Senior goalkeeper Andres Comp waited four years for his chance to start for Mount Carmel.
All along, he stayed committed and ready, putting in the hard work even when he wasn’t always being rewarded with playing time.
“It’s hard sometimes,” Comp said. “There’s a lot of running (in practice). I’m big on running. I’m a keeper so I don’t have to be running, but I still do it. I’m not a quitter.
“When I start something, I like to finish it and follow thru. Even if something isn’t going my way, I’m going to work harder until I get my way, I guess.”
Comp, a Wisconsin-Whitewater recruit, earned the starting job and has put together a strong season in the net.
He stepped up big Saturday morning, making five saves and recording a shutout as the top-seeded Caravan edged second-seeded Washington 1-0 in the Class 2A Brother Rice Sectional championship game.
Sophomore Brandon Razo scored off an assist from junior Jose Guzman for Mount Carmel (14-3-5), which won the program’s fourth sectional title and first since 2018.
The Caravan will take on Solorio (20-3) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Class 2A St. Laurence Supersectional.
Samuel Cruz made two saves for Washington (13-6).
“We had a lot of guys out with injuries,” Razo said. “No one expected us to be this deep in the playoffs. We didn’t know if this group would do what we’ve been doing. This is great.”
Comp saw brief action with the varsity team as both a freshman and sophomore before getting a bit more playing time last season as the backup.
This year, he was not going to let anything stop him from winning — and keeping — the starting job.
“I knew coming into senior year, it’s my last year and I’m not going to let someone else start over me,” Comp said. “It’s the want to start and represent my school and play for all my other seniors I’ll be leaving with.”
Mount Carmel coach Antonio Godinez praised Comp for helping to guide the team, even when he wasn’t the starter.
“He’s been an incredible leader,” Godinez said. “His demeanor has always been great. On and off the field, he commands a certain respect from the players as a student-athlete. He’s a great role model.
“He didn’t give up. He stepped up nicely in the summer working with us in the workouts. He was very consistent. He’s just improved a lot from the time he came in until now.”
Razo, meanwhile, has made a huge impact in his first varsity season. He came through in the 15th minute with his 13th goal of the season.
Guzman played a terrific pass out of the midfield, springing Razo free down the left side of the field. Razo outran a defender and slipped a shot past Cruz for the game’s lone goal.
“I didn’t expect it to be like this in my first year on the varsity,” Razo said. “It’s been great. It’s hard work in practice, gaining confidence. That’s been pretty much it.”
The defense took it home from there for the Caravan, with Nico Mullen, Sebastian Palma, Dominic Gadilinski and Ryan Nichols leading the back line.
Comp made a huge save on Leonardo Solis’ shot in the 20th minute and dove to deny Sacramento Diaz early in the second half.
“Andres since the summer has worked so much,” Palma said of Comp. “We have so much confidence in Andres.”
Comp has gained that belief in himself, too.
“It’s me proving to myself that I’m capable of starting and playing and helping us go deep in the playoffs,” Comp said. “This is a great feeling.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.