AOTW: Flock Leader: Rochester’s Pilakos looking to lead Falcons deep in state tournament
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BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
ROCHESTER HILLS — Ask Spiro Pilakos when was the last time that Rochester won a district championship in boys soccer, and he’s quick to give an answer.
“Not since before I’ve been here,” said Pilakos, a senior midfielder at Rochester. “I know they have had a lot of good teams, but we want to make our own (mark).”
Rochester last won a district in 2007. Prior to that, the Falcons won districts in 1990, 1992, 2002 and 2005.
“We want to win this year. The past couple of years, we were knocked out (early), said Pilakos.
The talented field general is a fourth-year starter for the Falcons, a senior-heavy team. He earned All-OAA Red Division and All-District the past two seasons, as well as All-State Honorable Mention Division 1 as a sophomore and All-State Third Team Division 1 as a junior.
ATTACK MODE: Rochester senior Sprio Pilakos has developed into one of Michigan’s top players and will play for UD-Mercy next school year. Photo | Ken Swart
Not only is he one of Oakland County’s premier talents that have elected to play high school soccer this season, Pilakos is also an All-State Dream Team candidate as one of the state’s top players overall. He has continued to play high school soccer along with regular club soccer instead of locking into the 10-month U.S. Soccer Academy, which has lured away some of the top players around the country.
“There’s something about playing for your high school,” said Pilakos. “There still is great competition and I still play with a really good club team. I didn’t want to (trade that) experience in (for Academy soccer).”
This season Pilakos has led Rochester with 14 goals and 12 assists, a significant uptick from his previous three high school campaigns after being more up a set-up man opposed to a scorer. He has also committed to Division I University of Detroit-Mercy to continue his career next year, becoming Rochester’s second D-I college player in only two years that has elected not to play for the Academy.
Pilakos also played varsity baseball in ninth and 10th grade, but opted to give that sport up after an injury. Soccer is his first love.
“I’ve played for almost my whole life,” he said. “Playing college soccer has been a goal of mine since I got to high school. I can’t wait for that challenge.”
As for now, Pilakos just hopes to lead Rochester deep into the postseason. Rochester won a state championship in 2002 and reached the regional finals (Elite Eight) in 1990, 1992 and 2007, but has not rolled past the district finals since that ’07 campaign.
“That’s been our goal since we lost to (Rochester) Adams last year,” said Pilakos. “We have the talent to go a long ways.”
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FOR MORE SOCCER COVERAGE: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=soccer&x=0&y=0
Have photos or video of this event that you wish to share? E-mail pertinent information to www.northoaklandsports.com Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or e-mail results@northoaklandsports.com.
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