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SOCCER Noah Busefink Lakeview boys
An undefeated regular season and a district title seemed like a tall order, but the Bulldogs made it happen.
Noah Busefink, a junior, was the leading goal-scorer on that team. He posted 20 goals and seven assists as Lakeview went 18-0-1, earning 12 shutouts along the way.
“At the beginning of the season, I told my coach I wanted to go undefeated, but he thought it was a fantasy,” Busefink said. “I told I thought it was very likely and that me and my team could go undefeated and win a district championship.”
The source of that sentiment was two-fold. Lakeview had a very senior- and junior-heavy roster and brought a lot of experience to the table and the results of the Bulldogs’ first game against Canfield was very encouraging.
“We only won, 1-0, but we outplayed them big time. I saw the potential,” Busefink said.
Canfield was the reigning district champion, but the Bulldogs got the better of the Cardinals in the title game, winning 4-1. Busefink scored twice in the victory.
“We didn’t want them to have a district championship again and it felt good taking that away from them,” Busefink said.
Lakeview lost in regionals, 3-0, to Revere, a team that was the state runner-up.
Busefink’s speed on and off the ball plays well into Lakeview’s high-energy style of play. It made him a district player of the year this season and a marked man by opponents.
“It was a big step up from my freshman year to my sophomore year. I had six goals and four assists [as a freshman] and then I had 22 goals and eight assists,” Busefink said. “A lot of coaches and players noticed me last year, so I took that responsibility to build myself up.
“Coaches and players target me, so it opens things up for my teammates,” he added.