QUICKSBURG — Josh Spence gets a lot of stares on the pitch, largely because there aren't many 6-foot, 235-pound goalkeepers in the world of soccer.
His sheer girth is enough to elicit elongated glances. Then there's the hair — a frazzled mop of curly brown locks that shades his eyes and grazes just above his shoulders.
"He doesn't fit the goalie mold at all," Stonewall Jackson coach Nate Hissong said.
Spence doesn't fit the part, but he certainly plays the role perfectly. The senior has started every game for Stonewall during the past four seasons — 71 in all. He is 45-22-4 in that span, boasting 20 shutouts.
Not bad for a kid who looks more like a defensive tackle.
"I can't tell you how many coaches have come up to me after games and said, 'Wow, your keeper is really good,'" Hissong said. "And he is. The acrobatics, the quickness — he's just got everything."
Spence has been one of Stonewall's most consistent players as the team has cruised through the postseason, winning the program's first regional games and advancing to the Group A tournament for the first time. The Generals face Region A champ Northampton at 2 p.m. today at Radford University with a trip to the state championship game at stake.
"He's had some awesome saves for us during the playoffs," Stonewall midfielder Seth Binsted said. "His saves sometimes — especially in some of these close games — have really turned the tides for us."
Spence's ability catches most opponents off guard. They see his massive size and expect to rack up the goals.
Not so fast.
"I think other teams are surprised by how fast he is," Stonewall defender Tyler Binsted said. "They think he's going to be some big, slow guy, but he's not."
After earning all-Shenandoah District second-team honors this year, Spence proved his ability on a larger scale in the postseason. Since the Region B tournament began, Spence has recorded two shutouts in four games, yielding just three goals against some of the best teams at the Group A level.
What's more impressive is that Spence has excelled this postseason while nursing several injuries. He has played through a slightly torn rotator cuff, a high ankle sprain and a banged up knee.
"It's been tough," he admitted.
Then there are the occasional wisecracks on the pitch, coming from ignorant opponents incredulous over Spence's size — not to mention his ability to keep their shots from penetrating the goal.
"I don't care about what other people think," Spence said. "Being bigger kind of helps me a little bit because it scares everybody else. It lets me have a little extra time because no one wants to come back there."
That's because Spence goes after loose balls with reckless abandon. If he happens to run over or through an opponent, well, that's just the breaks.
"He can be pretty intimidating back there," Stonewall midfielder Matt Wilder said. "It backs people off."
Off the pitch, Spence is more welcoming. He enjoys jamming out to Bob Dylan and Tom Petty, and he's an aspiring chef who swears by his grilling skills and homemade marinades. On top of that, he's probably the most avid follower of Stonewall athletics, famously known for his boisterous antics at basketball games.
"He's just crazy," Hissong said. "He's always yelling and stuff, for any sport at our school. He's always out there and getting the crowd going. He's just hilarious."
Back on the pitch, Spence turns rigid. Extremely focused and intense, Stonewall's players and coaches credit him with directing the team from his place between the pipes. He warns his teammates of impending attacks and serves as an extra set of eyes for every General.
"I think he organizes the defense very well," Hissong said. "He's always the person you hear talking back there."
Spence will need to be on top of his game to help Stonewall past Northampton (19-1), which smoked Lancaster 4-1 in the Region A title game. The Generals have no tape and no scouting report on Northampton, but have all the information they need.
"They're 19-1," Seth Binsted said. "To get a record like that, they must be doing something right."
Now it's just a matter of giving Northampton another blemish. If Stonewall can, there's no doubt Spence will play a big part in the production.
R Contact Matt Stanmyre at mstanmyre@nvdaily.com
Stonewall Jackson vs. Northampton
When: Today, 2 p.m.
Where: Radford University, Radford
Admission: $7
At stake: A spot in Saturday's Group A state championship game against Clarke County or Galax.
Worth noting: The Generals (14-5-2) are making their first appearance in the Group A tournament; Stonewall beat Radford 3-0 in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals. Northampton (19-1), the Region A champion, is also making its first appearance in the state tournament. The Yellow Jackets beat Lancaster 4-1 in the Region A championship to earn a bye into the Group A semifinals.
