No matter how you say it, Lazarchick-Oberti sounds like defense to the Spartans
By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent
Until someone brought it up, Charlotte Lazarchick-Oberti didn’t even realize she was doing it. This was just the way she walked. She wasn’t trying to send any kind of message.
Wyomissing’s senior gives off a self-assured vibe with every step. The kind that fits a team with only three losses over the past two seasons.
“She has a very calm and upbeat personality,” Spartans coach Rachel Hoffman said. “She walks into practice and has a little bounce, this little swagger. You know it’s her from 100 yards away.”
Even Lazarchick-Oberti’s family has noticed the walk.
“I never knew I strutted,” she said with a laugh. “My mom says it’s because I have confidence. She told me I strut around the house. Maybe I swing my arms a lot. I don’t know.”
Wyomissing (19-1) is three wins from repeating as the District 3 Class 2A girls soccer champion. The No. 1 seed will face No. 8 Camp Hill in the quarterfinals at Flannery Field Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Spartans have their big-time scorers, All-State candidates and All-Berks standouts. They also have their glue players.
Lazarchick-Oberti helps hold everything together. She’s an important part of a defensive foursome that also features Sam Donahue, Emma Care and Jabrea Flowers. Her teammates rely on her in ways that aren’t easy to see.
“When we get into stressful times she’s someone I can always count on to pick people up,” forward Izzy Marshall said. “She’s not here for stats. She’s here to help everyone win the championship. It’s never just about her, which I really love.”
Wyomissing has no shortage of leaders. The lineup is loaded with seniors who have been fixtures on the varsity for years. Lazarchick-Oberti was voted captain two years in a row. She shares the honor with Marshall and Molly Kuhn.
That says something about a player who has registered no goals and one assist in her career. There’s more to winning than numbers.
“It definitely makes me happy that people think I deserve it,” Lazarchick-Oberti said. “It just showed me that last year I led by example. They didn’t think I let up on my captain duties. That was good to hear. It was good feedback and it makes me want to do it again this year.”
Lazarchick-Oberti enjoys being part of a team. She’s a seldom-used reserve in basketball but went out for the team last season because she liked the other players and the camaraderie. She’s thinking about trying track this year.
Playing defense for Wyomissing doesn’t earn much attention. The Spartans’ attack always brings the wow factor. During some games when their opponents are overmatched, it’s easy to forget the defense is even back there.
Wyomissing has posted eight shutouts and allowed 19 goals in 20 games. Last season, with three of the same four starters in place, it was 10 shutouts and 17 goals in 21 games. The backs have to stay sharp while going untested for long stretches.
“I can’t imagine it’s very fun in most games,” Hoffman said. “A lot of times they’re just standing back there and they’re trying to get involved in the game as much as possible. They know what their role is and that without them we’re not winning.”
When Lazarchick-Oberti was playing U-10, she was put in the back by a defensive-minded coach. She has been there ever since.
“I like the idea of defending more than being in the spotlight,” she said. “That’s part of it for me. I just like stopping a goal. You have to be aggressive. You have to have more focus. It’s more getting it out of our whole half and making sure it stays up with the offense. It’s more fun to me.”
Lazarchick-Oberti’s full name is a 25-letter, eight-syllable mouthful (pronounced La-Zar Chick) and has been butchered plenty through the years. One teacher called her “Laser Chick.” She didn’t mind that one and it became a running joke.
Wyomissing’s players know their powerhouse team wouldn’t be the same without all those syllables. That’s obvious every time Lazarchick-Oberti walks onto the field.
