Farewell to Men’s Soccer Captain Lawrence Dydell
Lawrence Dydell is the sort of quietly aggressive player that members of the opposing defense have nightmares about. Perhaps the most prominent threat Whittier soccer had to offer, he led by example in his final season in purple and gold. His unrelenting passion for the game and “it’s not over until it’s over” mentality allowed him to lead the Poets as their captain this year and as the most effective offensive powerhouse in the conference.
Recently, Dydell added First Team All-SCIAC to his list of merits during his time at Whittier College. Midfielder Rowan Slater also received Second Team All-SCIAC honors in his third season. Only 15 athletes from all nine teams in the conference can boast a first-team accomplishment, and Dydell is a deserving recipient. He also received Second Team All-SCIAC in his first year of playing, which displays the consistency he has brought to the team. “I was pretty nervous my freshman year…it was kind of nerve-wracking playing with much bigger guys.” He recalled pushing past the initial struggle and said, “…building off that confidence made me, kind of [turned me] into a leader.”
In every game, you could find the team’s striker in the right wing, at the forefront of the action. Almost half of the goals scored in the season were attributed to Dydell’s efforts, who had the distinct ability to keep the Poets competitive late in the game. In only 16 competitions, he tallied 12 goals and three assists, with eight scored against conference opponents.
The fourth-year student was open to reflecting on his final season at Whittier College and discussing the impact he hopes to leave on the men’s soccer program. Dydell’s selfless tenacity is why he was named the captain of an experienced group of guys. With each question posed, his natural reaction was to expand on how unimportant his recognition was when considering the team’s performance. “On an individual level, I would say [this has been my best year], but from a team standpoint, I’d say it wasn’t the best performance.”
The Poets had an unfortunate showing this season, finishing last in SCIAC standings with a 3–12–1 overall record. In many matches, they could not stay alive despite their captain’s guidance. “My aggression and ability to compete kind of demonstrated to the younger guys never to give up even if you’re down.”
Dydell completed the rare hat trick against La Verne, a feat that requires scoring three times in one match. That would be their only conference victory. He discussed the importance of maintaining a strong mind through difficult times. “A lot of our games this year, we were down by a lot early in games and even late in games. I think never giving up was a part of my competitive mindset.” He continued this thought, saying, “I wanted to leave the program better than I came into it. I wanted all the younger kids on the team to look up to me and have a strong foundation left behind. I really was working towards just having a good team mentality the whole year and keeping all the guys in a good mindset so that they could perform better next year.”
He took pride in his role as the team’s captain and thought only of how he could help others in their role, which allowed him to understand the kind of job he had as captain. He reminisced on the woes of this season, saying, “It still sucks that our team didn’t perform well because I’d rather have that be the number one thing on my list rather than individual accolades.” However, he was able to acknowledge the kind of satisfaction the acknowledgment of his success brings. “It is a rewarding feeling being recognized for doing well in conference stats-wise and stuff like that because I have worked really hard my four years, and it’s good to see it eventually pay off. That part’s really rewarding.”
His experience at Whittier was well-rounded, with academic and athletic success. He attributes excellent team chemistry and the close-knit community he surrounded himself with as moments that made him glad to be a Poet. He leaves the returning team with a great example of camaraderie, calculated drive, and perseverance that characterized the legacy he will leave behind. We wish Lawrence Dydell luck in his future endeavors and congratulate him on a great year!
Photo Courtesy of Tony Leon / tony@actionwestphotography.com
