“I want to stay here. I just want to keep playing soccer.”

After a game fought to the bone and a devastating sectional loss in penalty kicks to Hinsdale Central, these were some of senior Liam Sharkey ’15 final words before he left Bennett Field for the final time as a member of Lyons Township’s varsity soccer team.

A well-played game from both squads, this sectional matchup on Oct. 28 came down to a shootout after a 0-0 tie. Neither team was able to clearly maintain possession against the tough defenses, yet both sides had chances to put it away.

LT dominated shots on goal including several from Co-Captains Harry Hilling ‘15 and Pat Duncan ‘15, one of which struck the post. However, LT couldn’t seem to get the ball in the back of the net during regular time or overtime in this sectional game against the solid play of the 6-feet 3-inch All-American goalkeeper Wes Bergevin ‘15 of Hinsdale.

“Everything we practiced we put into the games, and we just couldn’t get any breaks,” Duncan said.

Finishing with a record of 21-6, the team constantly rallied around its strong defense, which gave up only 22 goals while scoring 76. The starting goalkeeper, Donald Darrus ‘16, replaced David Fiflis ‘15, who played club soccer with the Chicago Fire this year, instead of playing high school. Despite this challenge, he was able to bring a verbal and motivational presence to the team, according to defender Nick Economou ’16.

“[Darrus] is the whole reason we got that far in the playoffs and in the whole year,” Economou said. “Without him we’re not even at that point.”

This game was a rematch of the annual Silver Brick game for LT and Hinsdale. Head Coach Paul Labbato always tries to incorporate a challenge into the schedule for the varsity team. Going up against teams like Hinsdale, Morton, St. Charles East and Rockford Boylan, all presented a challenge to this group, Labbato said.

“[Losing] was hard to swallow because at the end of the day we were so close on so many shots and didn’t get it done,” Labbato said. “But with that being said, you live to play these big games. You don’t like winning games 8-0, you want to play every game against the best.”

Besides what the program showed on the field, the rowdy LT soccer fan section, dubbed the Hooligans, were in full force in the sectional game against LT’s rival Hinsdale. Showing up game after game to support the boys on the field, they never seemed to miss a beat.

“The Hooligans are always there for us no matter what,” defender Leo Gabrek ‘15 said. “It sucks not being able to give back as much as they give to us.”

There is no doubt in the players’ and coaches’ minds that they can be just as good, if not better, next year. Some of their goals include avenging their loss this year in the Pepsi Showdown and bring back the Silver Brick, Economou said.

“The sophomores [Isiah Nieves ‘17] and [Paul Fulop ‘17] bring a lot of leadership and a lot of ability,” Labbato said. “Mixed in with what we know is a very good junior group and a state cup finalist freshman group. So we know there are kids in there that we can find and put together a really solid team.”