half when a back post run allowed a tap in for the opening goal. But Homewood fought hard to remain in the match. Jim Haines put on a combative display at right back while both Mac Wooley and Matthew Henderson impressed in the middle of the pitch in their defensive duties. Alex Weaver, the team’s goal keeper, has recorded three shutouts this season, all the more remarkable since he’s a newcomer to that position.
Then with only 49 seconds remaining in the match, forward Ian Logue slotted a clever ball behind a Vestavia defender for Collins Keith to run on to. When Keith was fouled in the box, the referee awarded a late penalty. Keith calmly stepped up and passed the ensuing penalty into the lower left corner of the goal to draw Homewood even. It marks the second time this season that the Homewood freshmen team has drawn against Vestavia, the previous match ending 2-2.
Their second match Monday night was similarly impressive. While Homewood defeated Northridge in their previous meeting, this time they initially struggled to break down a resilient defense. And after Northridge claimed an early lead and dropped most players into their own half to protect it, Homewood’s challenge was only tougher.
But after trailing 1-0 down, Homewood’s Jan Perez tied the match early in the second half with a thunderous low shot in the left corner early in the second half. For the next 10 minutes, all the action was in front of a Northridge goal and it seemed only a matter of time. Following a barrage of shots by Brooks Brannon, Collins Keith, Sam Janas and others, eventually Ian Logue scored the winner with five minutes left in the match.
Freshman coach Matt Hardman acknowledges the team’s strong club soccer background. “They’ve been playing together for a while,” Hardman said. “It certainly helps with team chemistry. They know each other well. They’re all very solid soccer players, which makes my work easier. It’s lets us focus on team strategy more. Their knowledge of the game is good: you’d think with freshmen that might not be the case, but it definitely is with this group.“
Out of roughly 90 kids who tried out for the three high school soccer teams, more than 30 of them were freshmen. “We had to turn some good kids away, which is a good problem to have,” Hardman says. “It’s all part of the sport becoming more popular.” Hardman, who teaches Physics, Principle of Engineering and Physical Science, played soccer at Hoover High School. This is his first season coaching at Homewood High School.
The team beat Spain Park 4-0 on March 9, making them 5-0-2. The next freshman match is Friday, March 11 at 5 p.m. at Oak Mountain High School.
-Submitted by Todd Keith