Sandburg’s Sebastian Burzynski was so young when he started playing soccer that he does not really remember whether or not he enjoyed it.
His father, Robert, however, can answer that question. He tells Sebastian the stories about how much he hated the sport at first.
“He always says he’d have to drag me out of the door and force me to play soccer,” Burzynski said. “He pushed me into soccer from the second I was able to walk.”
Eventually, soccer grew on him.
“Around 6 years old is when I started loving it,” he said. “I’d play three-plus hours every single day in my backyard, just training the same thing over and over again, shooting and dribbling around cones.
“I’ve always wanted to play at the highest level I can.”
These days, Burzynski is performing at a top-notch level. The senior midfielder has scored 19 goals this season for the Eagles (16-1-2).
“Sebastian is a very reliable leader for us,” Sandburg coach Desi Vuillaume said. “He’s so experienced as a four-year varsity player, and that experience shows when he’s out on the field.”
Burzynski has helped Sandburg earn the top seed in the Class 3A Lockport Sectional.
The Eagles also clinched their first SouthWest Suburban Blue championship since 2011 with a 2-1 overtime win Saturday over Lockport.
“It feels great,” Burzynski said. “Going into the playoffs now, we just want to get to state. We’ve got bigger games coming up in the postseason, but winning conference is great and it’s going to give us all confidence.
“Everyone on this team has my back. We all have each others’ backs.”
Burzynski has been part of a major resurgence for Sandburg soccer. The Eagles, who won just three games his freshman year, have reclaimed their place among the area’s top teams.
“It’s been fun watching the team grow,” Burzynski said. “I made the team freshman year. I’ve become more of a leader every single year. Freshman year, I kind of followed the seniors. Sophomore year, I got a little more comfortable. Junior and senior years, I’ve been more of a leader and I love that role.
“I get a lot of respect from the guys. I respect them. I trust them and they trust me.”
After those early days of reluctance, Burzynski found his passion for the sport and never looked back.
“I don’t think I’ve had a day since then where I haven’t had the first thing I think of when I wake up be soccer,” he said. “I think about what I’m going to do that day, how I’m going to train, how I’m going to play the game. I watch highlights, I watch professional teams, I get better every single day.
“I love it.”
In the history books: Shepard’s Zach Soltysiak has been chasing the program record for career goals all season. Once he tied it with his 70th goal, the senior forward felt the pressure come off.
Since then, he’s reeled off nine goals in four games — including a four-goal outburst Oct. 3, when he set the record against Argo.
Soltysiak’s career goals total is up to 79.
“When you’re going for the record, there’s a lot more weight on your shoulders,” Soltysiak said. “At the beginning of the season, nothing would fall for me.
“Once you tie it, that’s the hard work. You only need one more. I got the hard part out of the way. Now, it’s just easy again.”
Soltysiak led the Astros (14-6) to their third South Suburban Red title in his four years, scoring twice Saturday in the championship-clinching 3-0 win over Oak Forest.
Charged up: After clinching the SouthWest Suburban Red title Saturday with a 1-0 shootout win over Lincoln-Way Central, Stagg (18-2-1) has won five conference championships in the last eight seasons.
Jose Flores made a pair of big saves in penalty kicks against the Knights.
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.