For all that the Lake Catholic boys side attained in 2023, ranging from a return to state to having an All-American in Marko Odorcic, one lofty aspiration to date has escaped the Cougars. Now on three state final four appearances in program history, none have ended one step further, playing for a state championship. If at all possible in 2024, Lake Catholic wants nothing more than to make that breakthrough. The Cougars have endured some turnover along the path this fall, but have shown potential for maybe getting the path just a little further this time around. Following a 5-0 win Sept. 23 over Andrews Osborne, Lake Catholic sits at 8-1-1 on the season. The MaxPreps statewide rankings have the Cougars seventh in the new Division III with a 16.71 rating. Out of the way is the potential albatross of a deep unbeaten run, as it had its first defeat Sept. 14 against a highly regarded Pennsylvania side in Fairview, 4-0. To be sure, some fellow heavy hitters are ahead of Lake Catholic in the D-III rankings — including a skilled Revere side that knocked the Cougars out of the D-II postseason in a state semifinal a year ago. But the response Lake Catholic coach Kevin Pitorak got from his side following their first loss, with late Fairview strikes blowing open what had been a 1-0 match to the 70th minute, was just about what he had in mind. “That scoreline was tough,” Pitorak said of that Fairview result. “That’s an excellent team. They’re No. 1 ranked in their area. They just beat Erie (Cathedral) Prep. That’s a fantastic team over there, so that’s a good game and a great team. That being said, I thought we played pretty well. “We haven’t had a lot of results like that for a long time, so a very tough loss. Fantastic team, but that one hurt. It did. But in terms of a response, we had a long talk on that Monday at practice. I watched that game three times over the weekend and really, really broke it down. We just kind of started from scratch and walked through the right way to play. Our response Tuesday against a solid Elyria Catholic team was fantastic. That and today, we moved the ball very, very well — probably the best we have all season. Sometimes, a loss like that can be a very good thing. It kind of affected change in a very positive way for us.” The Cougars’ attack is anchored by standout seniors Harley Forkins and Alex Miljanovic. With a hat trick and an assist against AOA, Forkins is up to 20 goals and seven assists on the campaign while balancing his duties kicking for the 5-0 Lake Catholic football team. He had 28 goals and 16 assists and was a first-team D-II coaches all-Cleveland and News-Herald selection as a junior. Miljanovic has eight goals and six assists thus far following a brace against the Phoenix, after 22 goals and 15 assists in 2023. He, too, was encouraged by the response from the side following the defeat against Fairview. “Obviously, the loss was tough for us,” Miljanovic said. “We decided to set back our thinking, restart and start back with the fundamentals, playing simple. We started playing simpler during training. It paid off (against AOA).” That part with attacking prowess still being strong with Forkins and Miljanovic back in the fold and Brandon Rangel impressing as a playmaking midfielder with seven goals and nine assists was expected. How Lake Catholic would adapt in the defensive third, though, was not necessarily amid heavy graduation turnover. Any concern has been quelled by conceding eight goals in 10 matches — half coming in that Fairview loss — and recording five clean sheets, with a plus-45 goal differential. That included clean sheets against a talented Shaker Heights side and in both rounds against AOA, albeit very much new-look with its prep/varsity program pivot but a 2023 state champion nonetheless. Pitorak has been effusive with the development of Owen Pesek as a commanding center back as a junior in dissecting an opposing attack and contributing into his own attack, as well. Lake Catholic’s Marko Viskovic keeps a watchful eye on the ball against Kenston on Aug. 29. (Brian Fisher – for The News-Herald) Against the Phoenix, Lake Catholic added another new wrinkle in the defensive third with Marko Viskovic operating as a left back. Viskovic took on the role commendably with communication and ballwinning. He had one assist and, while not an official stat in soccer of course, a quality “hockey assist” to initiate another goal-scoring sequence in the second 40. “They are kind of jelling more and more as we go,” Pitorak said. “We made that move with Marko in the back just (last) Tuesday. He’s a guy I know and has played there before. He’s actually in a great spot. He’s got a lot of pace and speed, and plus, he can release up the wing and give us some attack up the flank. He is a very, very smart player. So I know I can trust him back there. I think that’s working really well for us so far.” A big week awaits for the Cougars, with road tests Sept. 24 at a 10-win Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy side followed by a Sept. 28 trek to Walsh Jesuit. The Warriors are 6-2-2, beat CVCA and have an impressive 1-1 draw on their resume against St. Ignatius in August. Pitorak is eager to see how his adaptable side responds to the challenges ahead, as it seeks its most prominent but elusive goal still left to do as a program. “Overall, there was nine minutes (against Fairview) that it got carried away,” Pitorak said. “But other than that, the whole year we’ve been very solid. We’re not giving up a lot of goals. The effort is unquestioned. It’s always there from those guys. And I think it’s they’re becoming more comfortable in those roles, moving the ball and starting our offense really from the back. You’re seeing it more and more, where you have multiple guys defensively who can spring our attack. “So when you have that, and they’re solid back defensively as well and can handle the ball, you’ve really got something to see. I’m pretty happy with how that’s going. It’s a work in progress.”