The Lyons Township High School boys soccer roster remains relatively young but with plenty of postseason experience as observers. As sophomores and freshmen, most of this year’s players watched the 2023 Lions finish second at the Class 3A state tournament.
“A lot of us were there. That was a fun game to watch and I do think that momentum, that kind of run really inspired [the current players] who saw that,” LTHS senior captain Luke Gough said. “That was really a moment where we kind of felt like, ‘This is possible. It’s doable. If we come together in the right way, we can definitely achieve that.’
The Lions already are showing that capability, not only winning their first three games against decent competition but by a combined score of 11-0. No. 18 in the Aug. 25 Chicagoland Soccer website pre-season rankings, LTHS won 1-0 at No. 5 New Trier, Saturday, after home victories over Loyola Academy 4-0, Aug. 27, and No. 22 Plainfield North 6-0 in the Aug. 25 opener.
The 2024 team finished No. 29 after a 13-8-2 season in which the Lions lost 2-0 to Morton in the 3A Reavis Sectional semifinals and tied for second in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division at 4-2.
“It’s a lot of returning players but they’re still young and now they’re a little older,” LTHS coach Paul Labbato said Saturday. “The group is really, really focused on winning. There’s eight seniors. They’re really great leaders and really focused on winning. We have a lot of talented kids who are juniors and sophomores. It’s kind of like the right mix.”
Senior Ryland Avants, primarily a forward in 2024, and junior Hayden McTigue are the lone returning full-time starters. They’re anchoring the formation at center midfield along with junior Julian Avdiu. Also back are seniors Joe Ratcliffe, a part-time starting goalie, Nick Reilly, Jackson Lesner and Victor Sklaryk, and two juniors, central defender Ari Chen and Cormac Moran.
Lyons Township’s Joe Ratcliffe (1) warms up his teammate during a nonconference game against Plainfield North Monday, Aug. 25, 2025 in La Grange. (Steve Johnston) 
Lyons Township’s Hayden McTigue (6) works up field against Plainfield North during a nonconference game Monday, Aug. 25, 2025 in La Grange. (Steve Johnston) 
Lyons Township’s Victor Sklaryk (11) scores a goal against Plainfield North during a nonconference game Monday, Aug. 25, 2025 in La Grange. (Steve Johnston) 
Lyons Township’s Luke Gough (7) puts a shot on goal against Plainfield North during a nonconference game Monday, Aug. 25, 2025 in La Grange. (Steve Johnston)
Other team members are seniors Gavin Sullivan and goalie Conor Robinson, juniors Jacob Faas, Owen Kachmarik, Ryan Keenan, Emmett Kessler, Rocco King, Harrison Kittridge, Charlie Pelling, Luke Popovic and Hayden Rout and sophomore goalie Wolfie Ketterling.
Avants (4 goals, 2 assists), forwards Gough (3 goals, 2 assists) and Reilly (3 goals), McTigue (2 assists), Lessner (3 goals) and Moran (goal, 2 assists) were among last year’s top scorers. Ratcliffe contributed to 7.25 shutouts.
Gough, Ratcliffe, Reilly and Chen are team captains.
“It’s definitely been a strong start,” Gough said. “I’ve been really impressed with our team is we’ve relied on each other a lot. We’re very much a team and not just a group of individual players. The important thing is that everyone kind of comes together as a team when we play those big games.”
The big games continue coming. Like New Trier, the Lions’ next five opponents are all recent state champions – Naperville North Tuesday, Benet, Fremd, York and West Chicago.
“We like that,” Labbato said. “Win or lose, it’s fun because you get to see the kids excel in a game that matters.”
Faas scored Saturday with an assist from Lesner. Ratcliffe had the 80-minute shutout. Avdiu (goal, assist), Faas (2 assists), Avants, Reilly and Kittridge (goals) and Gough (assist) scored against Loyola. Avants, Reilly and Moran (goal, assist each), Gough, Avdiu and Sklaryk (goal each) and Faas (assist) accounted for the Plainfield North scoring.
“Something we did well [against New Trier] was manage the last 10 minutes of the game,” Labbato said. “That was something we talked about all week, not giving the team the ball and opportunities. Pretty much it felt like the last 10 minutes was played at the New Trier 18 [yard line].”