Menchville’s Fitzer has a knack for clutch goals
HAMPTON — When Menchville needs a goal, coach Brian Lybert knows which name to call.
Matt Fitzer has had the knack for clutch scoring since his freshman year when the “scrawny and goofy” kid came through.
“We were in the state quarterfinals down a goal and I said, ‘We need a goal,’ “Lybert said, “and he steps up and buries it. He did the same thing in the region final. He’s the kind of guy that when the pressure’s on, he wants it at his feet and he’s gonna live and die with whatever happens.”
Fitzer was again called upon again in Tuesday’s game against Kecoughtan and the senior forward answered.
He scored the tying penalty kick in the second half as No. 2 Menchville (7-0-1) tied No. 6 Kecoughtan 1-1 in a battle of Peninsula District unbeatens.
“I’ve been practicing shooting (right) for the past couple months,” Fitzer said of his penalty kick’s direction. “I already knew that was where I was gonna go . ... It was a good kick.”
And a welcome one, too. Fitzer is returning from an ankle injury he suffered a week before the season.
“It has been hard and annoying, a little naggy, but it is what it is,” Fitzer said. “It’s unfortunate, but I’m just trying to the best I can. I also had COVID before the
season started . ... It’s been a little unlucky.”
Fitzer played stopper, similar to a defensive midfielder, his freshman year, before switching to forward and scoring a team-high 25 goals as a sophomore.
The canceled junior season derailed his momentum, but Fitzer hopes to lead the Monarchs on a deep postseason run before playing college ball.
He hasn’t yet made his college decision.
“He likes to win and I think the guys thrive off that,” Lybert said. “If his team’s losing, you’ll hear it and they respond well to it.”
Menchville surely needed Fitzer’s motivation against
Kecoughtan (8-0-1). The Warriors were the better team early and were rewarded in the final minute of the first half on Trevor Moyer’s header off a corner kick.
Kecoughtan was dominating the wings and Menchville couldn’t get off its heels to push an attack.
“We made some tactical adjustments,” Lybert said. “I tweaked some things and thought it made a difference. The second half was a complete 180.”
The Monarchs pressed Kecoughtan into consecutive turnovers, including one that led to the foul in the 18-yard box that set up Fitzer’s penalty kick. Neither team could find the winner in overtime.
“We knew it was gonna be a battle,” Lybert said. “We’ve played seven games and we won five of
them by 10 goals, so both teams finally get a real opponent ... so it’s gonna be hard-fought. That’s what we live for is the competitive ones.”
Competitive may be an understatement. Over five yellow cards were handed out, two fans were ejected and plenty of trash talk flew between the sides.
“It was a crazy atmosphere,” Fitzer said. “It gets rowdy at these high school games, but it’s no problem.”
Nothing Fitzer couldn’t handle in that 60th minute.
“That’s just the kind of player he is,” Lybert said. “He’s just the kind of guy you love to coach who’s gonna go out there and get it done for the team.”