A defender scoring a goal is always a good thing. But just being back out on the field and playing again is actually the best thing, according to Bloom senior David Martinez.
It’s been a long road to recovery for Martinez, who missed his entire junior season after suffering a torn ACL in January 2022. His first goal of 2023 felt special Thursday night.
“Honestly, the injury changed my life — my game and how I played,” Martinez said. “I’m stronger from the experience. I started working out harder and getting bigger and faster.
“I am able to kick the ball much farther, and it’s great being back with my friends.”
Martinez had a little help from those friends. Junior forward Omar Ortiz stole the thunder with three goals in the first half as the Blazing Trojans rolled to a 4-0 win over host Reavis.
Ortiz also assisted on Martinez’s goal as Bloom (5-0) won the Windy City Ram Classic for the first time. Reavis (4-1) fell from the ranks of the undefeated in the process.
But despite the loss for the Rams, this is only the beginning, the start of something even better. Sophomore midfielder Galileo Figueroa acknowledged as much afterward.
“We’re a scary team right now,” said Figueroa, who has one goal and three assists this year. “The whole demeanor of the team has changed. You just see it. And you feel it.”
You can call it “The Ahmed Effect.”
The arrival of all-state forward Ahmed Dhalai, a transfer from Richards, has transformed Reavis into a superstar-driven team capable of playing at the highest level.
Dhalai scored 11 goals and added two assists as Reavis reached the Windy City Ram Classic championship game. The Rams were seeking their first title since 2010.
“Ahmed has been the best player on the field in every game we have played,” Reavis coach Mark Gniadek said. “His skills are unmatched.”
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Last season, Reavis scored just 13 goals in 19 games. After a 3-0 start, the Rams sputtered and then ended up finishing with a 3-11-2 record.
But after a dramatic 2-1 semifinal victory Tuesday over Lincoln-Way West, Reavis had scored 18 goals while reaching the tournament championship game.
Senior forward Diego Corona has the perfect perspective for the Rams, having emerged as a strong secondary scorer and playmaker with four goals and two assists.
“Ahmed has made my job a lot easier,” said Corona, who has the advantage of playing at the top of the formation with Dhalai. “I didn’t have that kind of partner last year.
“Playing forward involves a lot of demanding work, and Ahmed just brings a lot of courage and bravery to the team.”
Dhalai’s mere presence has upended all aspects of the game. Even the way teams defend Reavis is profoundly different.
“Ever since teams found out about him playing for us, they put like three players over him,” Corona said. “They are playing a lot more physical and pushing us toward the ball.
“They are trying to get into our heads.”
More importantly, the new offensive spark has directly impacted winning for the Rams. The entire culture and attitude changed virtually overnight.
“We’re a little down because of the score, but we are going to pick it right back up,” Corona said. “We’re not the type of team to dwell on it. Our confidence right now is just different.”
If Martinez looked different for Bloom against Reavis, it was because he felt new and improved. The ACL injury had come as a complete surprise.
“I didn’t even know it was torn for three months until I went in for a checkup,” he said. “(Returning) was a long time coming, and something I had been waiting for.
“This was a great night for us, to be here doing something we’d never done before.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.