Even before the 2025 season for the Lakeside girls soccer team started, Aaron Chamberlain knew it would a challenge.

“We had low numbers this year,” the fourth-year coach said. “We lost nine seniors and only returned four players from last year.

“The rest of our lineup was mostly freshmen, along with a few upperclassmen who had never played before.”

The Dragons have continued to battle, despite injuries and the low numbers.

“We played 11 of our 16 games with less than a full team available,” Chamberlain said. “At one point, we finished a game playing seven vs. 11. Three of our four wins, we won without a full 11-player lineup.”

Lakeside enters the Division III sectional tournament with a 4-11-1 mark, but on a two-game winning streak.

“I’m proud of the team this year,” Chamberlain said.

One significant injury was to sophomore forward Violet Hall, who was lost for the season with a recent injury.

Sophomore Baileigh Wimer, another key returner, missed a few games with an injury.

But what the Dragons have is Evelyn Stein.

The senior’s impact on the team has been immeasurable.

“She attended every practice and offseason conditioning session,” Chamberlain said. “She took a lot of time to help new teammates with their ball handling and shooting skills.

“She was a vocal leader on the field, always pushing her teammates to improve, while giving every bit of energy she had. Evelyn never came out of a game all season — playing every minute.”

Stein plays the central defender position.

“Most teams came into our matches knowing about her,” Chamberlain said. “A few figured out pretty quickly that was our most dangerous player, and would send two and three or four players to smother her.”

Stein’s role in stopping the opposition has been a key factor.

“We have built our team with the philosophy of strong defense, which is supposed to build out and an attack, with our strongest players closest to our own goal,” Chamberlain said. “We mainly rely on Evelyn to stop the opponents’ attack and then quickly send the ball up to our forwards, or carry it up herself.”

Stein was second in goals for Lakeside last year, and leads the team this season.

The Dragons closed the regular season with wins over Harvey 1-0 Oct. 2 and Conneaut 3-1 last Tuesday.

“We just had our worst loss of the season [11-1 to Edgewood Sept. 30],” Chamberlain said “We knew that we are going to have to play short again, I believe we had 10 players available for this game [against Harvey].”

Tied 0-0 at halftime, the Dragons finally broke through for a second-half goal to record the 1-0 win.

“We made some lineup adjustments at halftime, which is not very easy when you don’t have any substitutes,” Chamberlain said.

The next night, Stein kicked three extra points to help Lakeside notch its first football win — 28-25 over Jefferson.

Then, in the next soccer match against Conneaut, on Senior Night, Stein tallied three first-half goals as shorthanded Dragons posted the two-goal win.

“Both Grace [Stein], my coaching partner and I feel this was our favorite victory we’ve had in our three seasons of coaching together,” Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain has high praise for Grace Stein, who is also coaching the junior high team.

I think that’s going to pay off for us in the next few years, with players coming up to ninth grade knowing how to play our style,” Chamberlain said. “She would often have to be at practice with both teams in the same day, or ride the bus to a game with the junior high and get back and have a game with us right after.”

Conneaut had defeated Lakeside 4-0 Aug. 26.

The Dragons’ other wins have been against Jefferson 2-0 Aug. 19 and Brooklyn 3-1 Sept. 13.

The Dragons also tied the Falcons 1-1 Sept. 16.

Despite the mark, Chamberlain is encouraged by the play of his younger players.

Wimer, a captain, has returned.

“Her natural position is midfield or striker,” Chamberlain said. “We asked her to play a lot of defense this season, and she still managed to score goals.”

Chamberlain said sophomore Jazzy Harris, who can play multiple positions, and freshmen Keeley Faenza, goaltender, and Maliyah Tucker, defender, have made impressions this season.

The Dragons start the tournament trail at either Rocky River or Youngstown Ursuline at 7 p.m. Oct. 21.