Alex Panduro thought he was ready to say farewell to De La Salle soccer.
After leading the Meteors to a runner-up finish in Class 2A last fall and earning 2024 Daily Southtown Boys Soccer Player of the Year honors, Panduro originally planned to skip his senior season and devote all his time to FC United in the MLS Next League.
That’s where he plays during the high school offseason. But when Panduro looked back to last year’s magical postseason run, the senior midfielder/forward couldn’t walk away.
“It was the experience,” Panduro said. “Going to state with the guys and making amazing memories together, I had to come back for that.”
Panduro is picking up right where he left off last season, pouring in goals left and right.
His 13th of the season came in dramatic fashion Tuesday night on a free kick with 1:12 to go for the lone goal as the visiting Meteors earned a 1-0 Catholic League Blue win over Mount Carmel in Chicago.
Jahir Anaya made six saves in earning the shutout for De La Salle (9-2, 1-0), getting plenty of help from a defense led by Christopher Dingle, Antonio Sanchez, Cesar Solano and Jayden Farley.
Adam Corral finished with three saves for Mount Carmel (6-3, 0-1).
Panduro, meanwhile, broke the scoreless tie on a free kick from 20 yards, blasting his shot over the Caravan wall, off the inside of the left post and into the net.
“If the goalie’s in the middle, I’m going to go where my gut tells me to go,” Panduro said. “That was exactly where I wanted it. Hitting the post made it even better.
“The sound of it hitting the post and going in the goal … chef’s kiss.”
It’s those kind of magical moments De La Salle certainly would have missed if Panduro had decided not to play this season. He said he wasn’t completely sure he would come back until mid-August.
Meteors coach Frank Martinez, of course, welcomed the news.
“Think about it, anybody would be excited,” Martinez said. “He was the player of the year last year. It’s good to have him back. He’s going to get double-teamed or whatever the case may be, but you look forward to seeing a guy like that play.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I was excited. Why would I say no? The prayers were answered, in other words.”
Panduro’s presence on the team means more than scoring. According to Dingle, a senior defender who has tried to stop him in practice countless times, Panduro makes everyone around him better,
“I’ve been facing him in practice every day since I was a freshman,” Dingle said. “As a freshman, that was not fun. He was way ahead of me, but I’ve caught up now.
“Working against him, it’s tough every day. We have a lot of talent on our team. Everyone challenges each other. Iron sharpens iron.”
Beyond that impact on his team, Martinez is glad Panduro is getting one more chance to play with his high school friends.
“I think it’s the understanding that they’re building memories,” Martinez said. “You don’t get those back. That has a lasting impact, not just in soccer but in life. I told the guys last year, ‘Ten years from now, you’ll be sitting around talking about this. Who can do that? Not everyone can.’
“I think Alex saw how special it was and how much his teammates mean to him and for him it was important to play with these guys.”
There was also the matter of De La Salle losing 3-2 to Belleville Althoff in overtime last year in the state championship game, which inspired Panduro to return for redemption.
“I really wanted to come back and finish it off with a first-place state trophy,” he said.
