‘Something to prove.’ Lafayette soccer eyes postseason glory after a humbling start
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lafayette rebounded from early 5-1 loss with 11 straight wins and top seed.
- Senior leaders and returning club players sparked mindset and performance shift.
- District tournaments begin Oct. 7, with Lafayette and Henry Clay top-seeded.
A year after winning the 11th Region championship and making it all the way to the boys state soccer finals, Lafayette suffered a stunning defeat in overtime in last season’s 43rd District Tournament.
With 17 seniors and two key players returning to the fold from the Lexington Sporting Club Academy, the Generals had every reason to expect they would write a different story this time around.
But when they faced defending region and state champion Henry Clay in the second game of the season Aug. 21, the Generals discovered they couldn’t just show up and stand toe-to-toe with an elite team. The Blue Devils handed Lafayette a humbling 5-1 defeat.
“After Henry Clay, a lot of our players weren’t happy. We wanted action, not just talking,” said senior Rylan Chau, who returned to Lafayette along with his brother, Skyler, after a year training only at the club level. “So, next training, next practice, next games, next film session, we tried to come in with a better mindset to improve and be better and to dominate the field the next day.”
The next week, Lafayette beat district rival Paul Laurence Dunbar 2-1, which helped give the Generals the No. 1 seed in next week’s district playoffs. They’ve reeled off 11 wins since the Henry Clay loss, outscoring opponents 48-3 with eight shutouts, including last Thursday’s 5-0 win over Frederick Douglass at Lexington Sporting Club Stadium, the second of the two regular season matches held at the pro venue this season.
“The mentality changed overnight. From practice, to games, to warmups — everything changed after that result,” said senior striker Max Jacobs, who leads the team in scoring with 17 goals. “We started playing with a chip on our shoulder. I think we had something to prove.”
Senior midfielder Justice Oladeji knows something about humbling experiences and rising to a challenge.
As a freshman, Oladeji didn’t make the cut for either of Lafayette’s two junior varsity teams. The school has two because the largest high school in the state by enrollment often sees more than 100 hopefuls at tryouts each summer. This year, 148 students registered. Fewer than half got a jersey.
“After that year, I just realized I had a long way to go,” Oladeji said. “I feel like getting cut was a good thing for me, because I realized there’s levels to it. I try to get better each year, every time I’m on the field, just working towards that next level.”
As a defensive center midfielder this season, Oladeji’s contributions don’t tally up on a score sheet.
“His game has evolved so much over the past three years, and even over the past year. Last year, we played him more as an attacking position. And this offseason with his club team, he’s become more of a defensive player,” Grimm said. “He’s great in possession, high IQ, and he just really works and helps us to control the middle of the field.”
The return of the Chaus has helped raise Lafayette’s level as well. They chose LSC’s club-only option last season in pursuit of a higher level of play because of their aspirations to continue their playing careers beyond high school. When LSC allowed its academy players to return to their high school teams this fall, the decision to come back seemed perfect.
“I came back because I missed it. I wanted to play with my friends,” Rylan Chau said. “And although the level may not be where I wanted to be, I can come in and try to change it for myself and my teammates. That’s what we’ve been doing ever since Clay. I don’t regret it, but I missed playing with my friends, and I’m glad I’m back for my senior year.”
Skyler Chau, a sophomore, scored his first goal of the season against Douglass on a top-shelf, opposite-corner blast from about 30 yards out on Thursday.
Jacobs has already surpassed his team-leading goal total last season. He has the most of any forward in the city, but it’s his maturity as a teammate and team leader that has impressed his coach.
“When he plays with a ton of energy both on and off the wall, we’re a different team, and he’s kind of a different player,” Grimm said.
Next week, the Generals (11-1-0, 4-0-0 through Monday) begin their pursuit of the 43rd District and 11th Region titles and a chance to earn their way back to the state tournament.
Besides Rundell Rankings’ No. 1 Henry Clay (12-2-1), district rival Paul Laurence Dunbar (9-4-4, 3-1-0) will present a significant threat to their hopes. Dunbar managed a 1-1 tie against the Blue Devils two days after their loss to Lafayette.
But it’s the memory of that Henry Clay loss that drives them.
“We just weren’t ready for that game. It’s not that we couldn’t compete with them. It’s just we weren’t ready at that at that point in the season,” Grimm said. “I think they really embraced that result to say ‘We need to make some changes if we want to get to that.’
“And we believe that we can.”
District tournament fields set
Henry Clay and Lafayette are the top seeds in next week’s 42nd and 43rd boys district tournaments, respectively, but expect Bryan Station and Paul Laurence Dunbar to be in the mix for the district finals and the 11th Region tournament and beyond.
On the girls side, Paul Laurence Dunbar’s upset of Lexington Catholic on Sept. 17 staked the Bulldogs to the top seed in the 43rd District for the first time ever. In the 42nd District, Frederick Douglass claimed the top spot for the fifth consecutive season over Henry Clay.
Here are the postseason brackets and schedules for next week involving Lexington teams. The district champions and runners-up advance to the following week’s 11th Region tournaments that also include the top two teams from the 41st and 44th districts.
Girls soccer tournaments
42nd District
At Henry Clay High School
First round (Monday)
Sayre vs. Scott County, 8 p.m.
Semifinal (Oct. 7)
Frederick Douglass vs. Sayre-Scott County winner, 8 p.m.
Semifinal (Oct. 8)
Henry Clay vs. Bryan Station, 8 p.m.
Final (Oct. 9)
Championship game, 8 p.m.
43rd District
At Lexington Christian Academy
First round (Monday)
Lexington Christian vs. Tates Creek, 6 p.m.
Semifinals (Oct. 7)
Paul Laurence Dunbar vs. Lexington Christian-Tates Creek winner, 5:30 p.m.
Lexington Catholic vs. Lafayette, 7:30 p.m.
Final (Oct. 9)
Championship game, 6 p.m.
Boys soccer tournaments
42nd District
At Henry Clay High School
First round (Monday)
Sayre vs. Frederick Douglass, 6:15 p.m.
Semifinal (Oct. 8)
Henry Clay vs. Sayre-Douglass winner, 6:15 p.m.
Semifinal (Oct. 9)
Bryan Station vs. Scott County, 6:15 p.m.
Final (Oct. 10)
Championship game, 6:15 p.m.
43rd District
At Lexington Catholic High School
First round (Monday)
Tates Creek vs. Lexington Christian, 6:30 p.m.
Semifinals (Oct. 7)
Lafayette vs. Lexington Christian-Tates Creek winner, 6 p.m.
Paul Laurence Dunbar vs. Lexington Catholic, 8 p.m.
Final (Oct. 9)
Championship game, 6:30 p.m.
This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
