AHS, SWR open playoffs with romps

ASHEBORO — When an incredibly talented player and his entire team draw inspiration from a tragic event, magic can happen. Southwestern Randolph High School junior Fernando Hernandez is a special soccer player, the Cougars are a special group, and united by the heartbreaking death of a teammate, SWR has had an inspirational season.

After an 8-0 victory over East Rutherford in the first round of the state 2-A playoffs Saturday, the Cougars were looking for plenty more.

“This season is dedicated to him and we have a reason to do what we're doing and we’re going to try our best to get there,” Hernandez said of honoring Pedro Ortiz, who was killed in mid-May. 

“We put eight (Ortiz’s jersey number) on the scoreboard again today. I think Pedro’s up there giving us a sign he’s still with us and supporting us.”

Heading into Tuesday’s second-round game against Trinity, the Cougars were 21-2. In six of the Cougars’ wins, they have scored exactly eight goals.

“We have something else going on this season,” head coach Jimmy Walker said. “It’s special knowing what it’s about.”

With the junior Hernandez scoring four goals and Aaron Avina adding two more, the Cougars dominated the Cavaliers in the opening round. Hernandez has been dominating a lot of foes as the junior has tallied 41 goals and 21 assists to give him 115 goals and 52 assists in his prep career.

“Since the day he stepped on the field the first day of tryouts, he's been a leader and all the kids look up to him,” Walker said. “He demands a lot of the people around him. He has not only stepped himself up, but all the people around him. He stepped up my coaching. 

“One day, his number will be retired and not just because of the stats, what he does off the field is incredible. That’s why all the guys look up to him.”

Blessed with speed and hard-to-believe foot skills, Hernandez said he owes a great deal of thanks to his teammates.

“I’m so thankful for my teammates,” he said. “They have helped me the whole time. I have gotten where I am because of them.”

His humbleness is another quality that makes Hernandez stand out.   

“They don’t come around very often and when they do, you want to ride that train as long as possible,” Walker said. “The spirit and passion this whole team has for the game. This has been a good ride so far.”

East Rutherford fell to 7-15-1 as the Cougars moved on to face fellow PAC member Trinity on Tuesday for the third time this season. SWR won the first two games 6-2 and 5-2.

Asheboro 9, West Charlotte 0

At Asheboro High School, head coach Nick Arroyo saw his top-ranked team in the West Region roll to a 9-0 victory over West Charlotte in the opening round of the state 3-A tournament.

Cam Letterlough had five goals and an assist to become the top goal scorer in the nation heading into Tuesday night’s second-round action.

“It was a good win, the celebration is over and it’s time to move on,” Arroyo said he told his team after the easy first-round win. “Get some rest and be ready Monday.”

Unlike SWR, which elected not to play during the extra week allotted by the NCHSAA because of Hurricane Helena, AHS did play and the 5-1 win over Mooresville pushed AHS into the top seed in the region. AC Reynolds had overtaken AHS, who trailed by just a few tenths of a point for the top seed heading into that game last week. The win allowed the Blue Comets to jump Reynolds.

Then the Blue Comets jumped on West Charlotte by scoring nine times in the first half to end the game. The win lifted AHS to 23-2 heading into Tuesday’s second-round home playoff game, while 32nd-seeded West Charlotte ended 2-22-1.

“I literally told the boys I don’t care who you are playing, this is the playoffs,” Arroyo said after the Blue Comets recorded their 19th straight win. “We have 19 seniors with six of those starting. I told the seniors you have to treat this like this is your last game.”

Letterlough scored three goals in the first 19 minutes of the game and two more in a 2:34 span late in the half. His 69 goals heading into action this week was one more than Jake Van Lierop of Northwestern Lehigh in Pennsylvania.

“I was waiting for that, it’s amazing,” said Letterlough, who because of injury and his participation with the Elite Club National League in Greensboro, was playing in his first postseason for the Blue Comets.

Diego Bustamante had two goals and two assists and Diego Morales added a pair of goals for AHS.

The Blue Comets moved on to the second round Tuesday to face Northwest Cabarrus (12-6-5).