Call him ‘Big Lots’ — he’s got all of the clearances.
At 6-foot-4, LouCity’s Kevon Lambert certainly raises the eye level. That height has also made him a defensive asset for the boys in purple.
Nominally a midfielder, Lambert has lined up further back in LouCity’s formation lately, as a center back.
And he’s made his presence known.
Lambert racked up 17 clearances in LouCity’s 1-0 win over Hartford Athletic in the Prinx Tires USL Cup Final earlier this month. That was the second-most clearances by a LouCity player in a USL-sanctioned game.
He backed that up with 14 clearances in a 2-0 win at Charleston last week.
Of those 31 combined clearances, 20 have been with his head — proving the value of having height at the back.
On the difference between the midfield and defense, Lambert said: “Heading more balls, I would say, like you guys have seen. A lot more clearances, a lot more – I mean, I’ve always been heading a lot of balls, but since I’ve moved (to center back), there’s been so many.”
Lambert’s defensive prowess has helped LouCity to back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since July, and just the third two-game clean sheet streak this season.
It also earned him a place on the USL Championship Team of the Week and the Prinx Tires USL Cup Team of the Tournament.
On what makes Lambert so effective in the back, interim head coach Simon Bird said, “Obviously his presence back there (with) aerial duels, especially against teams that are playing direct and playing longer balls … He brings an element of calm on the ball as well being a central midfielder by trade, he’s got the composure on the ball that we need as well.”
Lambert’s emergence as a defensive force is a positive development after an injury-laden season for the 29-year-old.
Due to lingering ailments, Lambert has played just 14 of LouCity’s 37 games ithis season, in all competitions.
After a brief return to the field in July and August, Lambert has been a fixture in the LouCity lineup since regaining his health and game fitness in September and October. Since Lambert returned to the lineup on September 5, a 1-1 draw at Rhode Island FC, LouCity has suffered just one loss, going 3-1-3 in all competitions.
Over the season as a whole, LouCity is 9-3-3 with Lambert in the lineup — including a 3-1-1 mark with Lambert starting at center back.
LouCity has conceded just seven goals with Lambert on the backline. That includes a 5-4 loss at the Tampa Bay Rowdies on August 1, in which Lambert suffered yet another injury.
Exclude that loss, and Lambert’s defensive presence becomes clear. Aside from that flukey night against the Rowdies, LouCity has conceded just twice and compiled three clean sheets with Lambert leading the rearguard.
“I’m still getting used to the position, (it’s) still pretty new. I’ve played there center back in the past, but it hasn’t been like consistent,” Lambert said. “But, I’m still learning as we go. I’m still growing in this position. But over the past couple weeks, I think it’s been pretty good and I just hope that I can keep it going.”
All those clearances mean less work for goalkeeper Ryan Schewe, the loanee from Sporting Kansas City. LouCity’s coaches have praised Schewe this season for his bravery in commanding the penalty area, coming off his line to claim crosses. With Lambert back there, though, he doesn’t need to come flying out quite as often.
“When you put a midfielder in the back, they definitely got a lot of composure,” Schewe said, later noting that he played with converted midfielders in college at Georgetown. He later added, “It’s been great having him there. He’s been really doing a great job and making it easy for me as well.”
Lambert and LouCity are back in action Saturday versus Indy Eleven. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Lynn Family Stadium.
For tickets and more information on what will be Pink Night, visit LouCity.com/pink.
