The Lakeland Regional High School boys varsity soccer had an amazing 2023 season, having an extremely strong start and continuing to prove their own worth throughout even as momentum slowed at the end.
The team ended their season with a solid record of 12-6-2.
The team began their season with 8-0 victory against Eastside High School, and they continued their momentum all the way until September 30 with eight wins in a row, when they had their first tie against Parsippany with a 0-0 game. This tie would also be followed up by their first loss against Wayne Hills in a 3-0 game. The team made up for this loss with a 2-1 win against Montville. The Lancers continued this back and forth for the rest of the season, winning one game then losing the next. They would then win twice in a row against both Kinnelon on October 14 and Fair Lawn on October 17. However, the season definitely ended on a slower note with three losses in a row.
Despite the less exuberant end to the season, the team excelled as whole throughout, trying their hardest. Senior Piotr Widerynski said, “I think we learned to overcome problems together once we started facing some difficulties.”
In terms of accolades, All-County honors went to senior Victor Ciach for first team, senior John Gurrieri for second team, and honorable mentions to seniors Piotr Widerynski and Nick Jusinski. All-Conference honors went to Ciach, Gurrieri, Widerynski, and Jusinski for first team; senior Xavier Diaz, senior Christian Battle, and junior Betim Zhuta for second team; as well as honorable mention for senior Davin Battle.
This season has provided a great final season at LRHS for the 12 seniors on the team who will graduate this year. Piotr has hopes for next year’s varsity stating, “We are graduating 12 players, so I hope the younger guys can step up and play well next year.”
