Meet the unsung star of the Notre Dame soccer team chasing another state championship
PEORIA — Thomas Graham stands tall among area defenders, and the senior is hoping to help Notre Dame rise to the top again in the boys soccer state playoffs.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Graham held the Illinois High School Association sectional championship plaque as he and his teammates celebrated with their fans at Peoria Stadium on Saturday afternoon following a 2-1 victory over rival Dunlap.
"I think if our defense stays clean, it can set up a lot of other things for us," said Graham, a team captain. "I like stopping scoring chances, shutting down guys, the physical part. It's important that we all fill our roles."
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The big defender is in somewhat of an unsung role on an Irish team loaded with skill and scoring up front and has piled up a 20-1-3 record, won nine straight matches and scored 104 goals this season with stars like all-state forward Kayden Hudson.
"Our offense gets a lot of the attention," Notre Dame coach Mike Bare said. "But Tommy and our other (defenders) do a lot on the back line. We have seniors back there for whom this is their last ride, they want to win."
Notre Dame has six starters back from its 2022 state championship team. It is missing junior Max Matarelli, an all-state midfielder who suffered a broken leg and is out of these playoffs.
They are trying to put together a finish that will be historic.
Naperville's Class 3A three-peat through 2018-19 is the last time a school had consecutive championships in state. And no team has ever done it in Class 2A since the IHSA launched the three-class playoff system in 2008-09.
Notre Dame will find out if it can get a step closer to that when it faces Chicago Brother Rice in an Elite Eight match at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Romeoville at Lewis University.
'A cool time'
Graham's father is from England. And yes, his son has been there.
"He grew up playing soccer right by the Aston Villa team," said Graham, referring to the 149-year iconic English soccer team. "I've visited there, of course. And I've seen their stadium, Villa Park. It was such a cool time."
Graham's father was his first soccer coach when he was a kid starting in the game. He played wing on the right side until eighth grade. After that, coaches tested him as a defender, and he liked it. The feeling was mutual.
Graham has family all around him, on and off the pitch. He has two younger brothers, freshman twins Sean and Patrick, who are on the varsity with him. Their grandparents made the seven-hour journey to Peoria this week to see all three boys play.
Family, and sharing one's self with the game and other causes, are important to Graham. He volunteers for St. Jude, helping with setups and tear-downs and donating manual labor.
More: Notre Dame boys soccer beats Dunlap to advance to IHSA Elite Eight
He attends basketball games at St. Thomas Grade School — from which he graduated — to support younger players there. He does the same for soccer, going to 6-under games to support the kids, donating treats and supporting their fund-raising lemonade stands.
"My parents raised me to do that," he said. "It just feels right. I love it. They see this big kid there and it stands out to them and they like it.
"But I just love seeing their joy."
On the field with Notre Dame, well, those looks of joy are often on his teammates' faces.
Notre Dame has posted 15 shutouts this season in its now 24-match season. The Irish had 13 shutouts during their championship run last season.
"A lot of teams don't get very many chances to score on us," Irish senior goalkeeper Teddy Dimler said. "Tommy just doesn't let them. It's a relief to know he's there."
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria Notre Dame soccer: Profile of defender Thomas Graham
