Grabis savors her time at Lyons
By Dave Owen
Sophie Grabis’ talent as a goalkeeper far exceeded her luck over the last two seasons at Lyons.
But a badly timed injury last spring and a senior season marred by the COVID-19 shutdown couldn’t alter the impact she had. Or the multitude of great experiences she enjoyed as a Lion.
“LT soccer has always had a special place in my heart,” Grabis said.
“Everybody is always so supportive and enthusiastic. The girls in the program not only care about being competitive but also about improving themselves as well as others.
“We’ve always had a 'No I in team” attitude,' which ‘Lans’ (head coach Bill Lanspeary) and ‘Newc’ (assistant Andy Newcomb) stress right off that bat.”
Grabis, who was on the Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List last spring was considered a 2020 all-state candidate, became a textbook example of that team-first attitude last spring.
After helping the Lions to the sectional finals as a sophomore starting goalkeeper in 2018, Grabis suddenly had her strong start to 2019 (just five goals allowed in 11 games) derailed by a season-ending knee injury.
Lyons endured the huge loss of Grabis and a subsequent key injury to standout defender Grace Truax to defy the odds.
The Lions reached the state semifinals for the first time since 2006, taking eventual Class 3A champion Naperville North to a penalty kick shootout in the semifinals before losing that match and eventually placing fourth.
“Reaching state was an absolutely amazing feeling, especially with that team,” Grabis said. “Everybody played such a unique role in helping us get to state.
“I will always remember that (2019) team for all the dance battles, selfies, and singing we did. That team had everything you could possibly wish for: we knew when to play hard, and when to have fun.
“The team chemistry last year was absolutely fantastic,” Grabis added. “Everybody was super close to one another, worked hard, and supported each other in their position.”
But for Grabis, that joy for her team was offset by the personal agony of being sidelined by injury.
“It was definitely a very painful experience, both physically and mentally,” she said. “I took everything that my doctor said seriously, and jumped into physical therapy as quickly as I possibly could. And I’m very thankful for my family, that supported me through such a difficult time.
“I wish I could have been there for my team as a goalkeeper until the end, but I was more than proud of Cara (senior goalkeeper Cara Perez) for stepping up and doing such an amazing job in the net.”
In 2018, Grabis had her own amazing run between the pipes.
Winning the starting goalkeeper job as a sophomore newcomer to varsity, Grabis culminated her great season with perfection.
Playing in the talented West Suburban Conference Silver Division, Grabis posted a clean-sheet in all six matches as the Lions rolled to the conference title.
“The six conference shutouts my team had meant a lot to me," Grabis said, "because I could see the hard work that my team and I put in pay off.
“Coach Lans and Newc definitely did a lot to prepare the team and myself to achieve all those great match results. Each shutout helped generate confidence and accomplishment, which pushed us to get more. I most definitely could not have achieved those shutouts without the help of my driven defenders (starters Truax, Catherine Johnson, Bri Stirrat and Kaelan Lee).”
Individually, Grabis entered that breakout sophomore year well prepared for the challenge.
Grabis started playing goalkeeper in sixth grade and didn’t take long to feel at home.
“It kind of happened spontaneously (in sixth grade),” she said, “and then no one could take me out of the goal.
“What I like about being a goalkeeper is the mental aspect of it. I love the strategy surrounding the position, and anticipating what the other team is going to do next. I also like making picture-perfect saves: that’s definitely the coolest part.”
Grabis also had perfect preparation for her future success.
“I’ve been playing competitive club soccer for years,” she said, “and the experiences I gained from coaches and players allowed me to adjust quickly to being on the varsity team.
“I used to do private group trainings with one of the best goalkeeper coaches in the US (Igor Dimov), which helped me fortify my passion for the sport.
“The coaches’ personality and the group engagement made me look forward to the Friday night trainings,” Grabis added. “They helped me jump into a competitive level quickly, especially since a majority of the players I trained with were boys who were at least a head taller than me.”
The 5-foot-6 Grabis established an active style that produced winning results.
"I've always been the smallest goalkeeper on every team I have played for," she said, "but that never stopped me from being a starter or losing my confidence.
“With my experience playing with boys, I was always treated as an equal, so this helped me develop mental and physical toughness.
“At LT, the girls were all much larger and stronger than I was at the time,” Grabis added, "but as a result, I started to focus on improving my physical performance, whether it was running more or lifting weights.
“Honestly, I just worked hard on my weaknesses. I would always practice highball after highball to make sure that I had faith in myself to make the save during a game.”
It didn’t take Lanspeary and the Lions to realize they had a rock-solid shot stopper.
“Sophie’s kind of locked down the starting keeper position since her sophomore year,” he said. “She plays with a lot of confidence and communicates well with her backline. She's got really good technique to go along with outstanding reactions.”
Reactions, as in fearlessness.
“I most definitely have an aggressive goalkeeping style,” Grabis said, "which is something I developed due to my average stature. I love getting outside of the six-yard box as much as possible, because it kind of freaks the other team out.
