Jose Munoz’s early rising is being rewarded.
The senior forward’s previous career high in goals for West Aurora was four. Intent on putting that mark from last year to bed, Munoz woke up at 4 a.m. daily this summer. By 5 a.m., he was at West Aurora’s stadium to run and go through drills.
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“I got motivated,” Munoz said.
That motivation showed Tuesday. Munoz scored his sixth goal this season in just his fourth game, helping the host Blackhawks salvage a 2-2 tie with West Chicago in an Upstate Eight opener.
“I feel pretty blessed right now,” Munoz said. “I haven’t scored this many goals in my life.”
Unfortunately for Munoz, his fast start was temporarily halted with a quick hook Tuesday. He was issued a red card for fighting, and had to sit the last 18:02.
He was still in disbelief afterward.
“I kicked the ball out and the guy tackled me, he was on top of me, and that’s when I pushed him off,” Munoz said. “Then he came back at me and he pushed me back. I don’t know why I got the red card.”
Munoz must now sit West’s next game, Friday against Urbana at the Morton Tournament.
“He’ll be missed,” Blackhawks coach Joe Sustersic said. “”Sometimes as a marked man, you have to learn that you have a target on your back and you have to walk away from those challenges.”
The red card was but one reason West’s frustrations boiled over on a steamy afternoon.
The Blackhawks (2-1-1, 0-0-1) had several players go down with injuries. With 1:16 left, West’s Jerry Vasquez played a ball ahead and Eduardo Margalef ran under it, but was he taken down and remained on the turf for several minutes.
“It’s a little weird that 10 times a trainer has to come on the field and eight of the times there is not a card issued,” Sustersic said. “Then there’s a call in the back, no punches are thrown and both kids get a red card for fighting.”
West twice answered one-goal deficits in the first half.
Down 1-0, West’s Emanuel Acosta was taken down and Renato Cruz converted the penalty kick.
Later, trailing 2-1, West’s Jiovanni Acosta crossed ahead to Alejandro Torres. Torres dropped off a quick pass to Munoz, who blasted in a goal from the front of the net.
“Jio centered it to Alejandro and Alejandro received it and got it back to me,” Munoz said. “It was a pretty good play for us.”
Munoz began the season strong, recording his first career hat trick to beat Batavia. He doesn’t appear to be letting up.
“He’s playing like he’s on a mission,” Sustersic said. “He’s the heart of our team and we’ll miss him Friday.”
Joshua Welge is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News.