Soccer Team Loses to Richland, Hernandez Signs With UT Southern

On Monday, May 6th, the combined WCHS/CHS soccer team traveled to Richland for their first post-season tournament game, a district tournament semi-final. Richland was the #1 seed in the tournament, having beaten all the other district teams twice. Richland dominated the game from the beginning, although Wayne County was able to generate some offensive pressure. Eight minutes in, a Richland striker beat an outside defender and put a low shot into the Wayne County goal. Five minutes later Richland got a corner kick; one of their mid-fielders got the ball at the back end of the penalty box. His hard shot grazed the bottom of the crossbar as it went in. Richland scored another goal five minutes before halftime to leave the score 3-0 Richland at the half.

The second half started better for Wayne County, as Richland was only able to score one goal 10 minutes in, and Wayne County again got some offensive pressure near the Richland goal. Richland had a large team and used a lot of fresh substitutes to tire out Wayne County’s small team. The result was that late in the game, Richland scored 3 goals in 5 minutes to run the final score up to 7-0. Goalie Brandon Gray had a busy night in the goal, making 15 saves. This loss ended Wayne County’s season, with Richland going on to play Loretto in the District Final later in the week.

The team will be losing only two seniors, co-captains Janie Hernandez and Jared Dinges. The returning players will be significantly more experienced than they were at the beginning of the season, with most of the team having been sophomores and freshmen this year.

Regular season All-District Team members from Wayne County are Janie Hernandez and Brandon Gray. Jared Dinges was selected as Wayne County’s member of the All-Tournament Team.

On Wednesday, Janie Hernandez signed a scholarship letter of intent to play soccer for UT Southern in Pulaski. She will join Celia Powell, who played there as a freshman this past year.

Others who helped the team out tremendously this season were Shannon Franks, who served multiple roles for the team: game administrator for home games, bus chaperone for away games, and team photographer for all the games - all the pictures in the articles throughout the season are credited to him. He also covered as coach for Coach Harvey when Harvey was sick. Also helping out were the Wayne County school system and the City of Waynesboro, who provided much support. Managers Andrew Brock and Carlee Parrish were a big help; WCHS principal Ryan Franks gave much helpful advice and support; and WCHS Secretary Jennifer Keeton, along with the parents, helped out in so many ways.----Submitted by Coach Harvey Baker