Cougars take first steps in soccer state title push

ASHEBORO — Throughout his four years on the Southwestern Randolph High School varsity soccer team, Fernando Hernandez could be counted on for a lot of things. There was his playmaking ability, his strong dribbling skills, his leadership both on and off the field and, of course, putting the ball in the back of the net.

Time and time again, he found a way to put the ball in the back of the net.

After an 11-2 victory over Cummings last Thursday night in the second round of the state 4-A state tournament, Hernandez drew a little closer to rarified air, scoring three times to run his career total to 163.

Entering fourth-round action earlier this week when SWR hosted Four Rivers foe Jordan-Matthews on Monday, Hernandez was one goal behind Eastern Alamance’s Matt Smith’s total of 164 for third place on the NCHSAA career goals list, compiled in 2000-03.

“It feels great,” said Hernandez after helping fuel a second-half explosion in round two that saw SWR tally seven times in an 8:14 span of the second half. “I’m thankful for my teammates, my coaches. My teammates have helped me throughout my four years. 

“It’s a blessing that God has helped me throughout my life and the motivation I have through the brother we lost. It always keeps me up and I always visit him. It’s always great because he always told me to do my best. You be you and you will do it all. I keep faith in that and I am going to do me.”

Hernandez was referring to the death of former teammate Pedro Ortiz, who was shot and killed in May of 2024, an incident that still rings loud on the soccer field.

“We grieve throughout this whole year, every time we have a practice or a game, we always remind each other this is for him,” Hernandez said. “You have to do it for him.”

Hernandez and the Cougars have been doing a lot. Hernandez recorded 25 goals and five assists for 53 points his freshman season; scored 49 times with 26 assists and 124 points as a sophomore; tallied 50 goals with 24 assists for 124 points as a junior; and had 39 goals and 17 assists heading into Monday’s battle with Jordan-Matthews, which SWR had defeated 2-1 and 6-3 during the regular season.

“There is a lot of pressure, but we don’t let it get to us because we have all played together, we have good chemistry,” senior Aaron Avina said. “We are all family and we all get involved.”

Last week’s win was hopefully the first step in a journey that will culminate with the state 4-A title.

“A little bit surprised,” veteran SWR soccer coach Jimmy Walker said after the win over Cummings. “I thought we would come in and dominate the entire game and they put a quick one in on us to make it 2-1, and it looks like a game. 

“But the guys held true and the cream rose to the top. I’m not happy with the two, but happy with the 11. As games start rolling, we are going to have to play faster and faster. We’re going to have to rely not just on ability but teamwork.”

There was plenty of teamwork Thursday as Hernandez scored three goals and Yael Rebollar-Ortiz had two, while Braydon Tyl, Jonathan Lopez-Degollado, Kevin Garcia, Gio Hernandez, Avina and Chris Betancourt also tallied. 

Rebollar-Ortiz had two assists and Homero Aguilar, Garcia, Betancourt, Gio Hernandez and Fernando Hernandez had one each.

“Me and coach (Jeff Tyl) talk all the time,” Walker said. “If we were playing us, what would we do? There is not a whole lot you can do because everyone can control the ball, everyone has a high IQ of the game, which is really important. 

“They just play and have fun. It’s fun to see and fun to watch most of the time. The love of the game and the passion they show on the field spreads to each of the players.”

The Cougars took a 23-1 record into Monday’s game with the Jets, with the next round scheduled for Thursday. SWR will host games as long as they stay in the tournament up until the state championship match.

“We know in the back of our minds as we go, it’s going to get a lot more serious, a lot more competitive,” Walker said. “So we have to meet the challenge.”

Asheboro, Trinity  also reach third  round of playoffs

 After all eight Randolph County soccer teams qualified for the state playoffs, three were still standing heading into this week’s third round.

Besides SW Randolph, which had a bye and a win last week, Trinity also had a bye and a victory. Asheboro, meanwhile, won a pair of games to move on to the second week of play. 

The road, however, got tougher for both AHS and THS. In the 6-A playoffs, No. 10 seed Asheboro (17-6-3 and runners up in the Triad Area Athletic Conference), are on the road today (Nov. 10) to face No. 2 seed Charlotte Catholic (18-4-1).

Trinity (11-8-3 and conference champions of the Central Carolina Conference) also went on the road today to face a No. 2 team. The 7th-seeded Bulldogs traveled to Wallace Rose-Hill (15-4-1).

The winners play in the fourth round on Thursday.