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player ready...From his older brothers, Oak Lawn’s Andy Rojas picked up a love for cars.
The junior midfielder put that to good use in the pouring rain Monday afternoon, hitting the gas pedal with authority to get to the net in the 33rd minute against Chicago Christian.
Up to this point, Rojas was biding his time, anxious and alert in his first varsity season. And then circumstance and opportunity converged in a way he had been continually waiting for.
“This whole season, whenever I saw somebody on our team score, that just motivated me to be like them and try and score more often,” he said. “I am always looking to shoot.”
Well, Rojas got that opportunity during a weather-shortened 1-0 victory for the host Spartans. He responded by smashing home a rebound goal that proved to be the winner.
The nonconference game, which was played in a constant and ferocious rain, was mercifully called at the end of the first half.
A popular player among his teammates, Rojas scored his first career goal for the Spartans (5-2-1). The timing was perfect, according to junior goalkeeper Giovanni Gonzalez.
“He’s just a great guy, one of those players who knows how to bring up our motivation,” Gonzalez said. “He knows what to say and how to bring our heads up during a game.
“Even when we’re down, we always get back into any situation because of him.”
Rojas is the youngest of four siblings, two of whom also played soccer at Oak Lawn.
“Family is very important to me, and so are the guys on the team here,” he said. “That is what I love about this game. When I first met them, you just see a whole family grow.
“We get to interact and do something together after school.”
Soccer brings out his artistic side, just like working in his father’s landscaping business in Bridgeview. He tends toward the direct and artisanal, with a creative nature and desire.
“What I love about the game is you can go out there and be your own person,” Rojas said. “My style of play is in many ways very simple, just making the simple pass or simple run.
“That’s how I like to play.”
Oak Lawn coach Nate Joiner saw Rojas as a vital piece after six senior starters graduated.
“Andy has done a great job of adapting to the speed of the varsity game,” Joiner said. “He’s a great player with a wonderful touch and great vision of the field.
“It took him a couple of games early on to get adjusted to the physical nature. Once he did, he really picked everything up.”
Senior defender David Morales was one of the first on the scene to celebrate Rojas’ goal.
“I’m really happy for him,” Morales said. “He has been talking all season about how hungry he was to score. Nobody was surprised that it was him.
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“Even though he had not scored, he has been really good technically with the ball.”
That moment surrounding Rojas’ goal displayed Oak Lawn’s camaraderie and togetherness.
“We all hang out, on and off the field,” Morales said. “We all support each other. Sometimes, it’s tough love and it gets a little tricky, but we are never bitter or anything like that.
“We are a team, and we try and play together.”
Fittingly, Rojas converting the rebound was the Spartans’ third attempt on net after initial forays were blocked. He never hesitated once the ball ricocheted out to him.
“I felt like we were the better team, so when that opportunity came, I knew I had to get a shot on,” Rojas said. “I was really proud of myself after I saw it went in.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.