CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – Since signing with the New England Revolution as the club’s third-ever Homegrown player last May, midfielder Zachary Herivaux has more than 100 professional training sessions under his belt. And he likely has 100 more from before he signed, when he was a promising young prospect coming through the Revolution’s Academy system.
Those countless hours on the practice field have done wonders for Herivaux’s development. He’s reached a comfort level with his teammates, and he’s become stronger, sharper and more confident.
But what the 20-year-old craves now – what he needs for his continued growth – are games.
“That’s the stuff that I need to develop,” Herivaux said on Thursday as the Revs wrap up their 12-day stay in Casa Grande, Arizona. “It’s always good to get on the field, especially at the first-team level.
“Now I just have to adapt to the speed and playing style and I think I’ll get used to it.”
Herivaux’s only first-team minutes in his 2015 rookie season came in the waning moments of the Revolution’s U.S. Open Cup loss to the Charlotte Independence last June. That defeat prevented head coach Jay Heaps from increasing Herivaux’s minutes throughout the course of the competition.
Preseason contests, then, are Herivaux’s best shot at the significant minutes he needs against MLS opposition. That’s why a 45-minute stint against the San Jose Earthquakes and a 60-minute showing against FC Dallas earlier this week were valuable learning experiences for the young midfielder.
“Games are always different competitive-wise and playing 11-v-11 on a full field,” Herivaux said. “I’ve just got to get used to guys pressing quick on me and being able to play the ball quicker. The physical aspect is a big part of it.”
At 6-foot-1, Herivaux has the size to match up with opposing midfielders, and he’s continued to bulk up since becoming a professional nine months ago. The next step in his progression, according to Heaps, is adjusting to the speed of play at the MLS level.
“I think he’s got the physicality side of it from a battling standpoint,” Heaps said. “But can he open the game up? Does he have the speed of play to not just keep the ball, but actually make a play?”
Heaps said there were “good moments” for Herivaux in Thursday’s scrimmage against FC Dallas, adding that he saw a slight progression from the youngster even between Wednesday and Thursday.
“They’re preparing me for games like this and I think it’s going to develop me a lot quicker than training sessions,” Herivaux said. “Preseason’s always good to get games, so I’m glad I’m able to play.”
Herivaux will have one more opportunity to get on the field before the Revs head back to Foxborough; they’ll close out their first trip to Arizona on Saturday with a game against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
