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coach in Georgia.
“I always thought James would switch to playing (American) football in middle school, but it didn’t work out that way,” said his father.
Now James’ dad has joined him on the soccer field - as a referee.
A left-footer, Lofton tends to play on the left or middle, sometimes being shifted midgame from defender to striker, or vice versa. “James is such a versatile player, I will play him wherever I need speed and strength,” said Coach Peri.
At age 13, Lofton played for a year in Cambridge, England, on an “A” level youth team. From age 14 until the present, he has commuted two hours from his home in the Shenandoah Valley to northern Virginia to play club soccer.
Lofton has played on DC United youth teams in the Super Y League, and on state and regional Olympic Development Program teams.
In 2003, his DC United U14 team placed third in the nation. He has played in tournaments in France and Spain, including a youth version of the World Cup in September.
For his role on his high school team at Eastern Mennonite in Harrisonburg, Lofton was named to the AllState team of independent schools for the last two years. He also was named to the NSCAA’s All-South regional team both years.
“Getting named AllAmerican doesn’t change anything,” said James. “I still have to work hard every day to get better - there are lots of better players than me out there.”
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