After playing basketball and baseball while growing up in Brookfield, Devin Ekstam found a new sport he could be passionate about.
His choice was soccer and he’s rising quickly. The 5-foot-9, 135-pound junior defender might be one of the smaller players on the field, but makes up for it with his speed in front of senior goalkeeper Donald Darrus, a two-year starter.
Lyons coach Paul Labbato said he has been amazed by Ekstam’s progress. Eskstam said he didn’t start playing soccer until the seventh grade and has the least amount of experience among Labbato’s varsity roster of 22 players.
“I thought soccer was a fast-moving sport,” Ekstam said. “I picked it up pretty fast at a young age.”
Ekstam recalled his first exposure to soccer came when he joined a league at the McCook Athletic & Exposition Center. After a year, he began playing club soccer with the Lemont Raiders.
“When I played more there (at the Max), different club teams saw me and I started taking it more seriously,” Ekstam said.
Labbato said he has been surprised that Ekstam has been able to make a successful transition to soccer after developing eye-hand coordination with basketball and baseball. Labbato said he believes the Lemont Raiders club has helped Ekstam’s footwork.
“(Ekstam) was pretty good as a freshman. He has picked up the sport quickly,” Labbato said. “He could play. He has become one of our best players with his feet. He’s slight, but his body is durable.”
Pepsico Showdown champs
Lyons (10-3, 2-1) is a regular participant in the final of the Pepsico Showdown and on Sunday, Sept. 27, it won the championship.
Senior Adrian Valadez scored the game-winner to give fourth-seeded Lyons a 2-1 win over sixth-seeded Libertyville in double-overtime at DePaul. Charles Hall provided the assist.
Nick Economou’s header off Camilo Drobny’s free kick tied the score at 1-1 with nine minutes left in regulation. Goalkeeper Darrus earned the win after Lyons suffered a 2-0 loss to visiting Hinsdale Central Friday night in the annual Silver Brick game between West Suburban Silver rivals.
“I thought we had a good chance going in,” Labbato said. “The boys came out focused and ready to play.”
Lyons moved to 2-4 in Pepsico championship games since 2006. Lyons’ only previous title came against Morton in 2012.
“It’s nice to get some hardware in such a massive event,” Labbato said of the 32-team tournament. “This is a single-elimination bracket that mimics the state championship (tournament).”
Twitter @geomwilcox
