Lake Zurich’s Ben Lowe and Brandon Taboada know their personalities are polar opposites.
But the senior center backs work in perfect harmony on the field.
“They are the strength of our defense and are team leaders in their own way, but they are very different,” Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz said. “Brandon is quiet and unassuming, and Ben is very talkative. But both are hardworking, team-first players.”
Lowe, true to form, said Taboada “even runs quietly.”
“Ben is a constant talker who you sometimes have to tell to take it easy because he’s almost saying too much,” Schmitz said. “He’s always telling people what to do, even does pregame and halftime speeches.
“It’s an interesting dynamic with Brandon because Brandon just goes about his business and is really unassuming. He’s the most chilled person. He doesn’t get riled up or upset.”
With Lowe and Taboada working together in front of senior goalkeeper Karsten Zettlmeier, Lake Zurich (10-3-6) has allowed just 15 goals and lost only once in its last 13 regular-season games. The fifth-seeded Bears will play 12th-seeded Mundelein (10-9-2), a North Suburban Conference rival that they beat 4-1 on Sept. 26, in the Class 3A Glenbrook North Regional semifinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Schmitz cited the team’s seven shutouts this season as evidence of the effectiveness of Lowe and Taboada, who are three-year varsity players.
“Brandon will catch kids with his speed and also steps in and wins balls without fouling,” Schmitz said. “He has great speed and is really talented. He does anything he can to help the team win, whether saving a ball off a goal line or dribbling the ball 60 yards to get an assist.
“Ben uses his speed so well. He will close a guy down from 10 yards away. He’s not afraid to dribble and take guys on.”
Taboada said his experience playing alongside Lowe has a lot to do with their success.
“Me and Ben have really good communication because we’ve been playing together for four years,” Taboada said. “It’s really easy for me to see where Ben is and position myself to be able to help.”
Lowe agreed that they work well together.
“I think we’re very organized and have good communication, and it starts with me, Brandon and our keeper,” Lowe said. “We have a lot of good chemistry.”
Lowe said he has been playing defense since he was a little kid in Idaho.
“No other players wanted to play defense, so my father always put me on defense when he was a coach,” Lowe said. “I never stopped playing defense. I love playing defense. I love how technical and tactical it is. It almost feels like I’m solving something, where offense is more about flair and energy. I know if I’m perfect, they get can’t past me.”
Taboada said he also learned about soccer from his father, Jozafat Taboada Moyado, who played for a professional team in Mexico in 1994-95.
“My father was very good at soccer,” Taboada said.
Schmitz said he hopes Lowe and Taboada continue to be very good as the Bears begin the playoffs.
“They work so well together and talk well and play off each other,” Schmitz said. “They both know what the other one will do. They do a great job of combining well on passing and do a lot in the back for us.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
