Gomez overcomes injury, leads DeSales to state title
Hector Gomez missed the better part of the previous three Division II tournament games because of a left high ankle sprain.
Gomez, who did not start the state championship game on Saturday against Bay Village Bay, entered in the 17th minute, delivered three assists inside of 24 minutes and played 57 minutes overall in leading DeSales to a 4-0 victory at Mapfre Stadium.
“Today (my ankle) felt so much better, and it’s the state final. I have to come out and perform,” Gomez said. “I didn’t start for a reason, but after halftime I told coach I could go another 40 minutes.”
In the 23rd minute, with DeSales (22-0-1) leading 1-0, Gomez corralled a ball just inside Bay’s defensive third of the field, swiveled on his injured ankle, and served a long pass to Nick Fuchs, who slipped around a defender and toetapped the ball past keeper Brett Hull.
“It was probably easier if I just stood back and not run as much and just distribute,” said Gomez, who finished the season with 25 goals and 19 assists. “Since I wasn’t in (early), they weren’t used to manmarking me. When I went in they didn’t think about it and it gave me a lot of space.”
Gomez subbed out with 3:52 left in the first half after assisting on brother Christian Gomez’s goal to give the Stallions a 3-0 lead. He returned in the second half and made an immediate impact, sending a cross to Fuchs, who sent home the dagger in the 45th minute.
“You guys already know about Hector. His ability and skill are unreal. We never rely on him, but he’s a huge help to us,” said Fuchs, who finished with two goals on three shots.
All four goals, including Michael Cockerell’s opening tally from 30 yards, occurred from the middle of the field after attacking early from the right side of the net.
“We have speed out wide so we’re going to attack, and all of a sudden the walls opened up,” coach Domenic Romanelli said. “They were so worried about us beating them down the flanks and we spread them out.”
Gomez remained on the field deep into the second half, nearly scoring twice before bowing out to an ovation with 5:40 left in the game.
The Stallions outscored their opponents 38-0 in postseason play and 102-8 throughout the season. It is their seventh state title and third in four years. Bay finished 17-5-1.
“This is the best team I’ve ever had at DeSales,” Romanelli said.