Hernando is putting together another great season for the Lakers, with 229 wins at a 73% win-rate, while also adding three goals and an assist, helping Mountain Lakes to an 11-8 record, holding the top seed in the North Jersey Group 1 bracket, where they defeated Kittatinny 13-5. In that matchup, the Leading Edge product did not lose a single draw, going 15 of 15 and controlling the time of possession and tempo for his team. He’s an aggressive and quick FOGO with the ability to take charge from the first whistle and stay consistent in his approach. When he doesn’t win it clean, he does a great job of keeping himself in the play and going hard after loose balls. He’ll look to keep the momentum going into their semifinal matchup vs. Mahwah.

Hernando was one of, if not the best player on the field for the Lakers in this matchup, finishing with 21 face-off wins at a 81% clip and making it look easy most times by winning the clamp clean and coming away with the ball. He looked to start a few transition chances; however, nothing ever really materialized in unsettled situations, but late in the game, when Mountain Lakes was looking to mount a comeback, he was consistent and reliable. When he wasn’t able to win it clean, he mixed it up in the ground ball scums, and a few times when he did lose possession, he made sure to get back on defense and played hard all the way until the final whistle. Having a workhorse at the face-off X will be pivotal if the Lakers are going to make a deep playoff run once again this spring, and Hernando will be a huge reason why if that’s the case.