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5 Questions With Bobby Huertas

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 16, 2008

Freedom senior forward Bobby Huertas had four goals last week, including a hat trick against Durant. So he knows all about scoring goals. But does it make a difference once the Patriots are in a shootout?

Do you have a strategy individually going into a shootout?

I know where I'm going to kick it before I shoot, so I'm not thinking about it when I step up. That way, I'm not confused and my head isn't all clogged when I'm about to shoot.

How do you choose which side you're going to kick it to?

I normally kick toward one side. I'm most comfortable with that.

Does the team have a strategy going into a shootout?

Not really. We just try to put away as many shots as we can. The rest is up to our goalkeeper to stop as many as he can.

How glad are you that you're not the goalkeeper in that situation?

I'm real glad. The keeper is basically playing a guessing game. He has to pick one corner and go that way. As a shooter, you know where you're going to go. But there's a lot more riding on you as a keeper.

Once you get to the playoffs, matches can be decided by shootouts. Do you think that's fair?

Personally, I think it's fair. If it's tied after a full 80 minutes and two more 15- or 20-minute overtime periods, that's two hours of soccer. If you're tired after that, I'm pretty sure you'll be tired after a lot more of them overtimes. So it comes down to who can come up clutch in the shootout and put away chances when you need to.

Matthew Postins

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