Another girls soccer game, another dominant performance by the Lyons defense.
The host Lions blanked Oak Park-River Forest 1-0 on Tuesday night in the West Suburban Silver opener for both teams.
Lyons (3-0-2) has given up just one goal this season and, while it’s been a total team effort, one player new to the Lions’ varsity stands out.
Senior Kim Vitek didn’t even bother to try out for the varsity last year. She was content to play for the JV, which practices separately, because she spends most of the year focused on her No. 1 sport, diving.
Vitek, who was a gymnast until suffering an elbow injury as a freshman, took ninth place in diving at the state meet in November and she’s planning to dive at Cornell.
But, before she heads off to college, she wanted to give playing varsity soccer for the Lions one good crack. She was hopeful coming into the season, even though she didn’t know what to expect.
“I love soccer and love playing for Lyons, so I wanted to finish my career here,” Vitek said. “The defenders from last year (graduated) so the other girls on the team told me I had a shot, so I had a little bit of hope. I just gave it my all and somehow I made varsity.”
While head coach Bill Lanspeary is impressed with Vitek’s performance, he had some inkling that she could be a big-time contributor this year.
“We’re able to watch some JV games throughout the season and we had our eyes on a few players last year and she was one of them,” Lanspeary said. “We thought she might be able to step up and help us. You get excited about her because she’s so athletic.”
Playing on the Lyons varsity soccer team while not belonging to a club is a long shot. In fact, Vitek and senior defender Katie Hamor are the only girls on the team who don’t play club soccer.
Vitek knows exactly what allowed her to earn a starting spot on varsity.
“I’ve always been pretty strong and fast and I think that’s something they look for,” Vitek said. “Even though I don’t have the best foot skills, I usually end up with the ball because I’m a physical player. I always go as hard as I can for the tackle, as high as I can for the header and I really try to rely on my throw-ins because I can throw the ball pretty far.”
Senior goalkeeper Lidia Breen has been amazed how strong Vitek has looked.
“She’s the epitome of a natural athlete,” Breen said. “She comes onto the field having not played in almost a year and is like a brick wall. No one can get past her and she’s an offensive threat, too. She changes the whole pace of the game.”
Because Vitek doesn’t play soccer year round, her ceiling is higher than those who do. Lanspeary has seen impressive progress since the team’s first practice and he expects even more over the rest of the season.
“Her first touch is better and she’s seeing the game better,” Lanspeary said. “Now it’s just about her comfort level, understanding the game better, positioning defensively and confidence on the ball with making the right decisions and having the touch.”
NOTES
* Lyons freshman Mary Devine scored the only goal, just 3 minutes, 18 seconds in. Devine took a pass from senior Margaret Lynch, beat the defense and sent her shot sailing over the goalie’s head.
* OPRF (1-3-2) threatened in the final 10 minutes with several great flurries but couldn’t find the back of the net.
More Top Picks Best Photo Printers
* Breen earned her second shutout of the season, stopping five shots. Breen has played about three quarters of the season in net and has yet to allow a goal.
Valentin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.