When opportunity knocks, you don’t want to say no. West Aurora’s Noe Del Rio has learned over the years that scoring chances don’t have to be dictated by his precise location on the field.
After the senior attacking midfielder saw his shot ricochet off the post in the first minute of the game, he felt a blast from distance could end up being the perfect corrective measure.
“I saw the ball around me and nobody was coming up to me and I felt free,” Del Rio said of his second bite at the apple. “The ball just came to me and I decided to take a shot.
“I spent a lot of time over the summer working with my goalkeeper, Adyn Lopez, taking those shots from long range and just bending it in. We’d go to West and practice all the time.”
Del Rio buried a 34-yard shot for the goal that punctuated a dominant first half Thursday night for the Blackhawks in a 3-0 victory at Glenbard East in Upstate Eight Conference crossover game.
Senior forward Lalo Lopez, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, added a goal and assist for West Aurora (1-1). Senior forward Greyson Roderick also scored a goal.
An electric and offensively effective first-half performance by the Blackhawks offset a disappointing 1-0 season-opening loss Tuesday against Oswego East.
“I feel like after that, we came together as a team and woke up and started taking things more seriously,” Del Rio said. “This is my second year on varsity, and I have to help teach the system to the new guys.
“I’m pretty quiet. I keep to myself until people start talking to me and then I’m more outgoing. I have to help them learn and show how to play together as a team with how we press and move the ball.”
Del Rio is one of four returning starters from last year’s team that stunned top-ranked Naperville North in reaching the sectional final.
His blend of size, speed, feel for the game and ability to play interchangeable positions around the field optimize West Aurora’s attack.
“His game is very diverse with his ability to play multiple positions,” West Aurora coach Joe Sustersic said. “He has multiple responsibilities as a player — defensive midfielder, on the outside or at forward.
“We said let’s try him up front at attacking midfielder, and he had a goal and almost two, with an assist there. He’s very talented on the ball.”
Senior midfielder Mason Aguirre, who assisted the opening goal by Lopez, marveled at the technical and artistic quality that Del Rio brings to the table.
“He’s probably got the best shot on the whole team,” Aguirre said. “He’s just so dynamic with the ball. He’s really the playmaker of the team right now and what we need out there.
“He’s a great guy, humble, down to earth and smart. We’ve started talking a lot during our athletic study hall that we have together, and I think that’s really helped the chemistry out there.”
The game has been his passion since his earliest days, passed down by his father whose own dreams of playing were scuttled by an injury.
“I got involved with the game because of my dad,” Del Rio said. “I really wanted to play ever since I was little, so I entered this youth league team when I was probably about 4 years old.”
In taking and making shots, Del Rio exudes confidence. Scoring is a natural scoring that not every player possesses.
“If I have a shot, I’ll take it,” he said. “I really love the players, coaches. I love our system of how we connect with everybody and get to make great plays, no matter where you are on the field.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
