ELHS Men’s Soccer: Meet the Captains

The East Lansing High School Men’s Soccer team captains. From left to right: Chris Wallace, Quinton Haye, Ian Carroll, and Zachary-Michael Lane

Last year, the East Lansing High School men’s soccer team became the first team in school history to win back-to-back state championships. Even with this success, they aren’t looking to slow down anytime soon, with eyes on a third state championship in a row. The squad of 23 boys, coached by longtime veteran Nick Archer, includes eleven seniors who bring a lot of experience to the team. ELi talked with the team’s four captains to learn more about the team, and their expectations for the season.

Ian Carroll
A senior forward, Ian has big expectations for the season. When he’s not playing soccer, he golfs in the spring on the East Lansing golf team. While a state championship is obviously the main goal, he also enjoys soccer for more than just winning. His favorite part, he says, is “coming out with friends and spending time coming together.” A big game he is looking forward to? “Okemos, they’re our conference rival.” He also notes the game against Mason should be a good one. Ian is undecided on his college plans.

Chris Wallace
Chris is also a senior captain. He is the goalkeeper for the team. His favorite part of playing soccer, he mentions, is the closeness and unity of the team. “It’s a great way to bond. I’m an only child [at home] so it’s like another family to me.” This season he is looking forward to playing Mason. Another big game he mentions is against Detroit Catholic Central, another soccer powerhouse, on September 26 at home. When asked about his coach, Nick Archer, he mentions that Archer is more the game of soccer. “He spends every day with his grandkids. He’s not only a great soccer role model but family, too.” Chris is undecided on college plans, but he mentions playing soccer in college is a possibility.

Quinton Haye
Quinton is a midfielder for the Trojans. He is quite respected by his teammates as he is the only junior to be a captain (the team voted on the captains this year). He has played since he was six years old and continues to love the game. While a state championship is the main goal, he says there’s more to it. He hopes the Trojans will “reach the full potential this team can reach.” A big game he is looking forward to is Okemos because he plays with a lot of the players on his club soccer team. As Quinton is only a junior, he does not have college plans yet.

Zachary-Michael Lane 
Zach, a senior, is a midfielder who has been playing for thirteen years. He also runs track in the spring. He credits his passion for the game to his father. “My dad used to watch a lot of pro soccer so I’ve been a huge fan. I’ve watched European soccer,” he says, and his favorite team is Arsenal. When asked about expectations for the season, he mentions that winning a state championship is a goal but not taken for granted. “It’s most important that we come together as a team and if we do that, we should be able to do that,” alluding to a third state championship. Zach has been in the talks with numerous colleges, but he’s limited his choices down to two: Tufts University and Vassar College.

Through September 10, the team boasts a 5-1-1 record with a conference record of 1-0-0. The team plays its home games at East Lansing Soccer Complex off of Chandler Road. Their schedule (with updated scores) can be found at http://eastlansingathletics.com/soccer/boys/varsity/schedule.