The Lakeview High School boys varsity soccer team has been working hard on the pitch, growing their determination and grit for the game. With the Bulldogs current record of 2-3, they stand their ground while being placed 2nd in their conference, the NE8. The Bulldogs will not back down from their losses. Instead, they have been building up their rhythm to prepare for their next game which is an out-of-conference home game against Ursuline High School.
The Bulldogs have secured many goals on the way to their two victories. The top three leaders that have contributed goals to the wins are Brandon Toot (Senior), scoring six, Easton Bradley (Junior), scoring three, and Tyler Simonyi (Senior), scoring three.
Toot, Bradley, and Simonyi are also the team captains for the 2025 season, and as seen by their stats, they have definitely taken part in their name given to them. Although, scoring is not what makes this team or these individuals so good, their victories highlight what makes them such a dangerous team to play. The team as a whole brings such an impeccable, competitive spirit, leading to the team’s energy rising as the whistle blows from start to finish.
When being questioned about the roles Toot takes on as a senior, leader, motivator, and mentor, he answers, “The role I take as a senior is trying to be very respectful while motivating others on my team. I want to lead by example while having fun playing our game.”
Toot adds on, “It is very important for us to learn from our losses and not let them hurt us, especially this early in the season.”
Being in second place in the tough NE8 conference at this point in the season is definitely not a small accomplishment for the Bulldogs. This conference itself is very competitive, as every team apart of it comes out hungry to get the win at the end of the game. With the Bulldogs having such a great ability to stay at the near top of the conference, they keep their discipline for the squad while also working to improve their game day-by-day.
Last October, the final whistle blew for the Bulldogs, and it was something they will never forget. They had taken a loss to the Hubbard Eagles, ending their season; but this year is different for them. Already, the Bulldogs have played the Eagles, and put a goal away before the Eagles did. Although they fell short, this is already a major improvement from their performance last year.
Senior Nathan Paolucci is asked the burning question, What makes this year’s team different from last year? He answers, “I think that this year is different because of the bond and connection we have with each other and how we all want to win.”
Every season comes with challenges, but this season has been no exception for them. New lineups, injuries, and tough games early in the season have tested the Bulldogs and they have learned from them already. Instead of the Bulldogs letting these challenges and curve balls drag them down, they have learned to embrace them, and they will not let any of that define them as a team. While having practices filled with intensity and sharp communication, the Bulldogs know that they need to set the tone and continue to stay focused on the bigger picture.
The upcoming game against the Irish, Thursday, September 4th, presents both a challenge and opportunity. With the Irish having a strong reputation of being skilled, aggressive, and fast on the attack, the Bulldogs offer a chance to put themselves against a strong program to prove to everyone that they are here to win and gain momentum as they dive deeper into the conference.
Senior Aidan Barnot, has been asked how he has grown as a player and person since freshman year. He replies, “Since my Freshman year, I have gotten much stronger technically. I used to be a little nervous on the ball, but I am more confident with controlling possession and making good plays. When it comes to me growing as a person, I always looked up to the older guys, and now it is my turn for the younger ones to look up to me as someone they can trust because I have much more of an understanding on what the smartest decision to make is.”
With plenty of games left to play, the Bulldogs are far from finished writing their story for the 2025 season. Sitting in 2nd place in the conference with an opportunity to climb higher, they are determined to climb until the end. The next step to proving what they are capable of is their game against the Irish. No matter the outcome, the Bulldogs will keep their spirit and drive to grow stronger than ever.
