Lawrenceville 2019-20 Season Recap
- Kyle Park
- Dec 24, 2019
- 3 min read
*Sorry for the delay of this post... Was carried away with school during November :(
The 2019-20 BIG RED Lawrenceville Junior Varsity soccer season ended on a high note with our team tasting the sweet flavor of victory against The Hill School (our rival school). Our team displayed complete dominance throughout the entire game and finished with a stunning 3-0 win.
2019-20 Season Statistics:
*Missed two games of the season due to New Jersey Speech and Debate Tournament:
- Missed game against Blair Academy (1-0 Win) and Springside Chestnut Hill (0-2 Loss)
2019-20 Season Most Memorable Moment:
Soccer is a universal language. A language capable of bringing us all together. Arriving with no idea who anyone was, soccer was a powerful tool that automatically generated every player into becoming a member of a supportive family. Whether it was arduous shuttle runs up and down the field, long aerobic runs in the weekend, or an intense scrimmage after a packed day of studying, all of us spoke the beautiful language of soccer and easily related with one another.
One of the most memorable episodes in this fall term was during our final game against the Hill School. With Lawrenceville ahead with three goals in the second half, I received a cross from one of our left-backs and took one short touch before looking up in front of the pitch. At that moment, I couldn't see anyone in our uniform and the opponent's half was covered in blue shirts. Without hesitation, I made a solo run blazing pass one, two, three, four, and five. The easier one-on-one part with the Hill's goalkeeper remained. As I got closer and closer, I eyed the top right corner of the goal, tilted my foot preparing to neatly curl the ball in, and fired. Turns out, I kicked way too strong, forcing the ball to skid past the crossbar, producing the metallic 'ting' sound. Although the finishing was not the very best, that 15 second-ish sprinting moment through the opponents is vivid and clear to me up to this day. Not sure exactly why, but the wind gushing by felt so satisfying!!
2019-20 Season Final Recap and Thanks:
Although at the start of the season, I was hoping to play with Lawrenceville's Varsity soccer program, the 2019-20 season with the Junior Varsity team has become a vital foundational base for me to further develop in the future. Without this season's valuable matches and training sessions, I wouldn’t be as experienced, confident, and intelligent on the playing fields and as an athlete in general. All the older teammates on the team have gradually become my brothers throughout the season and I have made unforgettable memories with them. The welcoming ambiance set in the team made it extremely easy for me to perform at my fullest potential without thinking about other external factors. This year’s fall term was more than simply playing soccer - it was about crafting the ideal road for my future soccer career at Lawrenceville and beyond.
Alex Chun: Captain
Captain Chun was someone that influenced me to never give up and run until the very very end. The determination, passion, and motivation he had for the game was stunning and became a supportive force that continuously pushed me to become a better player. As a freshman coming into the program, I never found the opportunity to talk to Alex, a returning junior, during the first few days of preseason. Nevertheless, during the first game of the JV season against Germantown Academy, we instantly clicked perfectly, after he played the perfect through-ball for me to score an equalizer in the second half with 17 minutes to go.
Another lesson I learned from Alex was the importance of confidence and neglecting fear when playing the game. The physical battles he endlessly endured and his well-built mindset in a tough situation became a clear success factor that I wanted to possess as a soccer player. Though I am not the best player I can be at the moment, I have slowly but surely started developing this seed of absolute courage within me thanks to Alex.
Coach Wilcox & Coach Barnard: Coaches
Coach Wilcox and Coach Barnard were two individuals who gifted me with one of the most imperative aspects of soccer - experience. Experience comes from trust and I thank both coaches for trusting and believing me throughout the whole season. Whether we were facing St. Benedict's Prep (#1 Soccer Program in the Nation) or the Hill School (Lawrenceville's Rival School), starting as a freshman on the JV squad was a privilege and a catalyst towards my transformation into becoming a greater soccer player. Every training session, the coaches provided feedback/advice and pushed me harder so I could become a versatile player capable of playing multiple different positions with quality.
Looking forward to another great season next year!!
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