After four remarkable years as the starting varsity goalkeeper for Lincoln-Way Central, Flynn Meyer is stepping away from soccer to pursue a college diving career at Southern Illinois. Throughout her high school soccer journey, she has amassed many cherished memories and takes pride in how her team performed in her final match, the most significant of her career.
Meyer reflected on the team’s efforts, stating, “I think we really did battle until the end. We did all we could. All the seniors, we can be proud of our last game. We left it all out there. No complaints there.”
During her last match, Meyer made nine crucial saves as the Knights held off a strong Edwardsville team in regulation time. Despite this, the Tigers claimed victory with a 3-1 penalty-kick shootout win in the Class 3A Bloomington Supersectional.
Key players such as Ella Forystek, Jolie Kolosh, Aly Sudkamp, and future Millikin recruit Taylor Watt led a commendable defensive effort. Jules Rafacz successfully converted the team’s single penalty kick.
The Knights capped their season with a second sectional title in five years and an unbeaten 8-0 run in the SouthWest Suburban Conference under first-year coach Breanna Bembenek.
Meyer also expressed her gratitude to fellow senior Genny Burroughs, whose three shootout saves helped propel Edwardsville (16-3-2) to state. “I’m happy with our season,” Meyer said, “Having a new coaching staff was a little nerve-racking, but in the end, we did great. All of us were very united. We were best friends off the field, and I think that chemistry carried us on the field and that’s what got us this far.”
“Flynn was an absolute leader for us,” coach Bembenek said. “A lot of our games this year, a lot of our success was because she was in net saving us. In all our conference games this year, she only allowed one goal in eight games.”
As an outstanding three-sport athlete, Meyer balanced soccer, gymnastics, and diving during her time at Lincoln-Way Central. Although she did not anticipate a future solely dedicated to diving, soccer has prepared her for the challenges ahead. Meyer shared, “These big moments in soccer, like this game, I have come up big in them sometimes over the years. And the nerves that come up, it prepares me for the big moments in diving where it’s dead silent and I have to go perform.”
Lincoln-Way Central looks ahead with optimism as key seniors depart. Several underclassmen, including standout Jules Rafacz and most of their starting back line, will return. Junior defender Sudkamp stated, “We’ve got to keep this going for next season and remember how this ended. We’ve got to be willing to put the work in again just like we did for this season.”
Meyer will cheer them on, holding onto the bonds she’s formed. She remarked, “It’s not about any championships or anything like that. I build families in every sport I’m in. So, it’s my best friends. It’s building those relationships. That’s the best part.”
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