2025 MENDOTA SOCCER STATE FINALS
Scott Anderson Mendota’s Johan Cortez poses with the Class 1A State runner-up trophy on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Ho man Estates High School.
‘Wow,
we really got second in state’ A
look
back at Mendota’s run to the state title game
By Kevin Chlum
After placing third in the Class 1A state tournament last season, the Mendota boys soccer team quickly set its sights higher for the 2025 season.
“We’ve only got one goal this year and we’ve been working hard for it all summer,” Mendota coach Nick Myers said just before the season started. “We’d like to return to Hoffman Estates (for state) but win the whole thing this time.”
The Trojans nearly accomplished their goal of becoming the first team in Mendota history in any sport to win a state championship but settled for second place after a 3-1 loss to Columbia in the state championship.
“I was pretty upset about getting second, but it’s still pretty nice to get second instead of third,” Mendota senior Mateo Goy said the day after the title game. “I’m going to look back in 10 years and think, ‘Wow, we really got second in state and we’re one of the four teams to ever go to a state championship in my school’s history.’ And I got to do it with my family.”
In order to prepare themselves for another deep postseason run, the Trojans made their schedule even more challenging than they had in recent years.
Mendota’s scheduled included 11
games against Class 2A or Class 3A teams, including a 2-1 loss to Class 2A runner-up Washington and a 2-0 loss to Class 2A state qualifier Rock Island, and also included games with 1A powers Peoria Christian and Quincy Notre Dame.
An early season loss to Moline, a Class 3A team, helped the Trojans figure out some defensive issues after replacing three starters from the 2024 defense.
After allowing four goals to Moline, the Mendota defense - made up of seniors Angel Orozco, Alex Beetz and Luis Ramirez and sophomore Abel Nanez in front of senior goalkeeper Mateo Goy - never gave up more than three goals again and only allowed multiple goals five times the rest of the way as the Trojans allowed 22 goals and had 18 shutouts.
“The first couple weeks we shuffled around numerous people in the back,” Myers said about the defense after the supersectional. “Once we got the four set, they’ve gotten really good.”
“The defense has been rock solid for us all season and definitely in the playoffs.”
While the Mendota defense was a question mark before the season, the offense was not with the Trojans’ top
four goal scorers back from a year ago in seniors Johan Cortez and Sebastian Carlos and juniors Isaac Diaz and Cesar Casas.
The Trojans once again were prolific offensively, scoring 149 goals in 30 games, an average of 4.97 goals per game.
Cortez led the way with 40 goals, while Casas scored and Diaz scored 36.
During the regular season, the Trojans went 5-0 in Three Rivers Conference play and won the inaugural conference tournament.
“It’s very cool,” Myers said about winning the tournament. “We always like to get as many trophies as we can. Hopefully, this is something we can start a streak on and win multiple years in a row. We were able to get through the conference schedule and tournament without being scored on, so that’s always nice.”
In the postseason, the Trojans cruised through the Mendota Regional and Indian Creek Sectional, winning the four games by a combined score of 18-0 as they claimed their seventh consecutive regional championship and third sectional title in the last five years.
“I think it means a lot for everyone in Mendota to do this because it’s
not easy to do,” Cortez said after the regional. “Some years we win with pretty big scores like 4-0, 5-0, 6-0, but realistically, it’s not easy to do for any team. To win seven in a row, I think this shows Mendota has a great program and hopefully they can keep it up in the future.”
In the Mendota Supersectional, the Trojans edged recent postseason rival Quincy Notre Dame 2-1. The Trojans lost to QND 7-1 in a sectional final three years ago and 3-2 in overtime in a sectional semifinal two years ago.
“It feels really good,” senior Mauricio Salinas said after the supersectional. “They’re a really competitive team. They challenge us and have beaten us a lot. It feels really good to finally get a win over them in the playoffs.”
At state, Mendota defeated Coal City 3-0 in the semifinal. Diaz gave the Trojans a 1-0 halftime lead, while Cortez and Garcia scored in the second half.
