Knightly News

“I’ve played soccer my whole life and I love the bonds between my teammates, and I love going out to the field to get better.” Lane Mendoza

For Episcopal senior Lane Mendoza, there’s just something special about soccer. Time with teammates and working to improve his game inspire his love for the sport.  This week, he announced that he’ll continue doing what he loves at North Central College in Illinois.

When choosing a college, Lane says he knew when he visited North Central that it was the perfect place for him. “North Central is the right school for me because I love the location and I love the community there,” he says. “I got to meet some of the players and they treated me as if I were already a student there.”

Hard Work Pays Off

Lane joins a Cardinals team that has seen much success recently, earning a regular season title and competing in the NCAA tournament. Having been part of the Knights state championship team last year, Lane should be well prepared. “I’m glad I can continue my soccer career and academic career and I am extremely fortunate to everyone who has helped me through this process,” he says. “I’m also glad that my hard work has paid off.” Lane recommends that classmates with similar dreams also work hard to accomplish their goals. “Work slowly everyday to get better, it isn’t always going to be an easy process but you have to persevere,” he says.

Knights Head Coach Kiran Booluck says it was a pleasure to coach Lane for so many years. “He is the most quiet kid, but when Lane steps on the field, it’s a different animal,” says Coach Booluck. “He leads by example, plays hard and is a great team player. I’m proud of him.”

It's not all soccer all the time for Lane. While at Episcopal, he participated in cross country, track, esports, Ping Pong Club, Chess Club and Media Production Club. Once at North Central, he plans to study computer science.

Good luck at the next level, Lane! Join us in congratulating him in the comments section below.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.