Vindicator Fall Athletes: Matt Pasternak

The Lakeview boys soccer program has produced some of the best players in the area in recent years. Junior midfielder Matt Pasternak is the latest Bulldog to receive high praise for his accomplishments on and off the field.

In 2011 and 2012, Lakeview advanced to the regional semifinal round of the state tournament. However this season, bitter rival Canfield got the better of the Bulldogs in the district final.

“We need to come back and work even harder than last year,” Pasternak said. “Because we know how it felt last year losing in the district final and it hurt.”

Pasternak is no stranger to good competition. He began playing soccer at the age of 4 and has used competitive travel leagues to improve his skills through the years.

“A ball by my foot has always been there,” Pasternak said.

The relationship he has with his teammates is something Pasternak believes contributes to his success. He says he and his teammates know each others’ next moves on the field and that comes with spending so much time together in the offseason.

After a 20-goal, 20-assist season this year, Pasternak is aiming for a 30-30 season as a senior. He wants to continue playing soccer at the collegiate level in hopefully Division I or II.

“I want to definitely play at the next level and in order to do that I have to practice a lot harder and do more work,” he said. “I have to work in the classroom and on the field.”