Lyons Township Lions
AT A GLANCE
Conference West Suburban Silver
Home Field West Field at North Campus, 100 S. Brainard, La Grange
Last year’s record 18-5 (5-1, 2nd in West Suburban Silver)
Coach Paul Labbato

Top returners
Stefan Luetkehans sr. CMF
Kyle Magnesen sr. F
Jake Mannos sr. D/MF
Zach Pearsall jr. MF/F
Billy McGuiness jr. D
Chris Meingast jr. D
Brian Heimerdinger jr. D
Haracio Sanchez so. F

Key newcomers
Sully Fox jr. GK
Kyle Kufirst so. CMF

KEY MATCHES
Sept. 9-20 LT Soccer Showdown The largest high school soccer tournament in Illinois always features LT.
Sept. 23 at Hinsdale Central The team which emerges as West Suburban Silver champs could come from this game.
Sept. 29 vs. Morton This crosstown rivalry game is usually a foreshadowing of a postseason matchup, as well.

WHAT TO WATCH
Expectations are usually high for Lyons Township’s soccer program and this year proves to be no different. The Lions return several key players from last year’s regional championship team, though, and are now in their second year under head coach Paul Labbato. Labbato was a long-time assistant under former coach Alex Hernandez and was never worried about stepping in and taking over.
“I’ve been in the program a long time, so the guys knew me and what to expect from me,” Labbato said. “If anything, I think this makes me a better coach having that one year under my belt.”
With Luetkehans, Magnesen and Mannos back to lead the way, the Lions have senior leadership and talent with them on board. Luetkehans plays center mid, with Magnesen up front and Mannos in back, so the Lions have at least one of their most talented players at each position. Where the Lions lack experience is in goal, though, where Fox comes back as a junior, but without a lot of big-game varsity experience.
While Labbato was happy with how his team performed last year, he’s hoping for a better showing in one particular area — in the West Suburban Conference. The Lions did go 5-1, but finished second to champion Oak Park-River Forest. Labbato is hoping his squad has enough to take back the conference championship.
“I would imagine that if you talked to other coaches, our name would be mentioned as a favorite,” Labbato said. “We should be there at the end of the year. I feel we have the talent to win the conference.”

COACH SPEAK
Paul Labbato
Q: You have a lot of players coming back from last year. What are your expectations?
A: We do have a pretty talented group coming back. We have a high outlook. We did lose seven or eight seniors from last year, but in high school, these kids are ready to step up every year. We have a tough schedule to navigate through, but I think we’ll be all right.
Q: What do you think the team’s strength is?
A: Definitely our possession soccer. Our guys play a high level of soccer, whether here or with their club team, but they’re always playing a high level of soccer. That’s good because it means they don’t fall to pressure from the other team and they don’t fall into the trap of kicking and running after it.
Q: Are there any weaknesses that you see?
A: Actually, if anything, I would say we’ll have to work on our chemistry. These guys have been away from each other, at least on the field, for a good seven or eight months and now they’re coming back and in two weeks they’re supposed to jell again. I think we’ll keep working on building ourselves as a team.