He may have a gift-wrapped the first goal, but Hunter Hernandez-Morisson went on to put on a clinic in goalkeeping in one semifinal of the Colonist Cup on a cold, wet Tuesday afternoon at the University of Victoria turf field.
The Glenlyon Norfolk School senior boys goalkeeper and his Gryphons teammates came out on the short end of a 3-0 loss to the favoured St. Michaels University School Blue Jags, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort from Hernandez-Morisson.
Sure, his mistake on a giveaway in the 31st minute, led to Harry Shaw’s first of two goals on the day, but Hernandez-Morisson came back to make at least 10 spectacular stops as he frustrated the Blue Jags until they added two late tallies to end it.
Shaw’s second came off a tremendous through-ball from Dennis Siegrist in which Hernandez-Morisson was helpless. Felix Butterfield then made it 3-0 as his effort from well out glanced in off Hernandez-Morisson's fingertips as he dove to his right to make the save.
“That first one was lucky, unlucky for him, but I’m thankful,” said Shaw, a Grade 11 student who was surprised to find the ball on his foot on a turnover from the keeper. “Near the end we pushed hard. That was a great ball from Dennis on my second one and on the first one, I wasn’t thinking, didn’t have to — I was alone and just finished it.”
Hernandez-Morisson did stonewall Ben Wingert and Peter Koltronis, twice each, in the second half after robbing Max Oberg twice from long range in the first half.
“He did well. I thought he was pretty courageous, pretty aggressive,” SMUS coach and former UVic star midfielder Cam Hundal said of Hernandez-Morisson. “We like to put those balls into dangerous areas and when you have a keeper like that, who can be aggressive, it’s tough.
“He did well and kept them in the game for a lot of it, but that’s what you expect in these types of games,” added Hundal.
The Gryphons appeared to tie it early in the second half, but were called offside. Their best chance of the day, however, came in the first four minutes as Lucas Darke was presented a gift of his own in front, but sailed it well over SMUS keeper Jasper Bosley’s net.
“It was a bit unfortunate,” GNS coach Sonny Pawar said of the first goal against in which Hernandez-Morisson attempted to move the ball forward, but placed it right on Shaw’s boot. “I’m extremely proud and appreciative of our Grade 12s.
“It was their last game and I thought they played their hearts out, not only in this game, but all season long. They’ve left a tremendous legacy for us to be able to follow at GNS and we’re proud and appreciative of that group.
“We would have preferred the opportunity that we had right at the beginning of the game,” Pawar said of the early chance. “That would have been a dream start and possibly put us in the driver’s seat, but it wasn’t meant to be. Hats off to SMUS, they were terrific today. Both teams were, we just couldn’t find the back of the net.”
GNS finished fifth at single-A Islands last week, losing just one game — in a shootout — to Southpointe to finish second in its pool.
The Blue Jags — who finished third at double-A Islands at Campbell River last week — now advance to face the Reynolds Roadrunners in the Colonist Cup championship game on Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. at Centennial Stadium.
Reynolds blanked Oak Bay 4-0 in the other semi on Tuesday at Braefoot.
“The team played really well,” said coach J.J. Atterbury, whose Roadrunners — led by Kiyoshi Croke’s two goals on Tuesday — also defeated Oak Bay 1-0 in the Island triple-A championship last week. “We’re really happy to get through to the Colonist Cup finals. It’s been a while for Reynolds and it helps us prepare for provincials.”
Double-A provincials begin Monday at Burnaby Lake, while the triple-A finals start Wednesday at the same location.
