COLUMBUS — The final few seconds of Monday night’s non-district match against Muddy River were a blur for Heritage Academy freshman Sam Starks.
A late goal tied things up at 2-2 when it looked like the Patriots were going to secure a home victory, but a late Heritage charge saw the ball inside Muddy River’s box.
The ensuing scrum left the ball to Starks, in the right place at the right time to slot home the game-winner in the 80th minute of play.
“I was running down there after they scored,” Starks said. “At first I was thinking, oh crap, that’s going to be it, but our entire team was uplifted, energized. I ran down, knew it was going to be there for me and scored. … It was just a big blur, running, trying to find my teammates.”
That was the deciding goal in what turned into a thrilling 3-2 victory for Heritage (6-5-1), a game where the freshman for the Patriots was center stage.
Starks finished the job at the end, but Buddy Albertson was on the end of the first two goals for the Patriots, taking advantage of two great chances in the box and slotting them behind Muddy River’s keeper.
“They’re having to step into some bigger shoes and fill those shoes, but these kids were eighth graders playing on varsity last season,” head coach Jacob Hunt said. “They’re progressively getting better.”
That youthful energy extended to the backline and goalkeeper, eighth grader Garrison Reedy, who was spectacular in net for the Patriots.
On more than one occasion in Monday’s win, Reedy made an incredible save to stop what looked to be a sure-fire goal for Muddy River. He was a brick wall in net and kept Heritage in the game.
The Pats were in control in the first half, taking a 1-0 lead into the break while having the better of chances and majority of possession.
Things definitely took a turn for chaos in the second half, but despite the chaos, Heritage pulled out a much-needed win in the wildest of ways.
“A win’s a win,” Hunt said. “… Stressful. Just stressful, and then relieved.”
The season is quickly winding down for the Pats as just three district matches remain, three key matches that will very well determine their playoff lives.
Thus far, Heritage is 1-2 in district play, so a strong run down the stretch and some good results could be just what the Pats need to jumpstart a deep playoff run.
“Tonight was a great energizer, great motivator going into Lamar,” Starks said. “It’s a game that we need to win to try and make playoffs. One good step forward. Let’s see if we can keep going.”
An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled Starks’ name. We apologize for and regret the error.
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