An unexpected role

Sycamore senior Adam Schmitt is tied for the team lead in goals, as expected, but it’s his skills in possession and distribution of the ball that has helped keep the Spartans going through a rash of injuries this season. (Beck Diefenbach – bdiefenbach@daily-chronicle.com)

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SYCAMORE – It wasn't planned this way, but this high school soccer season has turned into more of a club season for Sycamore's Adam Schmitt.

Schmitt was expected to be one of the Spartans' top goal scorers in his senior season. The goals are still there – he's tied for the team lead with Mark Persson – but it's his skills in possession and distribution of the ball that have helped keep the Spartans going through a rash of injuries.

When the Spartans, the top seed in the Class 2A Belvidere Regional, play fourth-seeded Rockford East at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sycamore again will look to Schmitt to be the same dual-threat in the playoffs he's been all season, starting with his passing and ability to keep the ball.

"I play for Rockford Raptors and we have some real talented players and I come down there and I'm not one that's expected to score," Schmitt said. "I've got to find a way for them to score and that's played off on this team."

A player who has performed in a major role for the Spartans since his sophomore season, Schmitt was relied on heavily early this season to possess the ball and keep Sycamore's offense going with injuries to four defenders.

With that responsibility came the extra charge of directing traffic on the field for the Spartans, who prefer to build their offensive attack from the defense.

"You try to do whatever you can," Schmitt said. "It helps if a forward can take a little pressure off the defense by controlling it up top. I think I started dropping back to [midfielder] a little more just to relieve a little pressure but most of all our backups did a great job of coming in and doing what they had to do."

Sycamore coach Dave Lichamer said that Schmitt has improved greatly in those aspects of his game from his sophomore season, when he played outside midfielder and was asked to continually make runs down the sideline.

"He's a little more calm with the ball. And maybe that's the whole reason why the whole distribution has taken root," Lichamer said. "He looks up field and if doesn't like what he sees, he holds the ball and looks for what's out there."

On top of that, Lichamer says he believes Schmitt could have as many as 10 more assists because of Schmitt's ability to get the ball up field on throw-ins.

"He has a really long throw-in, too, and I wish we could capitalize more on that," Lichamer said.

A veteran of the playoffs now, Schmitt said he has a simple message for his teammates on what the postseason experience is like.

"You just tell them, we played DeKalb and when you play DeKalb, they come out strong," he said. "But that's how every game is going to be."