FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Every professional athlete remembers their debut; that initial rush of stepping onto the field or the court or the ice for the first time, the roar of the crowd, the sense of occasion.
They remember it, of course, if they can stay conscious long enough to experience it.
“My first couple steps out there, I was kind of blacking out, you know?” Zach Herivaux said playfully after seeing his first MLS minutes in the late stages of Sunday afternoon’s loss to the Philadelphia Union. “Like, where am I supposed to be?
“But once I got my touches, the guys communicated with me and I did well I thought.”
Herivaux, whose only previous professional appearance was a three-minute stint in a U.S. Open Cup match last year, became the third Homegrown player in Revolution history to feature in an MLS game, joining Diego Fagundez (debut in 2011) and Scott Caldwell (debut in 2013).
Also making his debut on Sunday was Femi Hollinger-Janzen, a third-round SuperDraft pick who only officially signed with the Revolution one week ago. The Indiana product played the final 15 minutes on the right wing and was sharp in a limited role, showing a workmanlike attitude and a nose for goal.
“I’m excited for both of them,” said head coach Jay Heaps. “Obviously the situation wasn’t great, but I think both guys went in and showed what they’ve been showing us in training and preseason, and that’s why they got their opportunities.”
Herivaux replaced fellow Homegrown player Caldwell in the 86th minute at Talen Energy Stadium and although he was only on the field for a brief period, he immediately sensed a different level of intensity when compared to preseason matches, and even the Open Cup.
“I got goosebumps,” Herivaux said. “It’s nothing like practice or preseason matches. An official match in front of a real crowd; it’s a dream come true to be able to make my debut with the Revs.”
Herivaux has slowly been building towards his MLS debut since signing from the club’s Academy last May. His pro debut came against a USL opponent last June in the Open Cup, and he saw significant minutes against MLS opposition throughout preseason in January and February.
The 20-year-old took another step early in the regular season as he made the game day roster and sat on the bench for a pair of draws against the Houston Dynamo and D.C. United, an experience Herivaux said helped prepare him for Sunday’s MLS debut.
“Being on the bench is a lot different than watching [from the stands] or on TV,” Herivaux said. “Being with the guys, knowing what’s going on in the locker room before the game and knowing the atmosphere within the game so I know what to expect when I step on the field, what the crowd will be like, what the speed’s going to be like; that just builds up experience for me.”
And now Herivaux has a few minutes of experience on the field, as well, something he’s confident will help him stay a bit calmer when he makes his second MLS appearance.
“I’ll get my vision back,” Herivaux said with a laugh.
