There was something so fitting about how the Lakewood boys’ soccer program made history last season. The Lancers were underdogs in a very good Moore League, and so they played like tenacious underdogs during their postseason run.
In February, Lakewood used its exciting high-pressure style of play to reach its first CIF Southern Section playoff game since 2016, then its first CIF championship game since 1985, and finally its first CIF State tournament in program history.
“It feels great to make history,” said Lakewood senior defender Angelo Funes. “We care a lot. The whole team and everybody keeps talking about it. We have teachers at school telling us about it. It’s so cool that people care.”
All-Moore League striker Michael Gutierrez had a sensational junior season and scored five goals in five CIF-SS playoff games.
The Lancers also collected plenty of heroic late-game moments along the way, like senior Jonathan Romero’s golden goal in overtime of the CIF State semifinals.
“We’ve found ways to win games,” said coach Alex Diaz of his team. “Johnny hasn’t scored a goal all playoffs, but I told him he was gonna get one when it really mattered … When he hugged me over there, we were crying because I told him that he deserved this more than anybody else. His hard work, what he does for us off the ball is incredible. It’s all him.”