“I think my ability to get off the goal line quickly is a huge strength of mine, because it allows our team to transition and develop a new play quickly.
“However, my greatest strength as a keeper has to be my communication with everybody on the field during the game,” Grabis added. "I'm blessed that all the players on my team never take anything I say on the field personally, and trust in my instincts."
At a position often as reliant on communication as athleticism, Grabis excels at both.
“I loved having conversations with players during corners or during halftime,” she said, “to see what they thought about the game and what we could change or implement. I really valued the openness my team had.”
Grabis and the Lyons defense allowed just two goals in the last nine games of 2018. In four postseason games, foes netted just one regulation goal.
In the sectional finals, a 0-0 tie with 2017 state semifinalist Downers North through 100 minutes of regulation and overtimes was settled by a marathon eight-round penalty kick shootout (won by the Trojans 6-5).
Grabis earned all-sectional honorable mention that season and was as good or better the first half of 2019.
Then came the one opponent even the best goalkeepers can’t stop.
“She suffered an injury to her knee last year in training that sidelined her for the last 5-6 weeks of our season, including our playoff run,” Lanspeary said. “She was certainly looking forward to getting back out there for her senior year.”
And then came another obstacle that no one anticipated: the virus that essentially shut down schools and sports nationwide in early March.
“Many of us text each other (during the shelter-in-place separation time)," Grabis said. "And Lans and Newc have been great with assigning workouts and fun challenges."
But with Friday’s decision to extend the previous April 30 closing of schools through the rest of the 2019-20 academic year, hope for an abbreviated season has been seriously threatented.
But staying positive through adversity has always served Grabis well. And this time is no different.
“Though my time at LT is almost over, I will never forget all the irreplaceable experiences it has given me,” she said. “Every single player is like a sister to me.
“We were all devastated that the season ended before it even began, but we understood the seriousness of the situation and respect the decisions that the administrators and IHSA made.”
This fall, Grabis will focus on majoring in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois.
"I do not plan to continue playing soccer at the varsity level," she said. "However, I will most definitely go and watch some games, especially with 'Rusty' (ex-Lyons teammate Eileen Murphy) on the team."
And summing up high school, Grabis had a final, lasting message:
“Special thanks to all the LT soccer coaches for their hard work and dedication to their teams, and thank you to all the girls I’ve had the pleasure of playing together with throughout high school.
“LT soccer is the best. Peace out.”
By Dave Owen
Sophie Grabis’ talent as a goalkeeper far exceeded her luck over the last two seasons at Lyons.
But a badly timed injury last spring and a senior season marred by the COVID-19 shutdown couldn’t alter the impact she had. Or the multitude of great experiences she enjoyed as a Lion.
“LT soccer has always had a special place in my heart,” Grabis said.
“Everybody is always so supportive and enthusiastic. The girls in the program not only care about being competitive but also about improving themselves as well as others.
“We’ve always had a 'No I in team” attitude,' which ‘Lans’ (head coach Bill Lanspeary) and ‘Newc’ (assistant Andy Newcomb) stress right off that bat.”
Grabis, who was on the Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List last spring was considered a 2020 all-state candidate, became a textbook example of that team-first attitude last spring.
After helping the Lions to the sectional finals as a sophomore starting goalkeeper in 2018, Grabis suddenly had her strong start to 2019 (just five goals allowed in 11 games) derailed by a season-ending knee injury.
Lyons endured the huge loss of Grabis and a subsequent key injury to standout defender Grace Truax to defy the odds.
The Lions reached the state semifinals for the first time since 2006, taking eventual Class 3A champion Naperville North to a penalty kick shootout in the semifinals before losing that match and eventually placing fourth.
“Reaching state was an absolutely amazing feeling, especially with that team,” Grabis said. “Everybody played such a unique role in helping us get to state.
“I will always remember that (2019) team for all the dance battles, selfies, and singing we did. That team had everything you could possibly wish for: we knew when to play hard, and when to have fun.
“The team chemistry last year was absolutely fantastic,” Grabis added. “Everybody was super close to one another, worked hard, and supported each other in their position.”
But for Grabis, that joy for her team was offset by the personal agony of being sidelined by injury.
“It was definitely a very painful experience, both physically and mentally,” she said. “I took everything that my doctor said seriously, and jumped into physical therapy as quickly as I possibly could. And I’m very thankful for my family, that supported me through such a difficult time.
“I wish I could have been there for my team as a goalkeeper until the end, but I was more than proud of Cara (senior goalkeeper Cara Perez) for stepping up and doing such an amazing job in the net.”
In 2018, Grabis had her own amazing run between the pipes.
Winning the starting goalkeeper job as a sophomore newcomer to varsity, Grabis culminated her great season with perfection.
Playing in the talented West Suburban Conference Silver Division, Grabis posted a clean-sheet in all six matches as the Lions rolled to the conference title.
