Sanchez To Play Alongside Lyons Alum At Wright State

Having lost to Neuqua Valley twice in the regular season, Lyons Township was determined to make the third time a charm when the two sides met in the 2009 IHSA super-sectional match at Benedictine University.

After a scoreless first half, then junior striker Horacio Sanchez latched his head onto a free-kick, stunned the favored Neuqua Valley powerhouse and sent the Lions into to the state semifinals, which preceded the first LTHS soccer state championship in school history.

“My best individual memory of LT soccer is definitely my goal against Neuqua Valley,” Sanchez said. “My best team memory is winning the state championship. I will never forget any of my seasons at LT, especially not my final two.”

Following four years with Lyons’ varsity program, the recent graduate Sanchez is set to compete at the collegiate level with the Wright State Raiders come fall.

 “I chose [Wright State] because I got along with the team really well,” Sanchez said. “I knew that is where I wanted to go after my first visit. Also, it’s an up-and-coming program that I want to be a part of.”

Sanchez—who was the Lions’ leading goal scorer the past two seasons—expressed his contentment in having the opportunity to play with a Division I program.

“I am really excited to go to Wright State,” Sanchez said. “I am going to contribute as much as I can as a freshman and give it my all at every practice. I don’t really know what to expect in the play but there are some goals I have set and plan to accomplish.”

Though Lyons’ exit from the 2010 postseason occurred in the super-sectional round, Sanchez wasn’t able to play a part in the match, as he was red-carded in the previous game (a memorable 2-1 comeback victory over Morton).

Equipped with pace, persistence and a killer eye for goal, Sanchez participated at a high level of soccer from a young age, competing with numerous club teams along with a four-year stint with Lyons varsity squad.

“I think club soccer prepared me well, but also, high school soccer improved my club game,” Sanchez said. “Club soccer helps a lot with a player’s technical skill while high school soccer brings in more of the physical aspect.”

Former Lyons defender Peter Kralovec-Kirchherr, a two-year teammate of Sanchez, spoke highly of the to-be Raider’s importance to the team.

“For me, I was a lot less nervous [as a defender] for games knowing we had such a reliable scorer up top who we knew we could depend on time and time again.”

Chris Meingast—a former Lyons teammate of Sanchez and a key contributor on the 2009 state title winning team—committed to Wright State for the fall 2010  term and will be a familiar face when Sanchez arrives for day one of training in August.

“It is going to be great playing with Meingast again,” Sanchez said. “We have accomplished a lot of things when we have been on the same team and we plan to do it for the next three years. He’s a great player and I'm glad I’ll be able to keep learning from him.”