None too Shun

Shun Fukushige misses sushi. But he doesn't miss goals.

On Thursday, the Japanese foreign exchange student saved Lighthouse Christian Academy's unbeaten record when he slipped a free kick straight into the net from 40 yards out in an otherwise scoreless second half of soccer.

Lighthouse started brightly, scoring in the first 10 seconds of the game. It looked like the Saints had shaken off the post-Christmas break blues that made them look scrappy and soporific on Tuesday's game. They followed up with another goal within the first 10 minutes of the game. LCA was looking to be dominant.

But then the Saints got lazy and selfish. Players stopped passing and started trying to pull a Messi, dribble up all alone, juking myriad players to execute Rambo heroics. They let down their guard on defense. Pilgrim Lutheran scored on a corner and then brushed past some felonious defensive errors late in the half to equalize. The Saints, who could have been dominant, were rattled.

Coach Jack Mefford was a calming force at the half time chat. He told the kids to gather themselves and settle their nerves.

LCA shored up its defense to stymie the Pilgrim's progress goalward and unleashed its attacking power.

But it was the calm, cool and collected Japanese student who cheekily fired straight at goal from an unwieldy 40 yards. The Pilgrim goalie should have done better but was probably surprised that anyone would shoot straight from such unheard-of distance.

Both teams battled back and forth, but it was Shun's goal early in the half that settled the match.

Shun, 18, came to Lighthouse to improve his fluency because he wants to teach English back in Japan.

Last year, he studied at University High but because of U.S. rules had to transfer from public school after the first year. He searched all over California for private schools before choosing our small Christian school by the beach.

He liked the fact that this private school was small. He figured it would be easier to make friends and not get lost in the sea of students.

Lighthouse "is very good. I like it." Shun said. "Every student is friendly and kind -- and every teacher is kind to me. They understand that I am not good at English, so they are patient. They're helping me if I can't understand or don't know how to respond."

He's modest about his soccer skills and avoids outlandish claims to fame. He started playing when he was elementary school. A natural left back, Shun plays a graceful game of speed, smarts and skills. He knows when to charge into the offense. His fearsome free kicks make opponents wet their shorts.

Thursday's goal was Shun's second straight off a free kick.

"I want to be a English teacher in Japan. My parents and my friends told me I would be good teaching something. I was thinking about it," Shun said. "My mom said to me you should be an English teacher because you are interested in English. I thought English is cool. English speakers are so cool."

Yeah, and Shun is also cool for his soccer.

Back in Tokyo, his mom is a pharmacist and his dad works with computers. His younger brother is 16 years old.

Shun is the adventurer of the family because he wanted to come to America. He lives with an "aunt," actually a close friend of the family, in Culver City. "Sometimes I miss my family," he admitted.

After this school year, Shun is headed back to Japan, where he will earn his teaching credential.

And he'll enjoy sushi.

For the moment, we can enjoy watching is exceptional soccer skills contribute to victories. Lighthouse has won all four of its league games so far this season. See video highlights of Lighthouse Christian Academy in Santa Monica.