When sophomore forward Diego Munoz puts on his Bloom soccer jersey, he knows he has quite a legacy to live up to.
Munoz’s older brother, Christian, is the leading goal scorer in program history. But while his last name comes with high expectations in Chicago Heights, Diego has learned how to just be himself.
“I was really nervous because those were big steps to follow in,” Munoz said. “A lot of people compared me to him and it got to me. But other people talked to me and were like, ‘It’s you. You’re doing you.’
“I listened to them and was like, ‘Yeah, it is me.’ Christian tells me there are things I can do that he couldn’t. Now, instead of having it make me nervous, I changed it to motivation.”
In his first varsity season, Diego is starting to make his own mark. He scored his third goal of the year Tuesday night, helping the host Blazing Trojans roll to a 3-0 win over Lincoln-Way West.
Omar Ortiz added a goal and an assist, Eduardo Gonzalez scored a goal and Miguel Lopez made eight saves for the shutout for Bloom (4-2), which extended its winning streak to four.
Patrick Kueber made seven saves for Lincoln-Way West (3-2).
Munoz came off the bench and quickly delivered, giving the Blazing Trojans the lead in the 22nd minute when he took a nifty pass from Ortiz, broke open down the right side of the field and ripped a shot under the leg of a closing defender and into the left side of the net.
When he’s on the bench to start the game, Munoz watches the action closely to develop a plan of attack.
“I see how everybody’s touching the ball so I can make sure I get into the right position,” he said. “Then when I get into the game, I try to calm myself and I focus on myself and scoring goals.”
Ortiz, who was a freshman on varsity during Christian Munoz’s senior season in 2021, is getting some flashbacks when he sees Diego play. But there are differences as well.
“They both play similar, but it’s really crazy because Diego is really good with his right leg and Christian’s really good with his left,” Ortiz said. “It’s kind of like the opposite brother.”
Diego said he studies his brother’s game film and got plenty of advice from him growing up.
“He’d always tell me, ‘Know what to do. Know how you’re playing. Be smart and don’t lose your mind. Always stay calm no matter what,’” Diego said.
Bloom coach Zack Radtke has been impressed with how fast Diego has developed that calm mentality after putting too much pressure on himself to begin the season.
“You could tell at the start that he was trying to force it,” Radtke said. “He was trying to do things that are a little bit more than what he needed to do. Me and him talked. I told him, ‘Be yourself. You can’t be anyone else. Just have fun with it. Embrace what you’re capable of and your strengths.’
“The last three games he’s been just dynamic, absolutely awesome.”
Ortiz made it 2-0, finishing off an assist from Jonathan Castillo in the 32nd minute before Gonzalez closed the scoring in the second half.
Jonathan Castillo, Carlos Castillo, Manny Martinez and Miguel Pena led the defense in front of Miguel Lopez.
Meanwhile, a special guest was in the stands to see Diego Munoz spark the Blazing Trojans. Christian Munoz is having a blast watching his brother.
“I enjoy watching him play because he’s also a Bloom Trojan and that’s what I am,” Christian said. “I like his style of play because it’s way different from everybody. They put him in there with around 25 minutes left in the first half and right away, he scored.
“He’s like venom for the other team.”
