Boys soccer: Stevenson's Nyc earns Lake County All-Area Captain
When told he would be named captain of the 2022 Daily Herald Lake County All-Area team, the response from Steven Nyc is just what one would expect from this superb central defender from Stevenson.
"You cannot win individual awards without the teammates around you, so as much as I appreciate this honor, I have to say it's all because of my team, the program, and my coach," said Nyc.
"Steven is the type of leader and player that every coach desires to have in their program," said Stevenson coach PepeJon Chavez.
"Each day, Steven arrives with an attitude ready to compete, and he raises the level, standard, and expectations of those around him."
Quick, strong, and comfortable challenging for the ball, in the air as he is on his foot, the three-year starter is a strong reader of the game - who, when he senses trouble, will use his high soccer IQ to intercept passes with a determined and disciplined style that has impressed the opposition.
"No. 5 (Nyc) plays with such composure and command in the center of the Stevenson defense, he really holds things together back there," said Fremd coach Steve Keller after the Patriots' recent 2-1 sectional victory in overtime.
Nyc would begin his career as an outside back, before moving inside a year ago to help lead the Patriots to a 15-3-4 record, in advance of a magnificent 2022 season which includes three major trophies, a 22-1-3 record, and a third-place finish in the Class 4A state tournament.
"(PepeJon) took a chance by bringing along a handful of young players during my sophomore year, and put so much of his heart and soul into that group, along with returning players, building tremendous relationships with all of us," Nyc said. "And we (now) are seeing the fruits of his labor play out during this season."
Nyc is a two-time all-NSC player, who was also anointed all-state.
Brilliant positionally, Nyc also can distribute with quality, as well as his deadly service out of the back, or in dead-ball opportunities.
"He does not get beat in 1v1 situations, he's outstanding in the air, and he sweeps in out of nowhere to clean up the play, and (then) build us out of the back," begins Chavez.
"For me, the most admirable quality of Steven is his desire to consistently improve. And all those around him, he's a captain, and our leader, and I've come to trust him more than any other center back in my coaching career."