Boys soccer is off to a great start this year, with highly competitive players and a strong coaching staff. The team hopes to make it all the way to state this year and make new records along the way. Last year, LT tied for second at the conference match, and this year, team members have high hopes of making it to the state championship, Head Varsity Coach Paul Labbato said.

“Our goal is always to win the next one,” Team Captain Luke Gough ‘26 said. “We want to win conference and win state and play the best we can.” 

With a challenging schedule during the first few weeks of competition, LT has scored four wins and one loss as of mid-Septemer, and it wouldn’t have been possible without working as a team to succeed. 

“A game that sticks out to me is the match against New Trier,” Captain Joe Ratcliffe ‘26 said.   “At that point, they were number five in the state, and we were 18, and that was the greatest game we have played all year. I was really proud of how they played.” 

On Sept. 5, there was a Soccerpolloza where the Varsity boys soccer team trained with younger athletes from different teams to aid them in becoming more skilled.

Boys soccer provides numerous opportunities for players to connect through participation in travel teams, various club teams, and games so meeting athletes and challenging other players is always on the minds of the LT soccer team.

“Coming to games is a lot of fun, it’s very intimate because the fans are right on the field.” Labbato said, “It gets pretty rowdy and there’s a lot to cheer about, and we always represent the school well.”

The photos below are from the LT vs. Benet game on Sept. 4, resulting in a 4-0 win for LT after a tough match with players showcasing strong defensive skills against their opponent. 

Gallery • 15 Photos

Defender Gavin Sullivan ‘26 jumps into the air to forcefully block the ball against a Benet adversary (Simmons/LION).