Soccer: Heritage Shocks Panthers

By Paul Tenorio

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

When Ivan Callejas scored in the 65th minute last Friday night to give Heritage a 1-0 win against No. 10 Potomac Falls, the goal meant more than just an upstart team knocking off its favored rival.

Potomac Falls, which has been a dominant program in Virginia AA soccer for several years, had not lost a regular season game since April 19, 2005, and had lost just three times in the regular season dating from May 1, 2003.

Heritage, led by first-year coach Betsy Munson — who guided Clarke County to state titles in 2005 and 2006 and state runner-up finishes in ’03 and ’04 — had game-changing performances from defender Bryan Mill, who shut down Panthers’ striker Uche Onyeador, Virginia’s reigning Gatorade Player of the Year; and Josh Thiel, who assisted on the game- winning goal.

The Panthers continued to struggle last night, surrendering leads three times in regulation and losing in double overtime to Loudoun County on a goal by Chris Herrarte — his second on the night.

Onyeador, a two-time All-Met, set up the Panthers’ first two goals and gave them a 3-2 lead with just less than 20 minutes remaining on a header, but Loudoun County’s Matt Backenstoss answered with five minutes left to tie at 3 and send the game to overtime.

In the second overtime period, Herrarte collected a ball in the box, dribbled through defenders and slotted home a goal with 3 minutes 24 seconds left to send Potomac Falls to its second straight loss.

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks