Waubonsie Valley sophomore Lachlan Ladd is always on the lookout for something different.
After the Warriors started the season with two shutout defeats in losing their first three games, coach Jose Garcia switched up the formation and moved Ladd to left forward.
Problematic? Not at all.
“I think of myself as a very selfless player,” Ladd said. “If I’m in front of the goal with a decent scoring chance but I see a teammate with an even better chance, I’m going to lay him the ball.”
The results have been spectacular as Waubonsie (2-3) scored a combined 13 goals in two dominant victories over Marmion and Minooka.
“Lachlan is a very talented kid with a lot of potential,” Garcia said. “He has a great left-footed shot, and his right foot has improved since last season.
“The craziest thing is he is still a sophomore. I am excited to see what he does with the rest of his career.”
Ladd burst onto the scene as a freshman last season, tying for the team-lead with six goals. He balances size, speed and athleticism with a great touch on the ball.
He has scored a goal and tallied four assists in the first two weeks of the season.
“I like using my speed to my advantage,” he said. “And my knowledge of the game.”
Ladd’s talent and work ethic betray his youth. He’s a player with a high ceiling and the promise of continued improvement, according to senior forward Gean Ribeiro Scarpelli.
“Lachlan is one of the young guys in our squad, and he shows a lot of leadership and hard work,” he said. “Being one of the key players with technique and the ability to score a lot of goals for a player his age, making that much impact on our team is going to help him in the upcoming seasons.”
Ladd, who was born in New Hampshire, came to Aurora when he was in the first grade. His parents, Mark and Kylee, grew up playing soccer recreationally and in high school.
After the family relocated to Aurora, Ladd dove into the local soccer scene with abandon.
“I think what I have always loved about the game is this idea of being with your team,” Ladd said. “When you win and score goals, it’s so exciting.
“We have a lot of chemistry and like to hang out together. The team is really fun to be around.”
Getting better is his primary impulse. He plays club with the Naperville-based
Galaxy program. He’s also a standout student with a 4.58 GPA on a 5.0 scale.
Ladd aspires to be a Division I recruit, and that doesn’t surprise sophomore defender Cade Valek.
“He is a very intelligent player who is passionate for the game,” Valek said of Ladd. “He holds himself and his team to a higher standard. His high work ethic and skill will make him a threat.”
Individual success has made Ladd aware of his gifts and how to optimize them.
“Playing with him is very competitive and fun,” Ribeiro Scarpelli said. “Him being our leading goal scorer last season makes him drive a lot more to do better in his next chapters.”
The natural selflessness Ladd exhibits, however, is meant to drive his team to another level.
“We had a rough season last year and we all want to go far,” Ladd said. “I think in the end, we are just trying to win.
“I’m going to do whatever I can to give our team the best chance of scoring, even if I’m not the one getting the goal.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
