GIVE HIM A BIG ASSIST QUARTZ HILL'S LYMPANY SOLID AS PLAYMAKER.

Byline: Julio Cortez Staff Writer

Combine toughness, flexibility and determination and you have an all- around soccer player. Toss in composure, a good work ethic and head- turning throw-ins and you get Quartz Hill's Kyle Lympany.

Many are wowed when they see Lympany play, and not only because he works the ball with his feet. They can't believe that Lympany - who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs just 140 pounds - can easily throw the ball nearly the width of the field.

``I don't know where the strength comes from,'' Lympany said. ``When I work out, I work on my lower body and hardly on my arms. My teammates ask me how do I do it, and I joke around by saying that my arms are aerodynamic.''

The throw-ins not only surprise spectators but also opponents. Several times, opponents have been caught off-guard or even watching Lympany's tosses, allowing Quartz Hill to capitalize. Lympany, who has four goals, has eight assists, including six on throw-ins.

Take the team's 2-0 victory over Hart of Newhall in pool play of the Royal tournament back in December. With Quartz Hill clinging to a 1-0 lead, Lympany saw his chance midway through the second half on a throw-in from the left sideline. His throw sailed above a grouping of players, reaching only the head of teammate Mark Cipolla, who knocked the ball into the net to beat highly rated Hart goalkeeper Kyle Reynish.

His most recent throw-in assist - with Scott Hazard capitalizing on the pass - helped Quartz Hill to a 2-0 victory over Littlerock in the Rebels' Golden League opener.

``(Surprising the opponents) has happened a lot of times,'' said Lympany, who has helped the Rebels to a 17-2 record overall and a 3-0 mark in the Golden League. ``There have been a lot of times when the goalie is not expecting it and I throw it all the way (into the box). Someone on my team touches it in for the goal and the other team didn't even know what happened.''

Assisting on goals - more often than scoring them - is something Lympany enjoys.

``It would be nice to be the one scoring,'' Lympany said. ``But if I have to throw the ball in and that's the best for my team, then I'll do that.''

Quartz Hill coach Andre Matalon said Lympany is a talented player whose abilities go beyond throwing in the ball. What makes him an even bigger threat, Matalon said, is a tough streak. Lympany's physical and mental toughness and his determination to play through injury has earned him the nickname ``Limpy'' from teammates and coaches.

Earlier this season in a nonleague match against Kilpatrick of Malibu, Lympany stole the ball from a Kilpatrick player. In return, the player punched Lympany in the face, a blow that requiring five stitches to his upper lip. Lympany said that, oddly, the incident earned him the respect of his teammates.

``(The Kilpatrick player) punched him so hard that (Lympany's) teeth went right through the top part of his lip. He didn't even retaliate,'' Matalon said. ``That's just the type of person he is. He just looked at the guy and said, `Why did you have to do that for?'

``He's just a tough kid. He lives in a ranch-type environment and his father was a bull rider. He has been brought up as a hard worker. If I tell him he needs to run 10 or 12 miles in practice he will do it without a question. Working hard just comes natural to him.''

Getting knocked down and getting up again is typical of Lympany. And he has three broken noses and a pair of broken fingers to show for it.

Lympany loves the game of soccer so much he plays it year-round. During the offseason he plays with the Antelope Valley Sharks club team. And although he has a hectic soccer schedule, the sport isn't his only endeavor. Lympany also plays the saxophone in the Quartz Hill marching band.

``He is a very good student and is very dedicated in what he does,'' said John McQuilkin, Quartz Hill's band director. ``(The incident with the Kilpatrick player) doesn't surprise me about (Lympany's) response. He is not a very big kid and is not the type that likes to start problems. He'll stand up for himself and it looks like he can take care of himself.

``The only conflict there has been with him (in band class) was between him and another kid to see who was going to use the good school instrument, but he was very cooperative.''

Lympany is aware his schedule is tight with soccer and music. Still, he's considering trying out for the baseball team after a two-year absence from the sport.

``I know if I play baseball it would make my schedule a lot more harder to handle,'' Lympany said. ``It's just something I have been so anxious to do for a long time.''

Lympany said he toyed with the idea of playing last season, but two broken fingers suffered in a soccer match just before baseball tryouts halted that plan.

This year, there's an excitement in Lympany's voice when he talks about baseball, though his chance of making the team is made more difficult because of his long absence.

Still, whatever happens, one thing is sure. If the sport knocks him down, he will get back up.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Quartz Hill's multitalented Kyle Lympany has four goals and eight assists, including six on throw-ins.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer