By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

The Lafayette Christian boys’ soccer team is 8-3, has clinched a spot in the GISA Class A playoffs and could even finish as the region champion.

Not bad for the upstart Cougars, who are in their first year fielding a varsity soccer team.

Head coach Keith Pike said the players have done a great job taking responsibility this season.

“To be honest, they know their capabilities better than I do,” said Pike, who has coached recreation soccer for six years prior to this season. “Some of them have been playing together since they were 5-years-old. They help me make some of the decisions.”

Pike’s son, Jarred Pike, is the Cougars’ junior goal keeper and the leader of a defense that is the team’s strength.

Jarred said the team has capitalized on its good play, despite starting the year with limited expectations.

“When we first started, everyone thought ‘Who cares? We’re just going to lose,’ ” said Jarred, who has been a goalkeeper for seven years. “Now that we’re winning, there’s more motivation.”

While the defense has been “winning games for the Cougars, Pike said the offense has improved as the season has gone along.

Lafayette is led in goals by speedy sophomore Nathan Chola, who has knocked in 14 scores this season.

“I think we’ve surpassed our expectations,” said Chola, who is also the star running back for the Cougar football team. “We’ve definitely done better than I thought we would in our first year.”

Pike said Chola’s speed makes him a threat every time he steps onto the field, and is the team’s go-to player on offense.

“(Chola) can just outrun everybody,” Pike said.

Only four players have previous on-field experience together, including Jarred, Brian Anderson, Jereme Anderson and Jonny Marshall.

The pre-existing relationships have helped the Cougars with fundamentals, according to Jarred Pike.

“We’ve been getting better with ball movement,” he said. “We’ve also been working harder and have a lot of determination.”

Lafayette will keep a close eye on what Arlington Christian and Westfield School do in the upcoming week, as a loss by either team could mean a No. 1 seed for the Cougars.

The Cougars lost their first games against both opponents, but defeated both in their second go-around.

Pike pointed to Lafayette’s 1-0 win over Arlington on April 25 as one of the team’s biggest accomplishments.

The Cougars also defeated Westfield 2-1 on Monday.

Lafayette has one remaining game Monday against Young Americans Christian School in non-region action.

“The guys have really put it together and progressed each game,” coach Pike said. “They’ve been able to get it done.”

Jarred Pike thinks the best is yet to come for the Cougars.

“Next year we’ll have some fun with it,” he said.