After emerging as a productive goal scorer last season, junior midfielder/forward Maxx Figueroa has taken on a different role this fall for St. Laurence.
Figueroa is coming off the bench. His minutes have been limited at times, and sometimes, he slots into a midfield role instead of his familiar spot at striker. He scored just one regular-season goal.
None of that has taken away his confidence or desire to make a difference for the Vikings.
“Some kids like to put their heads down if they’re not starting, but I’m not going to let it affect me mentally because that will affect my play,” Figueroa said. “Coming off the bench, I always feel like, ‘I’ve got this.’ I know I have to take my opportunity. It’s right there and I have to grab it.
“I have to work my butt off. Once I’m on the field, I’ve got to shine.”
Figuera shone the brightest on the biggest stage Friday night. He scored his second goal of the season, sparking St. Laurence to a 3-0 win over Glenbrook North in a Class 3A state semifinal at Hoffman Estates.
Kris Caravantes scored twice for the Vikings (24-2-4), while Maven Marquez picked up an assist. Vin Diesi made five saves for the shutout, getting help from a defense led by Pauly Rzadkosz, Josue Garcia, Hilario Sanchez and Sal Soto.
St. Laurence will play in the first state championship game in program history at 7 p.m. Saturday against Naperville North (24-0-4), a 1-0 winner over Lane Tech (21-3). It’s also the Vikings’ first year competing in Class 3A.
“It’s history, but we’re going to keep going hard,” Figueroa said. “No matter who is on the field with us, we’re going to win.”
Figueroa broke through in the 26th minute against Glenbrook North (20-3-3), crashing the far post to score off a pass from Marquez.
Caravantes felt it was a necessary boost after the Vikings started slowly.
“Maxx gave us that energy we needed off the bench,” Caravantes said. “He came in with the motivation and he knew where he needed to be. He got to the back post and was there to score.”
Caravantes’ pair of second-half goals allowed St. Laurence to pull away.
“It’s a good feeling to score twice, kind of the same way, against a good team,” Caravantes said. “To get that third one felt like it was going to end it, going to kill their energy and their passion.”
Figueroa, meanwhile, never lets his energy slip. After reaching double digits in goals last season, he has avoid any angst over not matching those numbers this year.
“I can feel the emotions sometimes, but I don’t let it affect me,” he said. “Yeah, I scored more goals last year, but I still feel like I’m playing with my all.
“Scoring goals is a really good feeling, but I don’t have to score goals to play a good game.”
St. Laurence coach Jaime Alonso feels Figueroa has given his team a major spark throughout the playoffs and continues to earn more playing time.
“Maxx has always put his head down and worked,” Alonso said. “He’s never shied away from the challenge of coming off the bench and playing anywhere we need to put him. Any time I ask him where he wants to play, he says it doesn’t matter and he just wants to be on the field.
“It’s a testament to his positive mindset. I think a lot of other kids might have shied away from this role.”
And now Figueroa has one-upped his brother, Tristan, who was a senior captain in 2023 as St. Laurence finished third in Class 2A.
“It’s amazing,” