Player Highlight: Ben Touw, Men's Soccer

As the ACAC enters the last quarter of the soccer season and players begin to feel the effects of the fall grind, Lakeland's Ben Touw is embracing an important period of growth.

The second-year midfielder from Calgary has gone through a solid sophomore season in the Border City, despite recent struggles for the men's program. He said having to learn to step up not just as a player, but as a senior member in the locker room had been integral to his development.

"As a returning player who was a starter in the season prior, it was important to me that I step up and perform for my team when needed," Touw said. "On the other hand, I knew I needed to step up as a leader and it has been a long journey for me."

Touw came to Lakeland after a unique experience of living in Spain, an opportunity he gained following a combine soccer event. There, he was able to compete against athletes who now play internationally but found it isolating to be away from family and difficult to stand out as a player.

"That experience of having to prove myself and find a way to show what kind of player I was to coaches, even when things got rough, has stuck with me the rest of my life," he said. "I know what it is like to be at my lowest with my confidence and I have fought my way up from that point as well."

"Outside of the pitch, it has also given skills on communicating with coaches and players, balancing school with sport, and has also taught me to trust in the support I am given from friends and family."

Coming to Lakeland allowed Touw to live closer to home and play for coaches that pushed him.

"Having Kevin Wagner and then Hani Tekheste as coaches has allowed me to grow exponentially since being here and the nature of their coaching has set me for success mentally within the sport," he said.

"Before moving to Lakeland I faced a lot of doubts on what my path forward as a player would have been but this program has revitalized my confidence and love for [soccer] again."

"As Ben refines his technique and game awareness, his growth this year has allowed him to become a leader on the team," Coach Tekheste said. "We are proud of the player he is becoming."

That support has helped him through a very punishing season, in which Touw and others on the team have had to battle in-game injuries. He said getting knocked over by opponents or, as he experienced recently, hit in the face by the ball is something that makes soccer particularly demanding.

"For me, the physicality of the sport and what it takes to get through a season boils down to how tough you are mentally."

Experiencing the ACAC Futsal Championship at home last season with a veteran, talented team has been a highlight, but now the sophomore is navigating the developing chemistry of this year's team in building towards the future.

"A poor team culture can plummet a good team and I have seen it with my own eyes many times especially in Spain," Touw said. "If we want to have success, then we need to be able to come together as a family and work through the struggles we face as a new team."

Touw is taking his Bachelor of Education at Lakeland College. He and the rest of the men's soccer team are in Edmonton this Saturday to take on the NAIT Ooks and will be back in Lloydminster Oct. 11 when they host the Portage Voyageurs.