Gianni “Bonbon” Luque watched from the stands as De La Salle played in a state semifinal Friday.
The next night, the junior goalkeeper was the Meteors’ starter in the first state championship game — in any team sport — in school history.
Talk about a mind-blowing 24 hours.
“I didn’t think once that I’d be starting in the state championship game,” Luque said. “In my head, I was a little nervous, but I just knew I had to be prepared for what was coming.”
Luque, who was pressed into service after starting goalkeeper Jahir Anaya got a red card for taunting after Friday’s game had ended, performed admirably.
Although Lugue made five saves, the Meteors’ dream run ended heartbreakingly short as they lost 3-2 in overtime to Belleville Althoff in the Class 2A state championship game at Hoffman Estates.
Alex Panduro had a goal and an assist, Mario Ramirez added a goal and Brandon Olvera chipped in with an assist for De La Salle (27-2-2).
Tyler Birdsong finished with a hat trick, including the game-winning penalty kick with 3:37 left in overtime, to lead Althoff (26-4). Tyler Pollock had two assists and Zach Winkler made four saves.
De La Salle coach Francisco Martinez said there was plenty for his team to be proud of.
“They’ve done a lot more than they realize at the moment because of the outcome,” Martinez said. “How much hope and how much unity they brought to our school and what they did together as a team. The journey was a good one.”
No one’s journey was quite as unique as Luque’s path.
After playing junior varsity all season, he made his varsity debut Nov. 2 in a sectional final against St. Ignatius. He was in the net for the second half and OT as the Meteors rallied for a 4-3 win.
Luque’s first varsity start didn’t begin well as Althoff scored less than two minutes into the game.
But he responded with some big saves, shutting out the Crusaders in the second half and making a huge diving stop in OT.
“At the start of the game, there were nerves,” Luque said. “But once I got my first save, I calmed down a little more. That’s all I needed was one save to boost my confidence up a little bit more.”
Ramirez was the team’s emergency goalkeeper for OT of a sectional semifinal win over Solorio and started the sectional final, but he was happy Luque stepped in so he could play in the field.
“I think it was the right call,” Ramirez said. “I had trust in him. I had faith in him. I’m glad that he was able to step up, especially at this moment. I’m really proud of him.”
So, about that nickname. Luque displays it proudly, wearing “Bonbon” on the back of his jersey.
“When I was younger, my cheeks were really big so people would say it looked like I had marshmallows in them,” Luque said. “There’s a marshmallow in Mexico called Bonbon.
“It just stuck with me when I went to high school. It doesn’t bother me. That’s what most people know me as, so it’s a fun thing.”
After Althoff’s early goal, Panduro continued his postseason tear, delivering the tying score and then setting up Ramirez’s goal that put the Meteors ahead in the 24th minute.
But Birdsong tied it just before halftime, then broke the Meteors’ hearts in overtime.
Still, Olvera was proud to accomplish something that had never been done at his school.
“It’s beautiful,” he said. “I know we could have definitely brought it home, but I always tell my boys, ‘Family will be proud of us, win or lose.’
“Making school history was really just a bonus for us because all we ever wanted to do was make our families proud.”
Luque was sure glad to contribute.
“Even though we didn’t perform the way we wanted to (Saturday), it really is amazing that my two varsity games were final games,” he said. “It’s a great feeling.”
