The most accomplished goalkeeper in the history of the Quest University Kermodes men's soccer program looks set to make a jump across the pond - and into the pros.
Lucas Menz, who has manned the pipes for the Kermodes since the team's inception, has turned heads in England and, after four years at Quest, is well on his way to bigger and better things in the soccer world.
"I'm in England right now trying out for a few pro teams in the third and fourth divisions," Menz told The Chief. "Playing pro soccer has been a goal of mine for a long time and I am going to do everything I can to achieve that goal while I have the opportunity to do it."
Menz was born in Germany and then moved to North Vancouver at the age of five. After early success in both soccer and basketball, he decided to focus on soccer after Grade 9, joining a top-level program on the North Shore. It was in the North Shore Premier Players Program that Menz first worked with current Kermodes assistant coach Michael Norris, who was the goalkeeper coach for the program.
"I had worked with Lucas as part of the program when he was a youth (U16 - U18)," Norris said. "He was a very talented 'keeper at the time, very good technically; however, he was just a little on the short side and very quiet. As he got older he grew and also got a little more vocal."
Menz was recruited by the Kermodes after graduating from high school in 2008 by Quest's first head coach, Adam Day. He turned out to be one of the program's most important recruits.
"I first heard about Quest from the coach of my North Shore Metro youth team," Menz recalled. "I genuinely became interested in Quest when Adam Day came to watch me play and asked to meet me. From there I took a tour of the campus and saw what a nice campus it was. Adam made a good impression on me and seemed more interested than any other schools I was looking at and as a player, you always want to play somewhere where you are wanted."
The Kermodes' first season in the then-British Columbia College Athletics Association (BCCAA) was a demonstration season and Menz said he remembered it well.
"I enjoyed the first year because I made some great friends on the team and we had a group of players that wanted to be at the school from the start of the soccer program and see it succeed," Menz said. "We hadfive games against BCCAA teams and held our own. Our play in the first season gave me the belief that we could do really well in the league but I think in the end, a lack of experience throughout the whole squad meant that we did not do as well as we had hoped."
The following year was Quest's first foray into the BCCAA and the team failed to win a game. Despite the tough start, coaches recognized Menz's skill by naming him to the league all-stars' second team. Norris noticed that, even early on, Menz set the tone of the Kermodes.
"Lucas was very much seen as a leader on the team," Norris said. "He wasn't a massive cheerleader in the changing room, he just let his performance do the talking. However, once on the field he did become more of a vocal leader to the boys around him."
Before the 2010 season, Menz spent the summer training with Welling in England, noting that it was a great experience and helped him develop contacts in Europe. Menz was also between the pipes for the Kermodes' first-ever win in BCCAA competition on Sept. 18, 2010 when they beat UBC-Okanagan 2-1. The team narrowly missed the playoffs both in 2010 and '11, but Menz said that doesn't cloud his memories.
"My best memories were the times I spent with the boys on the team," Menz said. "Nothing beats preseason training when we are the only ones at the school for a couple weeks and training twice a day, not worrying about schoolwork and having a good laugh with each other. Another great memory is our road trips together, especially after we have won a big game. I made some of the best friends I will ever have over my four years playing for the team."
Menz also gave credit to his coaches Day, Norris and Jonas Worth for helping him develop.
"Mickey always pushes me to improve every part of my game," Menz said. "He really is a perfectionist and does not settle for anything. His knowledge and dedication made me a better goalkeeper. Adam always trusted and supported me and he pushed me to improve every training session and every game. Jonas has a different style than Adam and emphasizes team spirit. He fits in well at Quest and looks to be recruiting players that fit his mentality."
Norris, who played professionally in England before coming to Quest, said he thinks Menz has what it takes to reach the next level.
"I think Lucas has a very good chance of taking soccer further," he said. "He has shown he has the technical aspects of the game to be able to play at a higher level. His tactical awareness and understanding of the game is also of a very high level. He, in general, has the all-round qualities to make it at the next level."
Menz said will continue to work hard and try to crack a club roster and he hopes to sign on with an English side by the end of the month.
"As a goalkeeper it is a matter of finding a team that needs a goalkeeper and has the funds to sign one," he said. "It is all about timing, being in the right place at the right time.The main thing is to find a club to start off with and work your way up. I want to finish my degree at Quest as well, but when I got the opportunity to try out for some pro teams, it is something that doesn't come along every day and something I couldn't turn down."
