Lucas finds net worth in goal

According to the gospel of success, simplicity remains the ultimate footprint in sports.
Consequently when Dakota Lucas was knee high, his father, Nick Lucas, had an uncomplicated message for him that, not surprisingly, still resonates in adulthood.
"Always score goals and you'll be fine," the veteran Cru Bar Maycenvale United Central League player told his son.
On the foundation of such austerity, the talented striker from Hawke's Bay, who turned 20 today, has habitually found the net, to the joy of clubs and teams fortunate enough to employ his prowess.
So much so that Dakota Lucas has become the main strike weapon for the Junior All Whites who begin their Fifa Under-20 World Cup campaign in Colombia this Sunday.
The Chris Milicich-coached Kiwis, who also have Napier City Rovers striker Andy Bevin in their squad, kick off against Cameroon at 10am (NZ time, live on Sky TV) in Cali before locking horns against Uruguay on Wednesday, August 3, and against Portugal on Saturday, August 6, at the same venue and time in their remaining pool matches in the hope of becoming the first New Zealand team to make it into a Fifa World Cup play-offs.
With Bevin's dominance in the region it's easy to overlook the prowess of others.
Lucas, a former Hastings Boys' High School pupil, scored four goals in the U20 World Cup qualifiers in Auckland in as many games.
Milicich has named the Waitakere United player in his starting line-ups during the warm-up games against the Wellington Phoenix and against third tier American professional side Ventura County Fusion last Thursday in California.
Lucas continued in his rich vein, creating a tap-in goal for Sean Lovemore against the Phoenix in the Junior All Whites' 2-1 injury-time loss and scoring a goal in the 2-1 defeat to Ventura, who weeks before lost 4-2 to English Premier League team West Bromwich Albion.
Milicich, bringing in Bevin in the 74th minute, was content with simply rotating all his squad members to ensure they all got at least an hour of play before the cup kicks off.
On Sunday, the Junior All Whites drew 1-1 with USL club Southern California in their final outing after midfielder Colin Murphy collected a pass from Galbraith to put his side in the lead in the 59th minute.
Lucas' challengers for a starting berth are Bevin, Ethan Galbraith (Lower Hutt City) and Tim Payne (Waitakere Utd and NZ U17 World Cup representative).
The MVP for Waitakere United after he scored two goals for the Auckland powerhouses who won the 2010-11 ASB Premiership title in summer, Lucas savoured the O-League campaign with games against New Caledonia, Tahiti and Papua New Guinea sides.
"I've been to a few countries now but it's my first trip to South America," he revealed, adding the humidity of the Pacific Island nationals helped him, Payne and Waitakere winger Sean Lovemore prepare for the sultry weather in Colombia.
"We've been wearing all the gear [extra layers] and not drinking water until after the game to prepare for the heat," he said of their sessions in New Zealand.
Claiming the Junior All Whites are an attacking unit, Lucas said the goal was to secure as many wins for a historic play-offs berth.
"Our focus is not to get into the top three but to try to win all our games and everything will take care of itself," he said.
Lucas, a right footer who is not shy to use his left, started playing the beautiful game from the age of 6, gravitating to the Akina Park club where his father played.
"I remember the soccer ball was always my favourite," he says, although his father also made him play rugby to build his physical and mental strength.
Bay and Central Football selectors didn't miss his deft skills, picking him for various age-group representative teams.
In 2008, his father sent him to boarding school at Mt Albert Grammar College, in Auckland, to hone his skills under coach Kevin Fallon.
His equally talented brother, Shelton Lucas, who turned 18 on Sunday, is attending Mt Albert too.
In the summer of 2008-09, Dakota Lucas made his debut for Waitakere under coach/player Neil Emblen who, like Fallon, remains among the influential mentors in his career. At a human level, his grandfather, the late William Lucas, a barber of Wairoa, was an inspirational figure just like grandmother Mary Lucas, of Hastings, is now.
Lucas believes he has metamorphosed from his sprightly frame to an imposing 73kg frame, which is almost on a par with his 36-year-old father.
"I'm also way quicker than him," he said, his altercation with Phoenix player Manny Muscat a fortnight ago in Auckland a testimony to his resolve to not be intimidated on the field either.
While a chip of the old block, he doesn't share the temperamental demeanour of the senior Lucas on the field. Subsequently his six-month suspension in an Auckland match two months ago came as a shock to everyone in the know.
He was deemed to have assaulted the referee, initially copping a six-month suspension before it was reduced to eight weeks when lawyers were engaged in appealing the decision.
"It was ridiculous, really. I got two yellow cards and the referee got it wrong," he said vehemently, adding Milicich didn't think it was a big deal either.
Lucas said all he had tried to do in frustration was stop the whistle blower from pulling out the second card.
The tribunal in Auckland, he said, had erred on a technicality in failing to rule on the case within four weeks. Instead, it took eight weeks to deliberate before returning its verdict.
Lucas didn't sit home flicking his worry beads. Instead he commuted to the Big Smoke, where he was flatting, to increase the tempo of training for the World Cup.
His suspension ended early this month.
His aunty, Jo Lucas, a Flaxmere College teacher, will be the only family member supporting him in Colombia.
While his heart is home, Lucas said he wouldn't be slipping on a Hawke's Bay United shirt anytime soon in the ASB Premiership.
"I'm thinking overseas. We'll see how the World Cup goes," he said.
Who could possibly begrudge him that?