TimesLeader.com

October 7, 2009

Never forget No. 3

Off the Bench with Adam Roberts

Last Tuesday night’s boys soccer game at Lakeland high school felt like an ESPN in-depth report. It had tragedy and it had triumph. It had sadness and it had elation.

The only difference was it wasn’t happening in some small town on the other side of the country. It was happening in our small town of Jermyn. The people experiencing it weren’t watching the drama unfold on TV with voiceover commentary from Jeremy Schaap; they were living it.

As dark clouds dispensed a cold mist over the field, a heavy-hearted group of friends who happened to be teammates prepared for their first game since the death of Tyler “Kube” Kubilus. Tyler, a sophomore starting midfielder, died in an ATV accident just four days earlier.

It was clear early that this wasn’t just a game; it was the team’s farewell to “Kube.”

Signs with messages about Kubilus hung on the fence in front of a crowd that dwarfed normal attendance.

Before and after the contest, the Chiefs wore their hand-drawn memorial T-shirts with “Never Forget No. 3” on the back. Many of the players wore their white home jerseys only on the field as required by rule.

Prior to the game, Tyler’s mother, Carol, and brother, Justin, 18, were on the field. The team presented Carol with flowers and a soccer ball signed by players and coaches. Justin took his brother’s spot during team introductions and joined the starters on the field wearing Tyler’s No. 3 jersey.

Even before taking the field, many of the Chiefs players looked exhausted from the emotional gauntlet they’d endured over the weekend.

A few players shed tears during the team’s pregame huddle.

Goalkeeper Chris Vojick summed up the game’s purpose in his emotional address.

“This is a game we need. Not for our record, but for Kube.”

The Chiefs took the field with one goal in mind: to win for Kube.

Head coach Joe DePasquale elected to leave Tyler’s spot open on the field until the 30 -minute mark.

While the Lakeland team members were still competing against emotions, they lined up against their opponent for the evening, Carbondale Area, a team that steamrolled them 5-0 in their first meeting.

The Chiefs battled hard throughout the game, running down every ball, making every defensive stop and throwing themselves into every possession.

Jim Germain, Tyler’s best friend, admitted he had to pull himself out of the game twice because his emotions were taking over.

The tension eased slightly after Casey Albino scored a pair of goals, one in each half, to put the Chiefs ahead 2-0.

The night’s most significant moment came at 51:24 as Germain stepped into position to shoot the team’s second penalty kick.

Germain is a defender with a strong leg, but the nature of his position keeps him from taking many shots at the goal.

Tonight was different, tonight was for “Kube” and who better to take the shot than his best friend on and off the field.

Germain’s shot bounced off Carbondale’s goalie, Scott Cleveland, putting a hush over a standing crowd.

The rebound came right back to Germain who took another shot. This one went in.

The game ended 3-0, a tribute to No. 3 that couldn’t have been written better.

At the beginning of the game the hugs were that of condolence and grief, but after the game, players hugged one another with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

As they said they’d do before the game, the Lakeland Chiefs left every ounce of themselves on the field for their friend.

They were dealt tragedy and produced triumph. They flipped their sadness into momentary elation.

Outside of what they’ve seen on TV, many of the players on the field that night have never had to deal with this kind of loss.

Finding strength in each other, the Chiefs carried themselves with class, and provided a fitting tribute to a fallen friend. An honor that number 3 deserved.

Adam Roberts is a staff reporter for the Abington Journal and can be contacted at arboerts@theabingtonjournal.com