Boy’s soccer has launched quickly into the start of the season, having already had multiple games back to back. The first two games of the season, against Plainfield North and Naperville North, were both losses. But the boys fought back and won 6-1 against Round Lake, and also took the win against Waukegan.

“We have one of the hardest schedules to play in the state, so not every game is going to be a win, but it’s all still pretty encouraging,” Frederick Chen ‘25, a varsity athlete, said. 

Lyons Township athletics are known to have a competitive schedule, but the team wants the challenge.

“I felt we played really well. We missed a lot of chances that we should convert as the team progresses,” head varsity coach Paul Labbato said. “I know this group of players have worked hard at creating team chemistry, and as they grow together, it will show on the field.”

With the 2023 season starters and seniors now gone, it is exciting to see how this new team, with lots of underclassmen representation will step up, Chen said.

“I think our team gels really well together, and we are focused on the team; no one is for themselves,” Chen said. “We have to take it one game at a time.”

For their game against Naperville North, one of the leading teams in the State, the score was 1-0. No one from LT scored, but goalie Joe Ratcliff stayed strong, letting no more goals be made by the opposing team.

Although the season is just beginning, and there are still a couple months before playoffs, the team is already looking forward to competing in high skill tournaments, Chen said.

“We hope to continue to play our dominant style of soccer, looking to advance to the final of the New Trier tournament on Saturday,” varsity player Mason Burda ‘25 said before the match-up.  “Personally, I know a lot of the guys who were on the team last year that hope we get another shot at a state final rematch on [Sept. 7] vs. NewTrier.” 

The Lyons took home the win. At the end of regulation time, the score was tied 0-0, but LT prevailed in a penalty shootout.

The team has already made so much progress, and the student section should be watching out for boys soccer. The next varsity game is Sept. 27, at Riverside Brookfield High School at 5 p.m.