Sophomore A soccer team stays undefeated after two season

Ella Mahaney, Freelance writer

The boys who stepped onto the North Campus soccer field in August 2018 for freshman tryouts didn’t know who their teamates would be. They just wanted to play soccer. It was a ragtag group of boys from different middle schools and club teams. They never would have guessed that their team would go undefeated two seasons in a row.

Bill Lanspeary, the freshman A team soccer coach was the first to coach these boys to victory their freshman year. The team finished out its first season with a record of 13-0-1. 

“They were a group of kids who liked playing with each other,” Lanspeary said. 

During an especially aggressive game last season against York (that resulted in four yellow cards between both teams), a fellow LT player Aiden Hilling was taken down by the opposing team. 

“The whole team stepped in to protect their teammate,” Lanspeary said. “Although I don’t believe in fighting on the soccer field it was nice to see the boys come together.”

During the season, the boys typically practice three to four times a week so they see a lot of each other.  Some of the team can even be seen playing at Bennet or the North Campus fields even when they don’t have practice.

“The main thing I have gotten out of playing with the LT team is a sense of Brotherhood,” Jackson Sullivan a defender on the team said.

As the sophomore season grew to a close, the team had yet another undefeated season with a record of 13-0-2.  Although there were some challenging games against Hinsdale Central and York.

“My favorite memory playing with the team was probably beating York 2-0 this year,” goalie Luke Stockbridge said. The game had many highlights. One of them was when Stockbridge saved a penalty kick. 

“All of the bleachers were filled with varsity, JV, sophomore gold team players, and friends from outside of soccer and every moment of playing was filled with excitement from the fans,” defender Adrian Gonzalez said. 

The game ended in a 2-0 win for LT.

“The boys always had a positive attitude and gave 110% whenever they played,” Paul Godinho, sophomore A  soccer team coach said.

The team won not only their conference but also the LT invite this year.

“I’ve learned to play every game with intensity and the goal to win,” Gonzalez said. He plays the game to get away from the stress of everyday life and because he loves the sport.

Both coaches noticed right away that it was a fast team. It was the first team in a long time they had coached to an undefeated season. 

“As far back as the records go, about 15 years, there hasn’t been a boys soccer team that has been undefeated both freshman and sophomore year,” Godinho said.

There seems to be a common hope of state for this team from players and coaches alike. 

“Varsity has a bright future with this group and the competitive state title,” Godinho said.