Contributing photo: Men’s soccer team has powered through three competitive opponents after their tough opening loss to Notre Dame College.The men’s soccer team recently have powered through three competitive opponents after their tough opening loss to Notre Dame College. The boys saw themselves tied at 1 apiece heading into OT against Charleston.

Power midfielder Fernando Martinez was able to quickly blast a shot past the Golden Eagles Goaltender less than a minute into the overtime.

The men’s soccer team recently powered through three competitive opponents after its tough opening loss to Notre Dame College. The team saw themselves tied at one apiece heading into OT against Charleston. Power midfielder Fernando Martinez was able to quickly blast a shot past the Golden Eagles’ goaltender less than a minute into the overtime.

After coming off a loss the game before, the Lakers knew they had to pull off this win to change things around.

“The boys have been practicing hard and pushing themselves physically and mentally for this year,” said junior forward Karl Viehbeck. “Our first game loss against Notre Dame made us realize there isn’t going to be an easy game on our schedule,”

“We prepared well for the next match against Charleston, fixing the pieces missing or incomplete from the previous game and just going out there and giving it our all.” Viehbeck said.
That overtime win for the Lakers was the start of a powerful momentum push, leading them to two straight following wins.

Viehbeck believes the team had the right mindset against West Chester and ESU, “…with our team we look at each game as it comes, and grow from each game that passes. It’s a new day, a new opponent, and anything can happen … but something that a lot of other teams don’t have is the ability to put the game before behind them and focus on what’s in front and to come.”

When asked about how the players fit in with one another Viehbeck said, “With our team we have a strong sense of chemistry, experience, maturity, skill, physicality, and mental toughness. “Each and every one of us push each other during practice…mixed with the camaraderie off the field that makes us stronger each and every day, which shows on the field and fortunately has been ending in good results,” Veihbeck said.

“The team is hoping to continue the recent success and keep the season going strong. “I believe with the group of boys we have this year we can match up to any team mentally and physically. “