In the championship game, the Trojans fell behind 1-0 but tied it early in the second half when Cortez scored on a penalty kick. However, Columbia scored twice in the second half to pull away.
Scott Anderson
Members of the Mendota boys soccer team pose with the Class 1A State runner-up trophy on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Hoffman Estates High School.
Mendota Boys’ Soccer - 2025
Varsity
#NameYear
GK-1Mateo Goy 12
2Angel Orozco12
3Gael Garcia 12
4Cole Kleckner 11
5Mauricio Salinas12
6Danny Garcia 11
7 Isaac Diaz 11
8Ramiro Palacios12
9Abel Nanez 10
10Johan Cortez12
11 Cesar Casas 11
12 Jamal Lesley 11
13 Sebastian Carlos12
14Kevin Herrera10
15Luis Ramirez12
16 Ozvaldo Arteaga 12
17Omar Nanez 10
18Hugo Falcon10
19Aaden Castle12
20Arian Chavez9
23Alex Beetz 12
24 Aaron Venegas 11
33Gianni Figueroa 11
Head Coach: Nick Meyers
Assistant Coach: Ray Arteaga, Danny Hernandez, Tom Bender
JV
#Name Year
3Liam Jones 9
4Anthony Martinez10
5Axel Ruis 9
6Ilan Garcia 9
7Adan Estrada 11
8Sergio Correa9
9Christian Gonzalez 11
10Isaac Espinoza9
11 Cruz Chavez10
12 Emiliano Villagomez 10
13Diego Suarez10
14Danny Correa10
14Kevin Herrera10
15Christian Colin10
17Omar Nanez10
18Hugo Falcon10
18Leander Schafer 11
20Braden Calderon9
20Arian Chavez9
22Ignacio Ortega10
23Emmanual Orozco9
25 Adrian Trejo 10
26Elizandro Orozco9
27Salvador Hermisillo10
33Gianni Figueroa 11
Mark Busch
Coal City’s Dane Noffsinger and Mendota’s Cesar Casas try to run down the ball
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, during their Class 1A state semifinal game at Hoffman Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Mendota fans cheer on the Trojans during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Hoffman Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Mendota keeper Mateo Goy misses the ball during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Hoffman Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Mendota’s Ramiro Palacios puts a headder on the ball during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Hoffman Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Columbia player blocks the ball from Mendota’s Danny Garcia during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Hoffman Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Mendota keeper Mateo Goy blocks the ball during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Hoffman Estates High School.
Mark Busch
Coal City’s Parker Jacovec kicks the ball away from Mendota’s Isaac Diaz Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, during their Class 1A state semifinal game at Hoffman Estates High School.
Mark Busch
Mendota’s Isaac Diaz celebrates after scoring a goal as Coal City’s Carter Nicholson looks away Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, during their Class 1A state semifinal game at Hoffman Estates High School.
Mark Busch
Coal City’s Creed Macaluso heads the ball in front of Mendota’s Johan Cortez Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, during their Class 1A state semifinal game at Hoffman Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Columbia players kick the ball to score the first goal against Mendota during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Hoffman Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Mendota’s Sebastian Carlos eyes the field during the Class 1A State runner-up plaque on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Hoffman Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Angel Orozco bocks the ball during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Hoffman Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Mendota’s Danny Garcia eyes the ball during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Hoffman Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Mendota players Alex Beetz, keeper Mateo Goy and Casar Casas, react as Colombia players score a goal during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Hoffman Estates High School.
‘They’ve had a huge impact’: Mendota seniors lead soccer program to new heights
By Kevin Chlum
Mendota senior Mateo Goy remembers sitting in the stands as an eighth grader when the Trojans lost in penalty kicks to Bloomington Central Catholic in the supersectional, ending a 23-1 season.
He knew he wanted to be in that position someday.
“We went to the game and Luis Ramirez and I were talking and said, ‘We’re going to get here one day,’” Goy said. “And then we got all the way to the state championship. We had a bittersweet ending (with a 3-1 loss to Columbia in the state title game), but we still got there.”
