Lancaster’s Justin Traft has been stellar in goal

LANCASTER — Justin Traft was more than excited after he had just recorded his second shutout of the young season for the Lancaster boys soccer team.

Traft, a senior goalkeeper, has every reason to be giddy with his stellar play because he has waited for this opportunity since he was a freshman.

A concussion his freshman year cut his season short, and the last two seasons, he had to sit behind upperclassmen. It was frustrating at times, but he knew he would eventually get his chance to make his mark, even if he had to wait three years.

“I wanted to play so bad and couldn’t wait for this season to get here,” Traft said. “My dad kept telling me that my time would come and that it would be really special, and he is right, it has been awesome so far. It’s crazy to think I’m finally getting a chance to play and that I’ve started my varsity career with back-to-back shutouts.

“I always had older guys playing in front of me and was always waiting to be the next guy to play under the lights. It has been a little nerve-racking, but exhilarating at the same time. But once you are on the field and you find your comfort zone, you settle in and it’s a lot of fun.”

Traft helped the Golden Gales to a 2-0 win over Central Crossing in their season opener, and last Thursday, he shut out Fairfield Union 1-0. In that game, he finished with four saves, including one on a point-blank shot. He allowed one goal in Saturday’s 10-1 win over Zanesville.

“He has been waiting three years to get his shot,” Lancaster coach Matt Pentiuk said. “He has already had a couple of outstanding saves. If he doesn’t make those saves, especially in tight games, we obviously don’t win those games. It was all on his shoulders.”

Traft said the key for him thus far is the fact that he really watched the last two years how his older teammates played the position.

“I really paid attention and watched how they saved goals and what moves they had,” Traft said. “Coach Pentiuk was a goalkeeper in high school, and a good one, and I have learned a lot from him, as well. I also played club soccer in the offseason, as well as training and it is all paying off.”

Even though Traft doesn’t have a lot of varsity experience, it doesn’t show. He plays aggressively and with a lot of enthusiasm.

“You have to have the mindset that regardless of what is going on around you, you have to be in the game because if you are not, you can make a simple mistake and it can cost you the game,” Traft said. “Every time the team has the ball in my half, under my arc, I love the adrenaline rush, love that feeling and it’s what I play for.

“It’s nerve-racking and I feel I like I have everything on my shoulders, but I have to remember that I have 10 other people in front of me that I have to trust and they have to trust me to make the save. I just go out every game and give it all I have, and I feel like I have a lot to give because I’ve waited for this for a long time.”

twilson@lancastereaglegazette.com

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