In order to go further, sometimes it’s necessary to take a step back.
Such was the case for Travis Hemphill when he was asked to anchor the defensive line for the Paul VI High School boys soccer team. Hemphill was a proven player in the midfield last year as a sophomore, but the coaching staff decided Hemphill’s size and range might be best utilized in shutting down other teams’ top performers.
At 6-foot-2, Hemphill was certainly up to the task for his junior season.
“I really like it,” Hemphill said. “Our defense needed a boost, so they just moved me back there.”
Hemphill’s athleticism and versatility helped make it an easy decision for first-year Paul VI coach Dominic Pernice. Hemphill also wrestles and plays lacrosse, but soccer is considered his primary sport.
“He showed his vision on the field and his one-on-one defending,” Pernice said. “All of it came into the decision.”
It also helps that he’s literally head and shoulders above his competition when it comes to heading the ball out of danger. “I win a lot of balls in the air,” Hemphill said with a smile.
Hemphill said he’s undecided what area of study he will pursue in college but hopes to continue his soccer career while doing it. Until then, he’s focused on the next two years, where he figures to shoulder even more responsibility. His teammates look up to him.
“He is a gamer. Even in practice, he’s always pushing guys,” Pernice said, adding that Hemphill thrives when the game gets physicality intense, and his teammates feed off that energy, too.
Paul VI has had a topsy-turvy season that’s included some high expectations met with some unfortunate results, despite giving a full effort. A game on Oct. 11 was a prime example as the Eagles played even with Olympic Conference power Cherokee through regulation before the defending Group 4 state champs were awarded a penalty kick near the end of the first overtime. It sealed a frustrating 2-1 loss for Paul VI. The Eagles were 6-5-3 through Oct. 12.
“I think we keep gaining some momentum with the way we’ve been playing the last few games,” Pernice said. “Even up at Pennington, we showed good spurts against a quality program. We showed up and beat a good team in Cherry Hill East that had won four in a row. We played a good quality team in Cherokee, and we were right there.”
Hemphill was quick to shake off the loss to Cherokee as he now looks at the bigger picture of the team’s plan coming to fruition.
“The season has had its ups and downs, but it’s been fun,” Hemphill said. “We just look past it and rebuild as a team.”
The players and coaches at Paul VI both know the most important part of the season is still to come. They will work hard both on and off the field to be ready.
“A lot of the guys got closer as the season went on,” Pernice said. “It’s already a big group with 16 seniors. But we have that pride to play until that last whistle, and that’s what I love about this team.”
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