When Lincoln-Way Central’s Connor Pate needs an extra push, he just looks down at the tattoo on his arm that honors his late grandfather, Robert Burklow.
Pate is dedicating this season to his grandpa, who died last November.
“The tattoo has the day he died and it’s his handwriting,” Pate said. “This cross I wear is his, too. I do everything for him. That’s almost the biggest thing for me this season.
“It’s my first season without him, and it means more than anything to me to be able to be confident and play as well as I can for him.”
Pate’s performance Wednesday night would have certainly made Burklow proud.
The senior midfielder/forward scored two goals to lift the visiting Knights to a 2-0 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over rival Lincoln-Way East in Frankfort.
Chuck Stevens tallied an assist for Lincoln-Way Central (8-2, 2-0), while Jimmy McKendry and Josh DeMik combined for the shutout in the net.
The Knights’ defense — led by AJ Lambert, Charlie Hrebic, Carter Krynski and Will Bettenhausen — held the Griffins (5-5, 0-1) to just one shot on goal from Mateo Espinosa.
Shane Kerley made four saves for Lincoln-Way East.
Pate broke a scoreless tie by scoring on a shot from 35 yards with 28:11 to go. He added a vital insurance goal about 14 minutes later, heading in Stevens’ corner kick.
“That second one was more important than the first,” Pate said. “We were playing really well in the second half and it was nice to see that first one go in, but it’s only a one-goal lead so everyone’s on edge.
“The second one allows everyone to take a breath and allows us to really put some pressure on them and kill some of their hopes to come back.”
Pate, who now has five goals and four assists this season, remembers his grandfather’s encouragement any time he’s struggling on the field.
“He was so wise, so he helped me through everything,” Pate said. “He didn’t know much of anything about the game of soccer, but he was always there to talk to me about it and pick me up when I felt discouraged or anything like that, so I still think about that when I’m out there playing.”
Lambert said playing against Pate in practice has helped the defenders for the Knights, who have allowed just two goals in 10 games. Lambert also praised Pate’s technical skills.
“He’s so techy,” Lambert said. “He’s so good with the ball. He makes the right decision on every play. He’s a hard worker, too. He’s a hard one to defend.”
Pate, a four-year varsity starter, has been a dependable player for Lincoln-Way Central coach Dave Brown throughout his high school career.
“He’s been great,” Brown said. “When ‘CP’ got here, we knew he was a very skilled player and he was going to be with the varsity level right away. We knew he had the talent and the soccer IQ.
“I think the last two years, he’s really come into his own in terms of being an attacking presence. He’s a playmaker for us. We need him on the ball getting other people involved and getting himself involved like he did (Wednesday).”
That intelligence on the soccer field is something Pate prides himself in.
“As I’ve played soccer longer and longer and gotten older and older, it’s the mental part of it that I love,” Pate said. “I love studying film and doing all that to just be mentally better than the other players and more prepared than them.
“If you have a mental step up, that helps you a lot during games.”