After transferring from Mount Carmel to St. Laurence following his sophomore year, Noah Mendez was ineligible to play varsity soccer last fall and had to sit out the season.
But Mendez watched closely as the Vikings finished as the Class 3A state runner-up, and he envisioned himself stepping into the starting goalkeeper role and thriving this fall as a senior.
“I learned the standard,” said Mendez, who did get to play in a few junior varsity games. “I learned what it was to be a Viking and play Viking soccer. I just knew I was going to be ready for this year.
“It was so tough sitting out last year, but I already knew what we were going to do this year.”
So far, Mendez’s vision has been spot on. He dazzled in the net Thursday night, making eight saves — including a huge stop on a penalty kick — to lift St. Laurence to a 1-0 win over Lockport in the Windy City Ram Classic championship game at Reavis in Burbank.
Jesus Salazar scored off an assist from Adan Gutierrez for the lone goal for the Vikings (6-0), who won the 32-team tournament for the first time.
Pauly Rzadkosz, Heriberto Luna, Andrew Martinez and Josue Garcia led the defensive effort in front of Mendez.
Ben Szudy made eight saves for Lockport (4-1), while Aleko Kolliniatis had four shots on goal.
Mendez’s biggest moment came after the Porters’ Orlando Dominguez was fouled in the box to earn a penalty kick with 21 minutes to go, just over a minute after Salazar had given the Vikings the lead.
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Mendez dove to his left to bat away Kolliniatis’ penalty kick, then got his body in front of another good look from Kolliniatis off the rebound.
“In my head, I knew I was going to get it, even before the ref blew the whistle,” Mendez said. “Then the rebound shot hit me off the chest. You just can’t be scared.
“You’ve got to put your life on the line there to make sure the ball doesn’t’ go in the net.”
Salazar has seen Mendez gain a new sense of belief in himself.
“I’ve played with Noah on club and I see his hunger,” Salazar said. “He always had a little bit less confidence than he should but he’s showing he’s a dog now. He can fit in with everybody.
“Even though he’s a bit undersized, he makes the big plays and he’s not afraid of anything.”
Salazar, meanwhile, cut into the middle of the box, took a pass from Gutierrez and ripped in the game-winning goal from 15 yards.
“It was an amazing, exciting game,” Salazar said. “Playing in front of a big crowd so early in the season was so fun. This is the first time St. Laurence wins this Windy City Ram Classic and we’re going for more.”
Mendez has been a big part of the success. He’s happy he returned to goalkeeping after a short break from the position.
“I’ve been a goalie since I was a little kid, but I stopped for a little bit in seventh and eighth grade,” he said. “In high school, I decided to get back in the net. I know I was born to be in the net.”
St. Laurence coach Jaime Alonso is certainly glad Mendez made that choice.
“Noah has taken tremendous strides over the last year,” Alonso said. “The fact that he had to sit out last year definitely drove a different type of hunger inside of him and he shows it every day.”
Without a doubt, Mendez is playing with a sense of urgency.
“I get one year,” he said. “That’s how I think about it. I have to make all of it. I’ve got make every single play in every single game and play every game like it’s my last.”