Staff Reporter – CornerKICKSMedia.com
On a day filled with excitement and energy, the first game of the 2024 HSAA Boys Soccer State Finals at Triton College in River Grove was highlighted by a tall presence on the field.
With the music thumping from DJ Riel, the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Bears DJ, and a large crowd in attendance, Fenwick and Muchin Prep kicked off a memorable day of three state-title games.
One player that was tough to miss on the field was 6-foot-4 Fenwick freshman Esteban Jimenez, who also plays basketball and volleyball. The rising star also made the biggest impact, scoring what turned out to be the game-winner early in the first half to power Fenwick to a 1-0 victory to capture the Class K state title.
“We got a corner and one of our players made an amazing pass to my head and we finished it,” Jimenez said. “This is amazing.
“We get a banner in the gym. The atmosphere was amazing with the DJ, music and everything.”
The Friars (10-7-3) reached the last game of the season by knocking off Bloom and Chicago Washington in two close games to earn the title-game berth.
“This was really a great experience, and this team will be together for a long time, which excites me,” Fenwick coach Alex Zahorodnyj said. “They had a really successful season against a lot of good competition, and for such a young team, they did a great job.”
Muchin Prep coach Joseluis Aguirre praised Fenwick.
“They were a great and really organized team,” Aguirre said. “We had limited chances, but they were dangerous.
“It was great defensive play overall by Fenwick. They were really focused. In games like this, focus and being concentrated makes a difference.”
Muchin Prep sophomore goalie Juan Valdez had a game to remember against the Friars. Valdez recorded six saves in the defeat, playing stellar in between the pipes to keep the Lions in the game.
The Friars had several attempts for a goal, including strong shots by Luke Calabrese, Michael Alvarez, Colin Clarkson and Patrick Nix.
“Fenwick was really organized, but small mistakes can cost you a game,” Valdez said.
Muchin competes in Chicago’s Noble League and knocked off Kankakee in a shootout to advance.
“This was a great environment,” Aguirre said. “I’m so thankful to be here. We’re a program that’s growing day by day.”
Bio on reporter: Bobby Narang has been covering prep recruiting and sports for the past 30 years. His work also appears in the Chicago Tribune and Daily Herald.
