Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 4, 1993 TAG: 9305040365
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN DEVIDO SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
A four-year varsity soccer player, Lyons' Blacksburg Indians have come close to a AA state title each year, but have fallen short.
First, there was a shootout loss after four overtimes to Chancellor High School in the state finals Lyons' freshman year.
Then, there was a 1-0 loss in the state semifinals to William Byrd his sophomore season.
And last year was the same story - close, but no cigar. Park View beat Blacksburg 1-0 in the state title game.
Lyons is starting to get a little frustrated.
"Winning a state title is pretty much an unspoken goal this year," he said. "I'm definitely hungry for it."
So far this year, Lyons has been one of the team's offensive leaders, scoring four goals and adding four assists for the 8-0 Indians. If anything, the tough losses have been motivational tools for Lyons.
"Todd said he was really looking forward to this season ever since last year's final whistle against Park View," coach Shelley Blumenthal said. "He's been practicing every day with intensity. Not only does he try to win every wind sprint in practice, he tries to win it big."
And his work ethic doesn't stop with soccer. He ran track for the past two winters, and helped his 4-by-400-meter relay team to a first-place finish in the VMI Invitational, which is similar to a state meet for winter track.
He even toyed with the idea of playing soccer and running track this season.
"Both coaches said it was OK, but soccer became too much of a priority," he said.
That decision is track team's loss and soccer's gain. Lyons has speed, skill and smarts. The speed has always been there. The skill and smarts have come from playing competitive soccer since he was 5.
"I remember playing as a little kid, everybody played in one spot, like a beehive," he said. "My dad taught me to stay wide on the field - away from the beehive."
Result: Lyons scored 13 goals in one game as a second-grader. The score of that game? 13-0.
He's also improved his game through attending soccer camps in the summer. One that helped him in particular was the Lanzera National Select Program at North Georgia College last August.
Lyons was one of three Blacksburg players to attend the five-day camp, and the competition was tough. Top high school players from around the country were there.
"We got up at 8 in the morning and played until it got dark," he said. "It improved my game a lot. I'd always been a captain or a leader on my teams, but playing with these guys made me realize I had to improve my game."
One thing Lyons has improved is the strength of his right foot. He's right-handed, but his kicking foot is his left foot - something not usually seen in a skilled high school player.
"Most defenders force me to the left side, which is good for me since I kick better with my left foot - until they learn that I'm better with my left foot," he said.
Lyons has made sure it doesn't matter what side the defender forces him to this year. Three of his four goals this season have come from his right foot.
But one thing that does matter to Lyons is winning a state crown. As a freshman and sophomore, he had to wait while older, more experienced players got much of the glory.
He's had to wait as he's seen his team go 54-5-2 in his four years at Blacksburg, yet be unable to get that one elusive win to close the season.
But Lyons says he's waited long enough.
by CNB