Lewis Mills boys soccer team has eye on a championship match

Lewis Mills’ Grady Mullen (12) battles for the ball with Zachary Moyers during boys soccer practice Thursday in Burlington. (Photo courtesy Steve Barlow)

By STEVE BARLOW
Special to The Collinsville Press
BURLINGTON, Sept. 10, 2026 – Lewis Mills will play the long game again this fall.

The Spartans’ boys soccer team wants to win every time it steps on the pitch, of course, but Mills competes each week mindful of what ultimately matters: the state tournament at season’s end.

“Our short-term goal is to win as many games as we can to get the best seed we can for the state tournament,” said senior captain Dominik Wroblewski. “Long-term, we want to win it all.”

“Our No. 1 goal is definitely to win the Class M state title. That’s the ultimate goal,” chimed in senior captain Jaxon Baltrush.

If the Spartans run into a bump in the road – which they did in a 3-1 loss at RHAM in Tuesday’s season opener – it’s not the end of the world. The blueprint was drawn up by the 2023 team that this year’s seniors played on as freshmen.

With one week to go in the regular season that year, Mills was a pedestrian 6-5-3, only to win its final two regular-season games, then catch fire and roll through the state tournament to the school’s third boys soccer state title.

“We’ll take our lumps at the beginning of the season anytime. Beat us up, beat us down. Once we hit bottom, we’ll build back up, then we’ll get rolling,” said 17th-year coach Ben Kulas. “Especially in the (Central Connecticut Conference), we have to take our lumps. Like Rocky Balboa, we’ll get beat up, but ultimately we’re going to get up and figure it out and get better. That’s what we want to do.”

For the time being, Mills (10-6-2 last year) has to figure out how to excel with three senior stalwarts on the sidelines. Wroblewski, an All-CCC choice last year, and senior wing Alex Casavant, a four-year starter, came into the preseason injured and then senior back Eli Pavelchak was hurt Tuesday after scoring the Spartans’ lone goal.

Even with the absences, the cupboard isn’t bare. Baltrush, another four-year starter, anchors the defense, while sophomore Danny Swider, who started as a freshman, is the team’s playmaker at center mid. Up front, Ian Mayes returns at striker after scoring 16 goals as a junior. In goal, junior William Bevivino takes over.

“Our strength is our spine: center back, center mid and striker. I feel like that’s our strength,” Wroblewski said.

“One of our biggest strengths is our hard work and discipline,” said Baltrush.

From left, Lewis Mills senior captains Jaxon Baltrush, Dominik Wroblewski and Ian Mayes. (Photo courtesy Steve Barlow)

Until the injured seniors are cleared to return later this season, Mills’ lineup will be younger than normal, with two freshmen and two sophomores starting as Kulas tinkers to find the right formula. There is plenty of talent to work with.

“We feel we have the right pieces,” he said. “We just have to figure out where all those pieces go.”

The Spartans know they represent a proud tradition of soccer success at their school.

“Soccer is a big thing in our towns,” Mayes, another senior captain, said. “Being able to represent our towns and our program is a big, important part.”