BOYS SOCCER: Highlanders Spine: Lencioni brothers are the backbone of Rochester Adams’ run to Final Four
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.Stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
ROCHESTER HILLS — When the Lencioni brothers were all in middle school, they often had discussions around the house or soccer pitch of what it would be like to play together at the high school level and lead their school to a deep run in the state tournament.
That was when the family resided in Ann Arbor.
Less than five years later, and now residents of Rochester Hills, the trio is living out that very same dream.
With Kevin Lencioni, now a senior, and twins Mathew and Peter Lencioni, now sophomores, they are not only members of Rochester Adams’ boys soccer program, but varsity starters on a team that is currently in the Division 1 Final Four. The Highlanders will continue their vision quest at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night at Lake Orion High School, where they will take on third-ranked and unbeaten Fraser (23-0-3) in the state semifinals.
“It’s kind of funny, but we used to talk about this all the time. (Looking ahead to) when I would be a senior and my brothers sophomores, that we would have a chance to be very good and hopefully go a long ways (in the state tournament),” said Kevin, who leads the Highlanders (12-4-7) with 17 goals and is a bona fide All-State player.
The Lencionis are not the first bothers trio to suit up for Adams. Back in 2001, the Omekanda brothers — Paul, Simon and Jean — all played 0n the Highlanders’ Division 1 state runner-up team. The Lencionis hope to equal or better that feat.
“We’ve heard all about them, being on the 2001 team, but they didn’t win the state title together,” noted Peter Lencioni. “This is something that we have talked about for a long time. Last year we had a great run reaching the regional finals. This year we don’t want to stop playing. This is the last time we will probably play together. We have goals of going after the state title.”
The Highlanders coaching staff realizes that this year’s brother connection are key cogs in Adams’ success story. The Highlanders were second in the ever-tough OAA Red Division and have captured district and regional titles in their tournament run.
“They re all great kids,” offered sixth-year coach Josh Hickey of the Lecionis. “They are a big part of our success. They play down the middle of the field, kind of like our spine.”
Kevin is an attacking player, playing forward or midfield, depending on the situation. Matthew is a defensive center midfielder and Peter plays behind him as a center back or sweeper.
The twins also play for WAZA and were part of a team that finished as the U-16 Michigan State Cup Runners-Up last June. It was with that team that the Spine nickname first came into play.
“(The spine reference) was something that one of our club coaches referred to me and Matt about and it kind of stuck, carried over into high school,” said Peter, a lockdown defender.
Matthew said that success has bread success and it has carried over into the high season.
“We have a lot of talent on this team,” said Matthew. “Most of them come from really good club teams. Kevin plays for a really good WAZA team. I think that’s reason why we have done so well (at Adams). We have a lot of good players.”
Adams is in an odd situation, with four of the school’s top players suiting up for the U.S. Soccer Academy, either with the Michigan Wolves or Vardar. They cannot play at the high school. Yet the Highlanders have still banded together for an amazing season.
Adams is making it s fifth appearance in the Final Four (1999, 2001, 2004, 2009 and 2014). This is a team with hard-working players and not necessarily with a band of superstars like some of the former Adams great teams.
“I wouldn’t trade this year’s team for anything,” noted Kevin. “I love playing with my brothers. I love playing with this group of guys. We have a chance to do something special. We hope to go out and beat Fraser, then play for the state championship this Saturday. We have not won the state title here since (1999). We want to bring back the title to Adams.”
And take it full circle by living the dream.
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