Coming off freshman and sophomore years in which he scored 35 goals, Ottawa senior captain Gio Resendez managed to pot 17 more goals in only 10 games in a shortened fall-moved-to-spring season as a junior.
“We didn’t get to have a lot of games in the spring. It was unfortunate, but it was just how things were,” Resendez said. “I just tried to make the best of the situation and be thankful that we were able to play any games at all after the fall season [of 2020] was postponed.
“I really didn’t think about wanting to try and make up for things we missed out on coming into this year. I just wanted to again be thankful of the chance to play and wanted to play as hard as I could each game we had.”
In a full 2021 fall season that saw the Pirates finish with a 15-7-2 record – including winning titles at the Serena and Ottawa tournament – Resendez scored a school-record 52 goals and passed for 11 assists.
His award-winning season – which includes being voted The Times Boys Soccer Player of the Year – gave him career totals of 103 goals and 49 assists.
“Since my freshman year, I just wanted to contribute any way I could and make the team better,” said Resendez, who fell just short of the school record of 106 goals by Thad Wendt (1984-87). “I’m proud of what we accomplished in my four years, and hopefully the next teams can continue to improve and be even better.”
Ottawa won 43 games over the past four seasons, the best mark since 1992-95 (48).
“It’s such a great feeling to not only have a good individual season, but one that goes along with the team having a good season,” he said.
Over his career, Resendez is a three-time All-Interstate Eight Conference First Team pick – this year named the league’s MVP – and as a freshman was an All-Northern Illinois Big 12 West Division pick. Along with being named to The Times All-Area First Team for a fourth time, he was an Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-Sectional selection this fall.
“He had a great individual season, but he also lifted up his teammates and made them stronger,” Ottawa coach Jeff Davis said. “I know he had 52 goals, but he was also so unselfish, leading the team in assists, as well.
“He’s a true team player. If I had asked him to play defender all season because I thought it would have helped the team, he would have done it without questioning it. That’s just how he is. He earned a lot of accolades this season, but they are all well deserved.
“He is a player that is always working on his game and always trying to get better. He has natural talent and abilities, but he has never just relied on that. He’s always pushed himself to be the best he can be.
“We’re going to miss him next season, and that’s an understatement. He has raised his level of play every season, and his four years in the program have been pretty special.”
In a prelude to what was in store, Resendez began the season with a four-goal game in a win over Sandwich. He also had the only goal in a rivalry triumph over La Salle-Peru, seven goals during the OHS Invite and five goals each in regular-season loop and conference tournament wins over Morris.
He then scored all three goals in a 3-1 win over Rochelle in the conference tournament and netted his 100th career goal the following week in a tie with Roanoke-Benson.
“The game that stands out in my mind this season is the game against Rochelle for third place in the conference tournament,” Resendez said. “They scored first, and we were down at halftime. We weren’t playing very good, but in the second half everything started to click for us, and we were able to come back and win.”
The season came to a frustrating end for Resendez, as he suffered a leg injury late in the first half and was not able to return during the Pirates’ 4-2 loss to Streator in La Salle-Peru Class 2A Regional semifinal, a game Ottawa led, 2-0, before he was sidelined.
“It’s very exciting to score a goal,” said Resendez, who hopes to continue playing soccer in college. “If it’s a big goal, like one that gives the team the lead or ties the game, you see all the smiles and hear all the cheers from your teammates. It’s one of the best feelings for sure. It’s knowing you’ve given the team a huge momentum boost.
“But, to be honest, I love getting assists even more. I really do. Giving a teammate a pass that leads to them scoring is so great. To see one of them happy for scoring is the best feeling I have on the soccer field.”