Seniors go out owning the big one

By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBUS -- In a scene that could have been played out at any athletic field in the world, the lives of four mothers crossed at a soccer field in Poland in 1990 as they discussed their 6-year old sons.
Their conversation likely centered on their boys, their budding athletic careers and this sport of soccer.
Easily, the boys could have pursued other interests as they matured but for some reason they continued to play the game together.
The boys -- Pat Walker, Mark Seddon, Alex Simon and Mike Hernan -- walked off Crew Stadium Saturday with state championship medals around their necks.
The four seniors stuck with the game and formed the nucleus of a Cardinal Mooney team that beat Columbus DeSales 2-1 in overtime in the Division II championship game.
Pep talk
Walker, who scored both goals said it was a pep talk from Hernan that helped him find the focus to kick in the winner in overtime.
"We've been playing our whole lives together," said Walker of his teammates.
"Hernan came up to me before the overtime and said to me 'Pat how many years have we been playing together? Is it worth it? Do you want to work this last little bit to get this goal?' "
Walker scored 47 times over the last two seasons and his boot late in the first OT session made Mooney a winner.
"We've had so many practices, I can't even count how many games," Hernan said. "We worked so hard for this. This is the best way I could ever end this."
Hernan began the season with a broken arm and was helped off the field with a badly twisted ankle against the Stallions. But his inspired play at stopper injured many DeSales attacks.
The four played together on teams in the Poland recreation league, on traveling squads, indoor ball, club teams, in the parochial league and in high school.
Soccer symbolically became a way a life and their close-knit friendship likely helped them win.
"It's just like family, playing with brothers out there," said Seddon who finished the season with 12 goals and four assists.
Asked how many soccer practice sessions the four attended together, Seddon replied with a satisfied grin: "Countless."
Advantage
Simon, a second-team all-state pick, thought the Cardinals had an advantage because the players are so close.
"We're such good friends, we find it easy to play well together. And, we love playing together," said Simon who scored eight times and had 12 assists.
Other seniors on the team are Kenny Huber, Tim Riegrut, Josh Werning, Chris Conese and Jake Sullivan.
sullivan@vindy.com