Published: August 28, 2008 10:36 pm            

H.S. BOYS SOCCER: Lockport Lions enjoy spaghetti dinner

LOCKPORT — If they had played hacky sack, they probably would have substituted meatballs for bean bags.

Plenty of preseason food and fun were on tap at the fourth annual Lockport varsity soccer Lions team spaghetti dinner on Thursday night.

Lions head coach Jeff Hulshoff and his wife, Carole, hosted about 20 LHS players at their Independence Drive home. Silly games, competitive Kan Jam and other activities were on tap as a way of generating some early season camaraderie.

“We started this the very first year I took over as head coach,” said coach Hulshoff.

“It goes a long way towards team unity. The players get to know each other better and bond more.”

Coach and Mrs. Hulshoff served up nine pounds of pasta, 10 pounds of tomato sauce, five pounds of beef, five pounds of sausage and four loaves of French garlic toast to the hungry and thankful throng.

“Team gatherings help us to be on the same page off the field — just like we’re on the same page on the field,” said Lions senior Jon Greig.

“Eating pasta is like scoring goals — it looks great, but tastes even better.”

Mrs. Hulshoff said she was thankful for the cool temperatures Thursday afternoon.

“Every year, it’s been 90 degrees and soupy,” she said.

“This year is the first year where the weather has been real nice.”

Lions junior Brian Orzechowski, who attended St. Joe’s last year, said he’s glad he’s playing for Lockport.

“St. Joe’s was just too serious. We would never have had anything like a team spaghetti dinner,” Orzechowski said.

“This is a lot of fun. It brings everyone together off the field so we can get to know each other better. I like it.”

The Lions open their season at 6 p.m. today with a non-league game at Churchville Chili. Lockport hosts North Tonawanda at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in their Niagara Frontier League opener.

The annual LHS Soccer Tournament will be held Sept. 4-6 with boys and girls varsity and junior varsity teams from Starpoint, Williamsville North and Nichols participating.

        

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