Mendota senior Johan Cortez said he and his classmates were motivated by watching the 2021 supersectional team and others before them.
“I think we were all pretty excited to finally be part of the team,” Cortez said. “Growing up, we all watched the high school soccer. Watching that amazing year they had when we were in eighth grade made us more excited. When we came in, a lot of the older groups we knew since we were little as well. It was easy to fit in with them and they guided us in the right direction.”
Goy, Ramirez, Cortez and the rest of the Class of 2026, which includes Angel Orozco, Mauricio Salinas, Ramiro Palacious, Sebastian Carlos, Osvaldo Arteaga, Aaden Castle and Alex Beetz, continued to take the program in the right direction, helping Mendota reach new heights.
The Class of 2026 led the Trojans to four regional titles - extending Mendota’s streak to seven - two sectional championships, the program’s first two state appearances, a thirdplace finish in 2024 and a runner-up finish this season.
“It means a lot, especially to the seniors because a lot of the older guys (from past teams) are our older brothers or cousins, so it means a lot to be able to do it and get that far not only for us, but for them too, for all the past generations that weren’t able to do it, but were so close,” Cortez said. “I think it’s just really cool to experience all that and they were happy for us too, which was really cool to see.”
The 10 seniors have played together since the Mendota Area Youth Soccer League and continued through indoor soccer in DeKalb and club soccer.
“We’re like a family,” Goy said. “I’ve spent almost every single day with these guys since we were like 3. There’s no words to explain our connection. I
love these guys.”
The connection from youth soccer translated to early success in high school as several members of the Class of 2026 were key contributors as freshmen.
“We lost a big group of seniors (from the supersectional team), but they right away as freshman kept us competitive,” Mendota coach Nick Myers said. “We went to the sectional final (their freshman year). We relied on a few of them to get us there. To get 10 kids like that who most can help you right away is great for your program. Then they just continued to work hard. They continued to improve. They’re a group that loves the sport and they play all the time. Having a group like that, having chemistry like that, having kids who will work hard, having kids who will not just show up but listen to you and want to be coached and want to get better is just awesome.
“Obviously, they’ve had a huge impact on our program. They’re the main reason we have two state trophies in the trophy case now at the high school.”
After leading the Trojans to unprecedented success, the Class of 2026 will take their own paths next year.
“It’s going to be tough to move on from this part of our lives, but it is part of life,’ Cortez said. “Everyone goes on to do their own thing. I’m sure we’ll stay connected. We’ll see each other here and there and we’ll try to get together as a group every once in a while. It’s going to be sad to see everyone go, but I’m just happy I was able to share all these memories with them. I’m just proud of everything we were able to accomplish.”
And the seniors hope the program continues to succeed once they’re gone.
“We changed soccer (at Mendota) forever,” Goy said. “I’m so happy for the community and for Mendota to see that and hopefully it’ll keep growing.”
Cortez sees plenty of potential in the classes coming up behind them.
“I think next year a lot of people might think that since we lose 10 seniors they’re going to have a downfall, but I don’t see the program dropping that much,” Cortez said. “They have a lot of skilled, smart players. I think if they just stay motivated, keep the hard work going and keep doing their thing, they’ll be able to make it back to regional, sectional and possibly even state again if they really want it.”
Mark Busch
Coal City’s Carter Nicholson makes a save as Mendota’s Isaac Diaz tries to make a play Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, during their Class 1A state semifinal game at Hoffman Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Mendota’s Johan Cortez hugs teammate Alex Beetz during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Ho man Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
The ball sails over the heads of Mendota defenders during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Ho man Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Mendota’s Ramiro Palacios puts a header on the ball during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Ho man Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Members of the Mendota boys soccer team are introduced during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Ho man Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Mendota keeper Mateo Goy reacts after losing the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Ho man Estates High School.
Scott Anderson
Mendota’s Casar Casas gets around Columbia’s Luke Dewilde during the Class 1A State title game on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at Hoffman Estates High School.
