Rochelle varsity boys soccer coach Brad Male knew his players had set high goals for the 2018 season. Whether or not the Hubs would manage to obtain those goals was the next question that needed answering.
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ROCHELLE — Rochelle varsity boys soccer coach Brad Male knew his players had set high goals for the 2018 season. Whether or not the Hubs would manage to obtain those goals was the next question that needed answering.
Rochelle did more than answer that question, however, finishing 20-1-1 overall while setting numerous records and reaching new heights along the way. The Hubs kicked off their season by going 3-0 to win the War on 34 Championship at Earlville before compiling a 7-0-1 record in Northern Illinois Big 12 West play to claim a conference title for the first time since 2004.
The Hubs shut out both of their opponents in regional competition at Sterling to win their first regional championship since 2012, and Rochelle advanced to the sectional title match at Glenbard South before dropping a tough match against Marmion in the final round. It was Rochelle’s first time ever playing in a sectional championship match.
“These guys set some high goals and as a coach I would’ve never guessed that they would have been able to fulfill them,” Male said. “They exceeded all of my expectations and it was such a pleasure being a part of the team this year. They never gave up on their goals.”
Rochelle’s 20 victories were the most obtained by any team in school history, and the Hubs were led by senior Jessee Infante who set a single-season scoring record with 43 goals while adding 28 assists. Sophomore Brayan Orozco (21 goals and 16 assists) and freshman Josue Orozco (21 goals and nine assists) each topped 20 goals while junior Max Torres added 13 goals and nine assists. Junior Austin Brown (nine goals and eight assists) and senior Adolfo Flores (five goals and seven assists) were also key players on the Rochelle offense.
“It was really nice that we didn’t have to rely on one person,” Male said. “We had multiple players who could score at any time and the boys really looked for each other. It was the biggest display of teamwork that I’ve seen in a while.”
Rochelle outscored opponents 125-13 this season, and behind several seniors on defense including goalie Mason DeLille and defenders Josue Almaraz, Ruben Herrera and Juan Montemayor, the Hubs failed to surrender over two goals in any contest this fall. Rochelle recorded shutouts in 13 of the team’s 22 games.
“The boys changed the way they wanted to play defense toward the end of last season and they made it their own this year,” Male said. “We were playing more of a flat-four defensive scheme but they wanted to switch to playing a diamond. Only allowing 13 goals this season was amazing and it was a testament to their abilities.”
The Hubs will graduate 10 seniors from this year’s team, but there are four juniors (Brown, Torres, Carlos Nambo and Gyvanziel Quinonez) as well as seven sophomores and two freshmen who will fill their shoes next year.
