WESTCHESTER — Eduardo Gutierrez’s childhood is filled with memories of playing soccer with his older brother, Octavio.
Whether it was one-on-one drills in their front yard — where they would inevitably get yelled at after spilling play onto a neighbor’s lawn — or pick-up games at a neighborhood park in Cicero, Eduardo Gutierrez was always learning how to be a better soccer player from Octavio.
Now it’s all paying off for Eduardo Gutierrez in his senior season at St. Joseph. Known as Lalo by his teammates and friends, he has 19 goals for a Chargers team that is undefeated at 19-0-1 and won the 2A St. Joseph Regional title Friday night by defeating Nazareth 5-3 in a penalty kick shootout after 100 minutes of scoreless soccer.
“Having an older brother made me very competitive,” Eduardo Gutierrez said. “I was always trying to match him in everything he did.”
Despite being two years older, Octavio Gutierrez, who graduated from St. Joe’s in 2012, never took it easy on his little brother and that might be why Eduardo is as good as he is.
“We would wind up playing one-on-one outside for hours,” Octavio Gutierrez said. “I’d never let up and we’d be so competitive we’d wind up fighting and he’d get a bloody nose.”
As the boys got older, Octavio Gutierrez started playing club soccer for the Chicago Magic so it was only natural for Eduardo to start playing on the same team. Once again Eduardo Gutierrez would benefit from playing with more advanced players.
“For driving purposes, my dad would always put us on the same team so I would play with kids one or two years older and my brother would rag on me for not being as good as him,” Eduardo Gutierrez said. “It definitely pushed me and was motivation to get better.”
Eduardo Gutierrez was moved up to St. Joe’s varsity team for the playoffs during his freshman season. His real chance came the following year when he returned to the varsity as a sophomore. His brother was a captain and finished the season with 20 goals.
When told his younger brother has almost as many goals in his senior season, Octavio Gutierrez’s competitive nature quickly took over.
“In my defense, I played defender for half that season,” said Octavio Gutierrez, who is a sophomore at Oakton and plans to play soccer after sitting out last season with an injury.
But Octavio Gutierrez realizes how hard his brother works at it.
“He’s really consistent with everything he does. He’s the first one to finish fitness drills. He wakes up at 6 a.m. to go running. At first I think he was trying to be better than me but after I tore my ACL [after my senior season] I think he just focused on elevating his play to be the best he can be.”
After living in his brother’s shadow for so many years, now it’s time for Eduardo Gutierrez to shine.
“You can see he’s speedy and he just has that effortless speed,” St. Joe’s coach Stanley Niemiec said. “So it helps us get behind defenses. When they pack it in, he’s able to make a guy miss and find someones feet. He’s really playing well for us.”
Eduardo Gutierrez has tried to remain grounded despite an incredible senior year.
“I’m the leading goal scorer and that’s something to be proud of but we work really well together and have a great team,” Eduardo said. “I know everyone says it every year but I think this year is our year. Hopefully it all works out for the best.”
- Manny Lopez, Eduardo Gutierrez and Victor Moreno also converted their chances as St. Joe’s took a 3-2 lead in the shootout. Nazareth’s Connor O’Neill then had his attempt stopped by Chargers’ goalie Jonathan Rosales. Jovany Aceves scored for St. Joe’s and the Roadrunners (11-9) extended the shootout by making its next shot before Aaron Rivera scored to seal the regional title.
- The Chargers are the top seed in the St. Laurence Sectional and will face the winner of the Riverside-Brookfield Regional, either the host Bulldogs or Little Village.