“The six conference shutouts my team had meant a lot to me," Grabis said, "because I could see the hard work that my team and I put in pay off.
“Coach Lans and Newc definitely did a lot to prepare the team and myself to achieve all those great match results. Each shutout helped generate confidence and accomplishment, which pushed us to get more. I most definitely could not have achieved those shutouts without the help of my driven defenders (starters Truax, Catherine Johnson, Bri Stirrat and Kaelan Lee).”
Individually, Grabis entered that breakout sophomore year well prepared for the challenge.
Grabis started playing goalkeeper in sixth grade and didn’t take long to feel at home.
“It kind of happened spontaneously (in sixth grade),” she said, “and then no one could take me out of the goal.
“What I like about being a goalkeeper is the mental aspect of it. I love the strategy surrounding the position, and anticipating what the other team is going to do next. I also like making picture-perfect saves: that’s definitely the coolest part.”
Grabis also had perfect preparation for her future success.
“I’ve been playing competitive club soccer for years,” she said, “and the experiences I gained from coaches and players allowed me to adjust quickly to being on the varsity team.
“I used to do private group trainings with one of the best goalkeeper coaches in the US (Igor Dimov), which helped me fortify my passion for the sport.
“The coaches’ personality and the group engagement made me look forward to the Friday night trainings,” Grabis added. “They helped me jump into a competitive level quickly, especially since a majority of the players I trained with were boys who were at least a head taller than me.”
The 5-foot-6 Grabis established an active style that produced winning results.
"I've always been the smallest goalkeeper on every team I have played for," she said, "but that never stopped me from being a starter or losing my confidence.
“With my experience playing with boys, I was always treated as an equal, so this helped me develop mental and physical toughness.
“At LT, the girls were all much larger and stronger than I was at the time,” Grabis added, "but as a result, I started to focus on improving my physical performance, whether it was running more or lifting weights.
“Honestly, I just worked hard on my weaknesses. I would always practice highball after highball to make sure that I had faith in myself to make the save during a game.”
It didn’t take Lanspeary and the Lions to realize they had a rock-solid shot stopper.
“Sophie’s kind of locked down the starting keeper position since her sophomore year,” he said. “She plays with a lot of confidence and communicates well with her backline. She's got really good technique to go along with outstanding reactions.”
Reactions, as in fearlessness.
“I most definitely have an aggressive goalkeeping style,” Grabis said, "which is something I developed due to my average stature. I love getting outside of the six-yard box as much as possible, because it kind of freaks the other team out.
“I think my ability to get off the goal line quickly is a huge strength of mine, because it allows our team to transition and develop a new play quickly.
“However, my greatest strength as a keeper has to be my communication with everybody on the field during the game,” Grabis added. "I'm blessed that all the players on my team never take anything I say on the field personally, and trust in my instincts."
At a position often as reliant on communication as athleticism, Grabis excels at both.
“I loved having conversations with players during corners or during halftime,” she said, “to see what they thought about the game and what we could change or implement. I really valued the openness my team had.”
Grabis and the Lyons defense allowed just two goals in the last nine games of 2018. In four postseason games, foes netted just one regulation goal.
In the sectional finals, a 0-0 tie with 2017 state semifinalist Downers North through 100 minutes of regulation and overtimes was settled by a marathon eight-round penalty kick shootout (won by the Trojans 6-5).
Grabis earned all-sectional honorable mention that season and was as good or better the first half of 2019.
Then came the one opponent even the best goalkeepers can’t stop.
“She suffered an injury to her knee last year in training that sidelined her for the last 5-6 weeks of our season, including our playoff run,” Lanspeary said. “She was certainly looking forward to getting back out there for her senior year.”
And then came another obstacle that no one anticipated: the virus that essentially shut down schools and sports nationwide in early March.
“Many of us text each other (during the shelter-in-place separation time)," Grabis said. "And Lans and Newc have been great with assigning workouts and fun challenges."
But with Friday’s decision to extend the previous April 30 closing of schools through the rest of the 2019-20 academic year, hope for an abbreviated season has been seriously threatented.
But staying positive through adversity has always served Grabis well. And this time is no different.
“Though my time at LT is almost over, I will never forget all the irreplaceable experiences it has given me,” she said. “Every single player is like a sister to me.
“We were all devastated that the season ended before it even began, but we understood the seriousness of the situation and respect the decisions that the administrators and IHSA made.”
This fall, Grabis will focus on majoring in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois.
"I do not plan to continue playing soccer at the varsity level," she said. "However, I will most definitely go and watch some games, especially with 'Rusty' (ex-Lyons teammate Eileen Murphy) on the team."
And summing up high school, Grabis had a final, lasting message:
“Special thanks to all the LT soccer coaches for their hard work and dedication to their teams, and thank you to all the girls I’ve had the pleasure of playing together with throughout high school.
“LT soccer is the best. Peace out.”