Lely Extends Senior Night Streak to 29

There aren’t too many absolutes in high school sports. But for the last 29 years, the Lely boys soccer team has never lost on senior night under coach Robbie Schank.

Despite the majority of the game being played in front of Estero’s goal - the Trojans outshot the Wildcats 18-4 Friday night - the Trojans battled Estero to a tough 0-0 tie in their home stadium.

“It happens sometimes,” said Robbie Schank of the scoreless tie. "Their keeper was awesome tonight. Most nights a lot of our shots would have been goals. That’s the reason it was 0-0 and we dominated. It was their keeper. He kept us out.”

The Wildcats (6-8-2) were able to keep the Trojans (6-7-2) out of the goal because of the combination of sweeper Aiden Gorski and goalkeeper Nicholas Van Port Fleet.

“Aiden Gorski is definitely one of the top defensive players in the state of Florida,” said Shank. “That’s why they play tight games. Their keeper and their sweeper made it difficult for us. We had a big advantage on shots on frame.”

Schank feels his team is coming together going into the district tournament.

“It’s a young team,” Schank said. "We have some players coming back for the playoffs that we didn’t have all season. We’re hoping to surprise some teams in the playoffs.”

Schank is going for his fifth straight trip to the regionals. 

“We’re fifth seed,” Schank said of his position in the district tournament. But Schank said his team will be at their peak heading into the tournament.

“Our goalie was out for the first nine games with a concussion from football,” Schank said. "Our record doesn’t reflect how we can play in the playoffs. I’m ready to go. I’ve got all the pieces to my puzzle."

Schank is proud of his team for keeping his 29-year unbeaten streak alive.

"We didn’t play a scrub team for Senior Night,” Schank said. "We played a legit team in Estero.”

The Trojans and Wildcats enter district play this week.