Sports

Logos photo by Derek Grote Graham Lynch works for ball control during a match against Indian Hills. Lynch scored two goals in a 2-1 win over Scott Community College on Saturday, September 13 to help keep the team undefeated following that contest.

Lynch scores key goals for team

Jackson Renberg
Staff Reporter

Freshman midfielder Graham Lynch has been a big part of the NIACC men’s soccer team this year.

But, no game so far has been bigger for the freshman from Dublin, Ireland than the victory over Scott Community College where Lynch scored the two goals in a 2-1 victory.

“It was our toughest game to date,” Lynch said after the contest and prior to a 1-1 tie with No. 3 ranked Marshalltown on September 23 when Lynch scored his team’s only goal to lead the team to an 8-0-1 record at the time.

One reason why Lynch has been coming up big in games is his improvement on the field as a soccer player since coming to NIACC.

“I have learned to be a lot smarter player and more aware,” Lynch said.

Although it helps Lynch out a lot that he has become more knowledgeable to the game, it also helps his teammates.

“Graham has a great understanding of the game and players are learning from it,” assistant coach Aleksander Bogdonovic said.

Lynch is ranked nationally in statistical categories.

Through the first seven games played this year, Lynch had scored five goals and had 12 assists ranking nationally in the assist categories.

He ranks nationally in assists among all the other community colleges.

All this has come to a guy that had one offer to play college soccer.

“Coach (Mike) Regan was the only one to offer me a spot to play college soccer,” Lynch said.

Regan said Lynch was not heavily recruited because he played and lived in the smaller country of Ireland.

“But, I am happy he wasn’t heavily recruited because he is a good player,” Regan said.

Lynch’s overall work ethic has also impressed his coaches and teammates.

“Graham helps contribute in many ways with his scoring goals, his assists and his general hard work,” Derrick Best, sophomore midfielder for NIACC soccer team, said.

While Lynch keeps on working hard and ranking nationally in statistical categories, other schools have to be saying: “what were we thinking?” when they passed on this player who has had a definite impact on the NIACC program this season.