The LMU men’s soccer team made history twice so far this postseason when they beat The University of California Irvine (4-2) on Nov. 16. They then beat The University of California Los Angeles (1-0) on Nov. 19, which got the team into the sweet sixteen for the first time in the program’s history. After beating UCLA, the Lions then faced James Madison University where they had a long and hard-fought match that resulted in an LMU win.
This win against JMU has now put the Lions in the elite eight for the first time in program history. Where they will face off against the number five-seed West Virginia Mountaineers.
Last season, the Lions finished (9-6-3). This season, LMU took a leap, as they are currently 10-4-6 while defeating some very highly ranked teams along the way.
“I think we have more depth, last year I think we were lacking in certain positions, so like individually I think we have players that can do special things. Said star senior defensive back Callum Stretch, when asked about what the team has done differently this year compared to last year. “Another thing that’s been like a theme has been how together we are as a team. So just being very cohesive has definitely helped.”
The team’s defensive play style has been what keeps them in the game. Up until now, they have defeated schools with traditionally high-level soccer programs. “To stick with what we know during the season … we’ve played in some big games before and we got some good results so it was just to go in with a similar game plan and just to stick to it and listen to what the coach says.” Said star forward graduate student Ryan Kingsford, when touching on the team’s strategies going into the team’s first-ever sweet sixteen, and now going onto their first-ever elite eight.
This season is Ryan Kingsford’s first season at LMU and he says that he brings “experience to the team.” Kingsford mentioned that he’s played on a few teams in college and emphasized how on previous teams has made it to the final four, and is ready to do it again. After the Lions win against JMU this past Saturday, Kingsford earned a spot on the national team of the week, “I think defensively, I bring a lot and creating something I pride myself on a lot.” Kingsford on how his position as a striker contributes to the team.
Although the team has found a way to finish strong in big games, they find themselves on the defense for a large portion of the game. This trend of play ends up putting eyes on senior star goalkeeper Massimo Oedekoven Pomponi in crucial moments.
In the second round of the tournament against UCLA, Pomponi faced 24 shots and allowed none, as LMU narrowly squeezed by with a 1-0 victory.
“We have a great coaching staff and one of the guys on that staff is a sports psychologist his name is Lee Hanco*ck. I’m usually speaking to him the whole time before the game, during my warm-up on the field, beforehand, just kind of talking about how I can prepare myself not physically or athletically but really mentally, I think that’s been the biggest thing that’s helped me,” Said Pomponi.
Pomponi has come up with significant saves that he says are just as important to the game as scoring goals, as it rallies everyone on the field to put in extra work. But he does what he can so it doesn’t get to that point, “There’s a lot of down time so I could just be sitting back there counting the flowers but I try and use my perspective to see stuff that other people can’t … so I’m just constantly talking to the guys,” said Pomponi.
With LMU’s defensive style of play, they have a lot of practice gaining control on the back end of the field to then be able to push up. “It’s been very much like if we don’t concede we’ll win the game,” said Stretch when touching on how their team works on defense.
Once the Lions get the ball up the field, they often rely on Junior star forward Tyger Smalls. Smalls is the team’s leading scorer for the Lions with seven goals so far throughout the regular season and the postseason.
“I just feel like I’m very direct like anytime I get the ball I just try to go forward … that’s always my first thought, I don’t try and go back if I don’t have to so I think that benefits the team a lot,” Smalls on his strengths throughout the tournament and how they have affected the team as a whole.
Smalls prides himself on his ability to play fast on breakaway moments to hopefully catch the opposing team’s defenders and keeper off guard.
Although the Lions are on their way to the elite eight for the first time ever, facing #5 West Virginia University on Dec. 2, they have shown their readiness on the pitch and continue to attribute their success along the way to each other and the comradery of the team.
“I think it’s massive we’ve got this far but I don’t think we’re finished yet,” said Kingsford.
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