Last fall, Josue Garcia saw many of his fellow sophomores getting called up to contribute to a young varsity team for St. Laurence.
Garcia, though, stayed all season on the junior varsity. He was disappointed, but it made him hungrier.
“I just stayed humble and trusted the process,” Garcia said. “I worked hard in silence and I just wanted to prove to everybody that I’m capable of doing anything that anyone else can do.”
The junior defender is showing that now. He’s already earned a starting spot.
And in only his second career varsity game, Garcia scored his first goal Tuesday night, pushing the Vikings to a 2-0 win over Shepard in a Windy City Ram Classic first-round game hosted by Lincoln-Way West in New Lenox.
Alonso Gonzalez also scored for St. Laurence (1-0-1), which will take on Lincoln-Way West (1-0) at 6 p.m. Thursday in a second-round game at Reavis.
Garcia, Pauly Rzadkosz, Adrian Luna and Heriberto Luna led the defense for the Vikings in front of goalkeeper Vin Diesi, holding Shepard without a shot on goal. Neftaly Orozco made nine saves for the Astros (0-1).
In addition to doing his job defensively, Garcia was aggressive in pushing up from his spot at left back and getting involved in the offensive attack. It paid off in the 13th minute when he ripped in a high shot from 30 yards.
“It felt great,” Garcia said. “It was my first varsity goal. We were struggling to get one in, so I just had to try it and hope for the best and it went in. That was a good one to remember.”
St. Laurence’s Josue Garcia (21) controls the ball against Shepard during a Windy City Ram Classic first-round game at Lincoln-Way West in New Lenox on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
It certainly felt sweeter after last season’s setback. Garcia used it as motivation, intent on showing he belonged.
“There were a lot of emotions going on in my head,” Garcia said. “It just pushed me to be better, pushed me to work harder.
“I’m just grateful to have a starting position on varsity now and I’m going to keep working hard so I can keep it.”
St. Laurence coach Jaime Alonso appreciates the way Garcia dedicated himself to getting better.
St. Laurence’s Alonso Gonzalez (24) celebrates his goal against Shepard during a Windy City Ram Classic first-round game at Lincoln-Way West in New Lenox on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
“Last year, he was one of the few sophomores who didn’t come up from the JV team, but he didn’t complain,” Alonso said. “He put his head down and went to work and now he’s our starting left back, and that’s a testament to his effort. Props to him.”
Gonzalez, who scored with 7:33 left in the game to give St. Laurence some breathing room, appreciates Garcia’s versatility, trusting him to defend while also enjoying to see him push up to help the offense when he can.
“His defending ability has been impressive,” Gonzalez said. “Nobody can really take him on the field. Then when he’s attacking, his shots and his passes are all good.
“They’re menacing and they really help us in these tight games.”
St. Laurence’s Josue Garcia (21) sends a pass past Shepard’s Angel Perez (19) during a Windy City Ram Classic first-round game at Lincoln-Way West in New Lenox on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
Garcia enjoys having the freedom to move all over the field and take his chances to score.
“I do like pushing up and getting involved in the offense,” he said. “I know I can trust my other defenders. If anyone slips up in front and the other team gets a counterattack, I have faith in my defenders.
“It’s all about trust on our team.”
Garcia is continuing a soccer journey that started way back when he was 3 years old. At that young age, he jumped up to play with older kids. He hasn’t looked back since.
“I was in pre-K and my school’s kindergarten team needed players, so I helped them out,” Garcia said. “I fell in love with the sport right away. It’s the energy, the intensity … everything.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/26/josue-garcia-st-laurence-shepard-ihsa-boys-soccer/
