Lakota United Soccer Club - Lynx

Jim has 13 years of soccer coaching experience through recreational and select programs and has also taught goal keeper training. Jim was the Lynx head coach since their first U8 season through the Fall of 2006, before handing the head coach position to Claire Wellington. Jim and his wife Teri live in Liberty Township and  have six children, 5 daughters and 1 son, all of whom play soccer; two in instructional, two in LUSC select, one in the Cincinnati United Premier program and one at college. Jim holds an OSYSA Class F coaching license. Contact Jim on 513-703-0414 or jimdean6@aol.com

Cincinnati native Claire played her youth soccer in the GSE Cardinals organization.  Claire went on to play for Wilmington College for four years, and continued her career with the Cincinnati Ladyhawks. After graduating from Wilmington Claire served as an assistant coach with the Women’s Soccer Team for three years and has been on staff with the Midwest Soccer Academy for five years. Claire joined the Lynx as trainer over the winter of 2004/2005. Prior to the Spring 2007 Claire resigned from her coaching duites at Wilmington, allowing her to take over the head coaching duites of the LUSC Lynx.  Claire lives in Mason with her husband is also the head of coach of the girls U15 LUSC Fever.   Contact Claire on 513-313-6906 or lgucci17@yahoo.com

The Lynx travelled to Center Grove, Indiana to compete in the Nightmare at the Rock on October 22/23, 2005. To play the 8v8 format the Lynx were forced top play up in the U11 age group and were put in the top bracket by the selection commitee. The Lynx started with a solid 2-0 victory over Hoosiers FC (Noblesville, In). The second game saw the Lynx trail 2-1 at halftime against a much bigger & stronger Atletico Flames FC (Elizabethtown, Ky). However, a stunning display of passing and teamwork in the second half saw the Lynx stage a dramatic comeback win 4-2. Needing a tie in the final pool game to advance to the final, the Lynx did exactly that against the Michigan Hawks (Livonia, Mi). The Lynx trailed early 1-0 after the Hawks were gifted a goal by the linesman, but battled back to force a 1-1 tie. The Lynx faced the Indy Burn in the final. Although only a year older than the Lynx, these girls were huge and they used their size and speed to jump out to a quick 2 goal lead. The Burn added a third goal just before half time. In the second half, the Lynx showed tremendous spirit, not allowing the Burn to score again and producing more scoring opportunities than their older opponents. What a great weekend! The Lynx played up an age group in the top bracket, advanced to the final and brought home a trophy, showing how much talent and heart these girls possess.

The Lynx made it to the final of the Arsenal Challenge Cup only to lose in the final for the second year in a row. The Lynx started strongly in their first game, scoring twice in the first 10 minutes against against the Michigan Hawks. However, just before half time two Lynx players were taken sick and the extreme heat and humidity affected several other players. Struggling to get 8 fit players onto the field in the second half, the Lynx heroically held on for a 2-2 tie and keep themselves alive in the tournament. With no margin for error, the Lynx produced two flawless performances in the remaining pool games, beating Fairfield Fire 4-0 and Beavercreek Celtics 5-0 to advance to the final on superior goal difference. The final set up a re-match with the Novi Jaguars (Novi, MI) and the chance for the Lynx to avenge the loss in the final of the Warrior Classic. However, the Jaguars again proved to be the better side, their strong defense limiting the Lynx to few shots on goal and winning 2-0.

Unseasonably cold and wet weather could not prevent the Lynx from taking the honors at the Miami University Spring Classic on April 24/25. Saturday saw the Lynx get comfortable victories over NCSL Eagles (Columbus, OH) 3-0 and Ohio Elite 6-2. The Lynx woke up on Sunday morning to find snow covered fields, delaying their game against Cincinnati West Wildfire for an hour. Once the game started the Lynx coped better with the frigid conditions taking a convincing 5-1 victory. Although the snow had gone by the final against Cincinnati Classics Hammer the wind had picked up. The Lynx had the perfect start, scoring in the second minute. The Lynx controlled the game with the Classics rarely able to get the ball into Lynx territory. Despite having two good goals disallowed by the refereeing officials the Lynx won the championship with a 2-0 victory.