St. Laurence Soccer Enjoys a Great Season

With a new coach on board, expectations were high for the St. Laurence soccer team this fall, and Coach Matt Prunckle and the team certainly did not disappoint. From day one, Coach Prunckle made it clear that he planned to build a successful program. Bringing with him a wealth of knowledge from coaching at the collegiate level, the student-athletes quickly bought into Coach Prunckle’s vision and expectations. Their hard work paid off in the form of an impressive 11-5-3 record and a Chicago Catholic League South title behind a 6-1 record in conference play. For his efforts, Coach Prunckle was named the Lawless Coach of the Year in the Catholic League. He also earned a Lawless Award as a player in high school, and it is believed that he is the first soccer coach to have won both.

While the coaching and preparation undoubtedly play a huge role in the overall success of the team, the individuals must still go out and execute match-to-match. This fall saw some remarkable individual performances and accomplishments within the program. Senior Michael McLaughlin led the way for the Vikings, being named the Lawless Award winner as the player of the year in the Catholic League. Additionally, Michael was named Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) All-State, All-Catholic League, Windy City Rams Classic All-Tournament, and the SouthTown Star Player of the Week. He led the Vikings and was one of the top goal scorers in the area with 24 on the season. Seniors Mike Witkowski, Luke Burdelik, Josh Niloff, and Raymond Page and sophomore Emilio Guzman joined McLaughlin as All-Catholic League selections, with Witkowski also being named IHSSCA All-Sectional.

While all of the seniors will be missed next year, the future is certainly bright for the Vikings. A number of underclassmen return to the varsity team, and they will be bolstered by members of the conference champion sophomore team. The freshmen also had a strong season, so there is plenty of talent throughout the program.

Congratulations to Coach Prunckle, Michael McLaughlin, all of the seniors, and the rest of the Viking soccer program!