Wilson Noriega will be remembered as much for his leadership as for his considerable skills on the soccer field, according to Maine East coach Jeff Bishop.
The senior defender possessed the required patience to help underclassmen learn the ins and outs of the high school game.
“The best part about him was how he interacted with the younger players,” Bishop said. “He wouldn’t get frustrated if they made mistakes. He was always calm and willing to work with them.”
Noriega said he remembered what it was like when he was a freshman on varsity. He said he promised to return the favor.
“I felt out of place at first, but the older guys taught me the way,” said Noriega, who started the last two seasons. “I knew I had to do the same thing as a junior and senior.”
Noriega also happened to be one of the best defenders in the area.
After fifth-seeded Glenbrook South beat the 12th-seeded Blue Demons 2-0 in the semifinals of the Class 3A Glenbrook North Regional on Tuesday, Oct. 20, one of Titans coach Seong Ha’s first comments was about Noriega.
“He’s their gatekeeper back there, the quarterback of that defense,” Ha said. “He has a real presence on the field.”
At the start of the season, Noriega played center back, but after Bishop switched formations, he became the stopper for the Blue Demons (7-12-1). According to Bishop, Noriega was integral to the team, as he was the start of the defense and the start of the offense from his position.
“He’s such a strong player, smart and confident,” Bishop said. “He very rarely made a mistake. If he did, he did his best to make up for it immediately. He will be irreplaceable. He’s a player any coach would be lucky to have.”
Twitter: @harnesspreps