Michael Lewis

Michael LewisMichael Lewis, who has covered college soccer for more than 30 years, is the editor of BigAppleSoccer.com and TropiGol.com.

Michael Lewis's Columns

Amber Brooks pays it forward with soccer tournament

November 19, 2012

At an age where most soccer players are more concerned about playing in tournaments, Amber Brooks was organizing one as a senior at Pennington High School.

In 2009, Brooks and teammate Heidi Sabatura helped found “Score for a Cure” tournament in New Hope, Pa. It is a 3 v 3 tourney for Under-9 to U-13 girls in honor of Charlotte Moran. Moran, a long-time beloved and respected Olympic Development Program administrator who impacted many lives, including Brooks, passed away… Continue Reading…

Returning the favor is important to Coastal Carolina’s Bennett

October 08, 2012

In January, Ashton Bennett had a giant carrot being dangled in front of him as he was being touted as a possible top 10 pick in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

While rookies certainly don’t make millions in pro soccer in the United States, getting an opportunity to pursue a career in an avocation that you love can be enticing.

But there was only one slight problem—the Jamaican native would have had to give up his senior year at Coastal Carolina University,… Continue Reading…

Holt states his case for a successful career

December 18, 2011

As a goalkeeper who is all of 5-foot-8, Creighton University senior Brian Holt has heard the talk that he was too small to be a goalkeeper.

Yet, he has managed to stand tall in the net and off the pitch in more ways than one.

Holt wound up as one of four NCAA Division I goalkeepers still standing as Creighton earned a spot in the NCAA Men’s College Cup in Hoover, Ala. So, given his play and leadership on the field, and focus, classroom and volunteer work off it, it was not… Continue Reading…

Simonin reaps the rewards of doing the right thing

December 11, 2011

Let this be a lesson for every soccer player or every athlete that is asked to move to another position.

Prior to the University of Memphis women’s 2010 soccer season, Lizzy Simonin was asked to move from forward to backline. Many players would balk. Simonin, on the other hand, has thrived and has been just rewarded

It should not be surprising that Simonin was named the winner of the Lowe’s CLASS award for women’s soccer for 2011 because she exemplified… Continue Reading…

Collegiate goals accomplished…soccer winners move on to compete in other arenas

December 13, 2010

It should not be surprising that North Carolina midfielder Ali Hawkins and Akron midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong earned the women’s and men’s honors for the 2010 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.

After all, it has never about them. It has always been about someone or something else.

Their reaction to winning the awards said it all.

“It’s an honor,”  Ampaipitakwong said. “I take it as a team award. My team helped me… Continue Reading…

Soccer peers faced adversity and moved past trials for triumph

October 25, 2010

How someone deals with adversity, challenges and change can tell volumes about that person.

What Samson Malijani and Bobby Warshaw have had to go through are on different ends of the spectrum, yet they handled it with grace, dignity and determination.

Malijani, a senior striker at Fairleigh Dickinson University, lost his parents to a car accident at the age of 10 and had to overcome a serious knee injury that he feared would end his career.

Warshaw, a senior… Continue Reading…

Soccer peers faced adversity and moved past trials for triumph

October 25, 2010

How someone deals with adversity, challenges and change can tell volumes about that person.

What Samson Malijani and Bobby Warshaw have had to go through are on different ends of the spectrum, yet they handled it with grace, dignity and determination.

Malijani, a senior striker at Fairleigh Dickinson University, lost his parents to a car accident at the age of 10 and had to overcome a serious knee injury that he feared would end his career.

Warshaw, a senior… Continue Reading…

Army women’s soccer standout Elizabeth Betterbed believes in character first

November 16, 2009

Elizabeth Betterbed seems to be the living embodiment of the old Army recruiting slogan: Be all you can be.

As a senior at the United States Military Academy, Betterbed is ranked No. 1 in her class, is a Deputy Brigade Commander and an important member of the Army women’s soccer team.

For her achievements, Betterbed has been selected one of 10 women’s finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.

She loves it at West Point.

“After… Continue Reading…

Juvenile diabetes hasn’t slowed men’s and women’s soccer standouts

September 21, 2009

It is difficult enough to be a successful student-athlete these days. Add a disease such as diabetes and the challenge becomes even greater.

Two college soccer players have managed not only to survive, but have thrived on every front. That’s a big reason why University of North Carolina-Greensboro defender Lauren Lopez and George Mason midfielder Richard Edgar are candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. They don’t feel sorry for themselves one bit. They go out and… Continue Reading…

Classroom, the Most Important “C”

November 15, 2008

There is little doubt that the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award has several important criteria, which includes classroom work, community involvement and of course, competition.

None should be taken lightly and all should be given proper consideration by the committee when selecting this year’s winners in various sports in the men’s and women’s categories.

Saying that, this writer puts one of the criteria—classroom—slightly above the rest.
… Continue Reading…