Lewis senior Justin Darlage is used to making adjustments.
Flash back to four years ago, and Darlage was a standout midfielder at Lincoln-Way West. And then, within a matter of months, he was a starting defender on the college level.
“In high school, everybody’s kind of the same physically,” Darlage said. “That freshman year, I was immediately playing against guys who were 22, 23, or 24 years old.
“You go immediately from playing against boys to going up against men. That was the biggest difference, but once you start training and get with the team, you figure it out.”
Darlage figured it out enough to help lead the Flyers to their first Final Four since 2009.
Lewis took two-time defending champion Franklin Pierce to the brink before losing 3-2 in Matthews, North Carolina. The Flyers finished the season with 13-4-6 record.
A two-year captain, Darlage started every game He tallied two goals and three assists. He had an assist in the 3-2 victory Dec. 3 over Maryville in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals.
The 5-foot-10 Darlage turned into a centerpiece player, utilizing his size, speed, technical skill and disruptive presence for a Flyers defense that posted 13 shutouts.
“Justin has been a mainstay since his freshman year,” Lewis coach Evan Fiffles said. “He has been consistently reliable and very coachable.”
Darlage has been playing elite soccer since his introduction to the sport growing up in New Lenox. His oldest sister Bri, a standout on the girls team at Lincoln-Way West, was an early influence.
“She is three years older, and I was on the sidelines watching her games,” he said. “I just picked it up from there.”
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After spending his first two years of high school with the FC United club program, Darlage powered the Warriors to their best season in program history. As a senior in 2019, he had six goals and five assists as they reached a Class 3A supersectional.
“I’ll never forget when he scored in the sectionals,” Lincoln-Way West coach Matt Laude said. “He was the kind of player who would thrive off big moments in games.
“He’s one of the most driven players I’ve had the pleasure to coach.”
That carried over to Lewis, and Darlage is never going to forget the electric atmosphere inside Matthews Sportsplex. He started as the left outside defender in Thursday’s national semifinals and felt the rush.
“We didn’t start the way we wanted in the first 10 minutes,” he said. “But I think we showed we could play with the top team in the nation or even play better than them at times.
“That game opened up some eyes and made people gain respect for us. It put us on the map and showed we have the talent in the future to play for championships.”
Positional versatility enabled Darlage to make a seamless from club to high school and college soccer. Through it all, he learned to live up to the moment.
“Whether the tournament championship or the rivalry games, there is a lot on the line,” he said. “Every single game matters.
“There is an adrenaline rush of having so many people watching you. It’s very addictive, a healthy kind of addiction, and you constantly want that feeling again.”
As a freshman at Lewis, Darlage earned an academic excellence award.
On the verge of graduating with a degree in exercise science, he’s pursuing all options for his final year of playing eligibility.
“I like to think I was born with this competitive fire,” Darlage said. “Being put in competitive environments just wants you to win them more.
“You have to be one of the 18 they take on a trip or one of the 11 starters. You do whatever it takes to be one of those guys.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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