Boys Soccer: Hubs keeping expectations high after historic season

Several players returning from record-setting 2018 campaign

Russell Hodges
Posted 8/15/19

The Rochelle varsity boys soccer program went further than any team in school history last season. While the Hubs graduated several players from the record-setting 2018 campaign, returning players are confident they can follow up with an equally impressive performance during the 2019 season.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Boys Soccer: Hubs keeping expectations high after historic season

Several players returning from record-setting 2018 campaign

Posted

ROCHELLE — The Rochelle varsity boys soccer program went further than any team in school history last season. While the Hubs graduated several players from the record-setting 2018 campaign, returning players are confident they can follow up with an equally impressive performance during the 2019 season.

Rochelle kicked off fall practices this past week, and the Hubs will open the season with three consecutive nonconference games against Hinckley-Big Rock, Earlville and Somonauk from Aug. 26-28 before traveling for the annual War on 34 Championship. The Hubs, who went 20-1-1 with both Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference and IHSA Class 2A Regional titles in 2018, make their Interstate Eight Conference debut against Sandwich on Sept. 3.

“I feel like it’s going to be a good season,” senior Max Torres said. “We learned last year that no matter how hard it gets, we have to keep our focus on the game and giving everything we have… Our goals this year are to try and bring back all of the championships we won last year, and hopefully we can go farther than we went last year.”

Despite losing record-setting scorer Jessee Infante, the Hubs bring back plenty of firepower at the forward positions including Torres and the Orozco brothers (junior Brayan and sophomore Josue). The three players combined for 55 goals and 34 assists in 2018. Senior Austin Brown returns to headline the midfield positions, with juniors Zane Walters and Josh Hurtado primed for breakout campaigns.

“We’re going to have to come a long way since we have a lot of young kids,” Brown said. “But they’re really good so we should be able to build up pretty quickly and get off to a good start this season. We need to stay positive and we have a lot of potential. We want to win the conference right away, and I don’t think making the regional finals is a long shot this year.”

Rochelle will need some new players to step into starting roles on defense after losing keeper Mason DeLille and backs Josue Almaraz and Ruben Herrera. Senior Gyvanziel Quinonez returns as the most experienced defender, while junior Damian Salinas earned starting minutes as well. Senior keeper Alexis Quintanilla appears to be the next man up in the Rochelle penalty box.

“We’re definitely going to miss the guys we lost this past year but our returning players are looking forward to making it far this year,” Quinonez said. “We’re really hoping to follow in the footsteps of our past captains in terms of making connections and being role models for the other players… The people who are coming back this year want to break last year’s record.”