Franklin County's Kevin Hernandez pursues the ball across the field during a game Friday at Tullahoma High School. Hernandez scored four goals in the 5-0 win.
Franklin County's Kevin Hernandez pursues the ball across the field during a game Friday at Tullahoma High School. Hernandez scored four goals in the 5-0 win.
The Franklin County High School boys soccer team beat the Tullahoma Wildcats 5-0 on the road Friday for the team’s fourth win of the season.
Franklin County jumped ahead on the scoreboard early in the game and pulled away late in the second half to clinch a district victory for the day.
Franklin County head soccer coach Kent Bean said he was proud of the effort his team put forth in the rivalry contest.
“It’s always a game that means a lot to them. It means a lot to me. I always love beating Tullahoma, and it’s always a good rivalry game,” he said before referring to a need to maintain intensity and pressure throughout the game. “Up a goal or down a goal, whatever it is, you can’t slow down, and I think we did a pretty good job of that and did what we talked about before the game.”
Franklin County took the lead about 90 seconds after the opening kickoff as Kevin Hernandez broke through the opposing defense and fired a shot into the net.
The lead would be doubled with about 19 minutes remaining in the first half as a free kick from Josiah Cruz at midfield was redirected into the net by a Cason Eslick header to make it a 2-0 game. It was the fourth goal of the season for Eslick.
Franklin County led 2-0 at halftime.
The Wildcats appeared to score with about 23 minutes remaining in the contest, but a foul was called against Tullahoma during the play to nullify the goal.
Franklin County added to the lead just two minutes later as Hernandez took the ball all the way down the field and got a shot past the opposing goalkeeper to push the lead up to 3-0.
Hernandez completed a hat trick with about 10 minutes to go in the game as he scored after receiving a cross from Kener Perez to put Tullahoma in a 4-0 hole late.
Hernandez went right back in the attack 20 seconds later, drawing a foul in the goal box for a penalty kick, and he nailed the ensuing attempt for his fourth goal of the day and his 15th of the season as the deficit grew to 5-0.
The Wildcats weren’t able to find the net in the time remaining as Franklin County goalkeeper Mason Woodall recorded his first shutout of the season.
With the win, Franklin County improved to 4-2-1 on the season and 2-0 in district play.
The boys soccer team will next play Tuesday at Giles County High School. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
