FAYETEVILLE - As soon as Lucas Araujo arrived at his first Fayetteville boys' soccer practice, his coaches knew they had someone special.
Araujo's arrival back in August wasn't like other Fayetteville players. The senior goalkeeper was in his first and only year with the team and at the school, on an exchange student program from Brazil. But in his one and only season with the Purple'Dogs, he made every moment count.
His performance on the soccer field, most specifically in the net at keeper, has netted Araujo the All-Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Boys' Soccer Newcomer of the Year honors.
"You could tell he was skilled from the start," Fayetteville soccer coach Steve Oliver said. "The thing for us was figuring out a way to get playing time for both him and Colton (Farley)."
Araujo and fellow goalkeeper Colton Farley split starting time at goalkeeper for Fayetteville and both were equally impressive. But Araujo stepped up big in key 7A-West Conference matches, making big stops in two penalty kick victories as Fayetteville reeled off an midseason win streak on its way to a third consecutive postseason appearance.
"Soccer is a little bit different over here than in Brazil," Araujo said. "It's more about fitness over here. More about getting up and down."
Araujo comes a soccer background in Brazil. His father played the sport and he grew up as a forward before switching to goalkeeper.
"They put you at forward if you're really skilled," Araujo said. "That's where I started but then I just moved over to keeper.
"I think I had a pretty good year this season. But the thing I'll remember the most is the friends I made on my team."
- Vernon Tarver @NWAVernon
Sports on 06/11/2015