by Jen Myers

Lowell High School Boys’ Soccer coach Lucas Carvalho treated his players like family – checking in on their grades, letting them borrow his car, tossing them a few bucks to grab a bite to eat. But he was no pushover. They found that out the hard way when they did not give their all on the pitch.

“Back in the day it was different, coaching,” said Carvalho’s widow Kristina. “If the first half wasn’t going well, he would take those boys into the locker room and he would flail a locker and say a few choice words and those kids came running out; they’d score two, three, four goals sometimes and they would win. They had a passion for the game and they respected Lucas whether he was being gentle or tough.”

On Tuesday evening, the newly-renovated soccer field in the Cawley Stadium complex first named in 2008 for Coach Carvalho, who led the Red Raiders from 1989-1998 (with a record of 130-40-30), was officially re-dedicated. The ceremony, which took place before the Lowell Vs. Dracut Boys’ Varsity Soccer game, was attended by State Rep. Vanna Howard, Mayor Danny Rourke, City Councilors Paul Ratha Yem, Erik Gitschier, Rita Mercier, and Corey Belanger, as well as city and school department staff and several members of the Carvalho family and their friends.

“Growing up in the 80’s was a different time in Lowell – all we did was play soccer,” said Carvalho’s son, Lucas Jr. “There was always a pickup game going on somewhere in Lowell. If you wanted to play a game of soccer you could find a game of soccer and those pick-up games quickly became a proving ground for soccer players because there were so many professional soccer players who now worked in factories to support their families playing on nights and weekends. And those pro soccer players along with my dad held us accountable for how well we behaved on and off the field every day of the week. To this day I believe the reason why we like soccer so much is because of my dad’s passion.”

Carvalho battled colon cancer three times in a decade. He was given three months to live, but survived for 12 years and continued to coach until he passed away in 1998. He attended chemotherapy on his own schedule and was always there for his team, even when he was sick from the treatment.

“I always knew dad was strong, I just didn’t realize how strong he was until I fought my battle with stage 4 cancer,” said Carvalho’s daughter, Nicole. “His memory drives me forward every day. I remember when he would talk or yell at the soccer team he would say ‘you don’t try you do’ and he did. Look at what he did. His legacy will live on.”

“He never complained and he always had a positive outlook,” said Kristina. “The boys admired him and they looked up to him because of his courage and strength.”

She recalled practices at Shedd Park where he would make the team run five miles as a warm up because “if you can’t run, you can’t play soccer.”

The boys would be dragging, about to give up. Then they would see their coach get sick into a bucket, wipe his mouth and walk it off.

“They’d turn their head up, straighten their shoulders, and they would run like hell,” Kristina said. “They said ‘look at our coach, look at how strong he is, what are we doing here slouching’?”

In 1990, Kristina promised her husband – “someday this field is going to be named after you.”

In 1998, two weeks before he passed away, she again made that promise, telling him “If it is the last thing I do worthy in my life I will have your name inscribed in Lowell High School Soccer history, naming this field in your honor.”

The field was dedicated as Lucas F. Carvalho Sr. Field in November 2008.

This summer, Carvalho Field underwent a major facelift, transforming from a grass surface to brand new turf. There are new lights, a new scoreboard, a new sound system, and new seating.

“I’m reminded of him every day when I pass by or plant the flowers every year since 1999 and I will continue until I can’t anymore,” Kristina said. “My heart is here with my Lukie Dukie. He is my heart and I feel he is here too. I don’t miss him as much when I’m here.”

And, by the way, the undefeated Red Raiders beat the Dracut Middies 4-2.