Spartan Spotlight The Lopez Brothers

Professional soccer player Mikey Lopez ’11 credits much of his success to the St. Stephen’s Soccer Academy. He and his younger brother, Andy Lopez ’14, spent countless hours in the Academy and played in the varsity and junior varsity soccer programs. Like many alumni, the brothers cite their time on The Hill as the place where they first established their strong soccer career and a life dedicated to fostering connections the sport has created. They’ve now returned as coaches, ready to pass on their skills and knowledge to the next generation.

“Returning to St. Stephen’s, but this time as a Soccer Academy coach, has been an amazing experience,” says Andy. “Having been a student-athlete at St. Stephen's, I am able to guide and connect more with my current players and the rest of the student body community. They are able to look up to, or turn to, someone who has been in their shoes and has lived their day-to-day as a St. Stephen's studentathlete.”

Mikey entered St. Stephen’s as an 8th grade residential student from Alton, Texas. Having developed a passion for soccer at the age of five, it was only natural that he join the Soccer Academy. While on The Hill, Mikey played for the U-15 and U-18 youth national teams. In 9th and 10th grade, he captivated University of North Carolina coaches and was heavily recruited in his junior year. As a senior, Mikey was named Soccer Academy team captain.

“Being recruited makes you feel confident in your playing ability,” said Mikey. He credits his St. Stephen’s coaches for fostering an environment that allowed him to consistently improve his skills, setting him up to receive multiple accolades upon entering college.

As a freshman at the University of North Carolina (UNC), Mikey earned the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman of the Year and All-American titles. His team won the Division I Men’s Soccer Championship in 2011, and Mikey also played for the U-20 national team. In 2013, Mikey was the 14th overall draft pick by Sporting Kansas City in the Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft. He spent three years at Sporting KC before spending two years playing for

New York City FC and then a year on the San Antonio FC team. In 2019, Mikey joined Birmingham Legion ahead of their debut United Soccer League Championship season.

Inspired by his brother’s passion for soccer, Andy Lopez ’14 began his career on the pitch at the age of two-and-a-half. In his 6th grade year, Andy joined Mikey on The Hill as a day student, and in 8th grade, Andy became a residential student. Andy formed many life-long friendships during his time in the Soccer Academy and credits this unique program for cultivating strong relationships.

“What I enjoyed most about my time at St. Stephen’s were the relationships I built and the support system I had available to me on a daily basis as a residential soccer academy student-athlete,” says Andy. “To be around people who shared the same interest and passion during every minute of my day — breakfast, class, lunch, practice, dinner and in the dorms — was really something special.”

The coaches at St. Stephen’s instilled in Andy what it meant to be both a student and an athlete. The values of determination and sportsmanship that Andy learned in the Soccer Academy translated to life both on and off the pitch. In his junior year, Andy served as team captain and decided to graduate early to further pursue soccer training. Following in his brother’s footsteps, Andy was awarded a full UNC soccer scholarship.

“Having that kind of recognition motivated me to keep building on my skills and level of competition,” says Andy.

Andy exemplified success in both the classroom and on the pitch. While studying sports administration and exercise and sports science at UNC, in his freshman season, Andy received team accolades, including ACC Player of the Week. Andy helped carry UNC to four regular-season championship wins, and after graduation, he volunteered as assistant coach for the UNC men’s team.

Andy later found his way to the Darlington School in Rome, Georgia where he served as a dorm parent, U-17 head coach and U-19 assistant coach at the Soccer Academy.

Both brothers are now experiencing a full-circle moment, having returned to St. Stephen’s in 2022. Andy now serves as director of the girls’ Soccer Academy and Middle School soccer program. He is also a dorm parent and coordinates St. Stephen’s summer camps. During his off-season, his brother Mikey serves as the Middle School soccer coach and Soccer Academy assistant coach.

Together, the Lopez brothers now have the opportunity to once again be positive influences on St. Stephen’s Spartan athletes both on and off the pitch.

Both Mikey and Andy are humbly grateful to have accomplished much since graduating from St. Stephen’s and point to the St. Stephen’s faculty and staff who shaped them into the extremely talented soccer players and global citizens they are today. St. Stephen’s students are fortunate to have the Lopez brothers as positive role models and influencers who have taken their knowledge and skill from The Hill to the world and are now back to inspire future academic and athletic leaders of St. Stephen’s.