Van Buren senior keeper has been a surprise

Andy Lopez is the definition of what it means to be a team player. The Van Buren senior goal keeper came to coach Nathan Almond last spring with a question about changing positions. The 6-foot-2 center-back had never before played goalie. But he was willing to learn. "It was definitely a change," Lopez said. "I think I've adapted well. I enjoy it a lot." Lopez inquired about moving goalie toward the end of the 2016 season. "Our senior goalie (Francisco Lopez) was graduating," Lopez said. "Last year, I started playing a little goalie in JV games to get a feel for it. This year I've trained and practiced, and I was ready for it." Lopez has been steady. He and the Pointers (5-6, 1-1) resumed 7A-West play Tuesday against Rogers Heritage. "Andy has been good for us," Almond said. "He's been out here all four years, and he's never been a keeper; he's been a center-back for us. It just shows you what he's willing to do. We were hurting in that position, and he came to me and wanted to do it. He worked on it in the off-season, and he's done a lot of good things for us around the net." "You definitely have to be on your toes," Lopez said of his new position. "You're going to get an opportunity to make a play. It's a lot different than being on the field. Being on the field, you feel like you have more control than you do in the goal." Lopez is a bit of a late bloomer. He played basketball, baseball and football prior to his ninth grade year when, on a whim, he signed up for soccer. "The second I started playing it, I really enjoyed it; I got hooked immediately," Lopez said. "I always watched soccer on TV with my dad and my brother (Cesar), so there was a small rivalry going on between us." Like a lot of athletes, Lopez uses soccer as an outlet. "As soon as I step on the field my troubles are liberated a little bit," he said. "The atmosphere is great." The conditioning part? Not so much. But through trial and error Lopez has adjusted, and shed weight. "Coming into it, I couldn't really handle it," he said. "My sophomore year going into my junior year I lost about 20 pounds. I've been able to keep it off with running and doing workouts at my house." At 6-foot-2, Lopez uses his size to his advantage. "That helps him a lot," Almond said. "He's about 6-2; he's a big kid. He's not overweight; he's in good shape. He has good hands. His hands are very active; he gets to the ball and does some good stuff for us." Lopez is hopeful good chemistry to translate to wins. The team has been streaky this season. "We're pretty tight on and off the field, " Lopez said. "We joke around in the locker room. We like to think of ourselves as brothers. I feel like we have to come out ready to play every single game to the best of our ability and then some. "Teams in the 7A-West, there is some good talent right there."

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Van Buren High School Athletics

VAN BUREN SENIOR KEEPER HAS BEEN A SURPRISE

KEVIN TAYLOR

Times Record | 3/22/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Van Buren High School Athletics