Junior forward Jonathan Magana believes he’s at his best when it matters the most for Bloom. And he’s certainly building the resume to support that claim.
In September, he scored twice as the Blazing Trojans upset the state’s top-ranked team in Lyons. This week, he has scored two goals each in back-to-back regional games.
“I feel like I’ve always been the man in big-game scenarios,” Magana said. “I don’t know why, but I think it’s the way I carry myself and the way I prepare myself and challenge myself.”
Magana met that challenge again Friday night.
He scored two goals in the first half as fifth-seeded Bloom topped fourth-seeded Lockport 3-2 in the Class 3A Rich Township Regional championship game in Richton Park.
Omar Ortiz added a goal and an assist and Brandon Bravo had two assists for the Blazing Trojans (20-5-2), who won their third straight regional title and advanced to take on eighth-seeded Shepard (18-7) at 5 p.m. Tuesday in a Lockport Sectional semifinal.
The Astros stunned top-seeded Sandburg 5-1.
Dominic Williams and Daniel Szkodon scored goals for Lockport (15-5-1).
The Blazing Trojans got revenge for last season, when the Porters prevailed 3-2 in a sectional semifinal shootout on their way to finishing third in the state.
Lockport also beat Bloom 2-1 in August.
In last year’s sectional, Bloom led in double overtime, but Lockport scored with 2:47 left to force the shootout. That was a moment the Blazing Trojans did not forget.
“It’s a monkey off our back,” Bloom coach Zack Radtke said. “It’s amazing. At 2:47 left in the game, Miguel (Vilchis) looked over and said, ‘Look, 2:47.’ It was etched in their brains from last year. They’ve had this game circled.”
Williams gave Lockport the lead in the third minute, but Magana came back to tie the game in the eighth minute and then gave his team the lead for good in the 25th minute.
Magana’s teammates have been impressed with the way he’s performed in big games, and not just by scoring. His team play matters even more.
“Johnny’s stepped up big,” Ortiz said. “At the beginning of the season, I’m not going to lie, he started getting a little bit selfish.
“But we started to get more chemistry. I’m able to read him now. I know exactly what he wants do and where to play the ball to him.”
Magana confirmed he may have been a bit too eager to shoot early in the season.
“I do understand how I played a bit selfishly,” Magana said. “I felt like I wanted to be an all-around player and not just a goal scorer, and I think I’ve done that.”
With just under 30 minutes to play, Bravo made a nice move down the end line and drew a foul in the box.
Ortiz converted the ensuing penalty kick to give the Blazing Trojans a 3-1 lead.
Lockport, though, did not go down without a fight.
With 23:33 to go, Szkodon charged in and scored on a running header off a cross from Nathan Blazewski to make it 3-2.
The Porters had some chances late but Bloom held on this time.
“We knew Bloom was going to be ready to play,” Lockport coach Chris Beal said. “They’ve given us some tough games the last few years and we’ve always come out on top, so maybe it was their turn.
“Hats off to them. For us, it’s bitterly disappointing to lose a regional championship game.”
For Bloom, meanwhile, it was a magical moment.
“I wouldn’t say it feels like a dream, but it’s up there,” Bravo said. “This is a moment to live.
“I told the JV guys I hope they can experience something like this. These are memories you never forget.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.