Soccer kicks off fall with opening scrimmage (original) (raw)

Courtesy of LC Athletics

IT IS ABOUT 40 minutes into the Lewis & Clark men’s soccer scrimmage. We are down 0-1,

but the ball continues to speed from one side of the pitch to the next with little sense of discrimination. There is only one question, shining down on players and spectators alike like rays of the sun, looming in the hot air of the Sunday afternoon: will LC score? For a few minutes, as the wrestle for the ball steers towards the opponent’s side, the force of the question only grows.

Zidane Indarta ’27, number seven, attempts the first shot from about 10 yards out. After being blocked by a swift kick from the goalie, it is number 17, Trevor Koo ’28 who finally scores. The crowd cheers triumphantly in background, and thus, the fall season continues on.

After two losses in Hawaii against Division II schools Chaminade University and Hawaii Pacific

University, the goal scored at the Sept. 8 scrimmage represented the first of the 2024 season. Although the game ended in a 1-1 tie, Assistant Coach Becca McCullough considered the game a win nonetheless.

The mens soccer team is a relatively new addition to LC, established in the fall season of 2022. This makes the current mens team, which ranges from first-years to juniors, trailblazers for the program. Not only in name is this sentiment reflected, but also through the attitude among teammates.

“The guys are really excited, super eager, with lots of energy,” McCullough said.

With all this new momentum built up from the goal on Saturday, McCullough hopes that the team will continue to improve.

“Not necessarily with the goal of winning games, in our conferences,” she clarified. “But to compete as well as we can and score some goals,” said McCullough.

With a strong defensive line and an eager group of freshmen this year, the team’s chances seem stronger than ever this season.

McCullough echoed a sentiment present throughout the athletics department; namely the need to foster school spirit throughout the entire community.

“It would be pretty cool if we could have some good turnout to some of these games,” she said. “It’d be fun if we had some fans to support them in the stands.”

McCullough’s idealized future for the games not only stands for the mens soccer team, but also throughout LC Athletics.

Meeting up with friends, attending games and cheering for points scored by fellow students can be a great way to relieve stress from the grind of academics. It also can help foster greater connection between the school community and the individuals that live and study here themselves.