Two years ago, a young and talented Elgin soccer team experienced a void at the most crucial spot. Forward Omar Lopez was that missing piece.
After making a strong debut with the Maroons as a freshman, Lopez elected to play with an Elgin-based travel team that season.
“The year I played club, all of my friends were telling me to come back and play high school, and I decided to play with them again,” Lopez said. “It was technically the same game.”
Lopez made a spectacular return last season by scoring 26 goals in leading the Maroons (15-3-1) to a Class 3A regional championship game.
In his year away, Lopez remained close to the players in the Maroons’ program. Senior Elgin defender Alex Kunicki said his friends were thrilled by Lopez’s decision to come back.
“We wanted him to come back because we needed somebody who could score goals,” Kunicki said. “I have been playing with him for 10 or 11 years now, since we were in Under-8.
“At first he did not show a whole lot. After time passed, he really got good. He knows the game up and down, and he is always three steps ahead of everybody.”
Now a 5-foot-10 senior, Lopez has the size to play the ball in the air. He also has the foot speed and quickness to break down defenses and create havoc in the final third of the field.
“I think my style has always been pretty direct,” Lopez said. “I like to dribble a lot, play fast and play a lot of one- and two-touch soccer.
“During the time I was gone, I trained a lot by myself and worked really hard on my touch and finishing.”
Lopez also created for his teammates. He totaled 11 assists despite missing a couple of games with a groin injury, according to Elgin coach David Borg.
“Omar is very aware of space,” Borg said. “Even when double-teamed, his understanding and athleticism takes over. He has a vast array of shots and he knows when to really strike it or to use his touch.
“His conditioning is off the charts. In our tryouts, he ran a 5:11 mile.”
As the oldest child in his family, Lopez set his own template for success. His father helped accelerate his early development by placing him in Elgin recreational leagues against older kids when he was just 4.
“Soccer is the only organized sport I have ever played,” Omar said. “It just makes me happy playing, with the constant movement and the fact the action never stops.”
Lopez has developed into the headliner of a team with 15 returning players who saw action last year. The team is radiating excitement and optimism.
“It’s great to be back,” Lopez said. “These guys are my all best friends. We have grown up together. Most of the guys are seniors, and we want to win and go far.
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“Last year after we had the great start, but then we got a little overconfident. Now this year, our mentality is to play hard every game.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance writer for The Courier-News.
