Owen Bohren’s Comeback: Leading Lincoln-Way East Soccer

After recovering from a broken ankle in 2025, Owen Bohren returned to the Lincoln-Way East lineup. Despite missing the season’s start, he scored 10 goals last fall. However, he initially struggled to regain his confidence on the field as he healed from the injury.

Now, as a senior midfielder, Bohren has fully returned to form. “It feels great because I can just play to my fullest ability,” Bohren expressed. “I don’t have to worry about anything happening again. Last year, I rolled it a lot because it was weak. But now I’m back healthy and it feels amazing.”

Bohren, a committed Rhode Island recruit, has shown remarkable performance for the Griffins this season. On Monday night, he scored two goals, leading Lincoln-Way East to a 4-1 victory against Lockport in the SouthWest Suburban Conference. The Griffins (11-7, 4-2) broke a five-game losing streak, with contributions from teammates Charles Lungaro and Jacob Broderick, who each netted a goal. Mateo Espinosa provided two assists, and Jacen Winefka made seven saves.

“It was very important to have a win in this game because with five losses in a row after a great start to the season, morale was pretty low,” Bohren said. “But we stayed after it in practice. We grinded. We kept our heads high. As a leader, I just tell the guys that we’re always going to have highs and lows and it’s about how you come out of those lows.”

Lockport’s Caleb Trabado scored off an assist from Sebastian Pakos. Bohren notably sprinted through the defense, scoring from 10 yards in the 11th minute, giving Griffins a 2-0 lead. He then secured his second goal of the night, marking his 13th of the season.

Lincoln-Way East coach Matt Ribbens praised Bohren’s dynamic style of play. “He’s so dynamic,” Ribbens remarked. “The little things that he does on the field, sometimes you’ll be like, ‘Oh, that doesn’t make sense.’ And then he’ll just explode and you’ll be like, ‘Oh, OK, maybe it does.’”

Lungaro, a senior forward, highlighted Bohren’s vital leadership during challenging stretches. “He’s a great leader,” Lungaro affirmed. “Owen’s a great player and he has a good attitude.”

Reflecting on Bohren’s recovery, Ribbens indicated that Bohren is playing with renewed determination. “Last year, he still did really well, but you could tell that he was a shell of himself from an athletic point of view,” Ribbens noted. “I think he got hungrier, I think he wants it a little bit more now and he’s starting to lead the guys that need some leadership.”

Bohren’s passion for soccer, nurtured since childhood, was influenced by his father, Phillip. “My dad was born and raised in Switzerland and he played a lot of soccer over in Europe, so it’s been in my family,” Bohren shared. “I’ve been playing as long as I can remember, and it’s really fun to share the love of soccer with my dad.”

His recent commitment to Rhode Island is proof that the injury hasn’t deterred his aspirations of playing Division I soccer. Bohren is following in the footsteps of his coach, Ribbens, who also played at Rhode Island. “It’s a really fun thing for coach and I,” Bohren stated. “We talk about it all the time. Playing college soccer at a Division I program has been a goal ever since I started high school, so I’m pretty happy for the opportunity.”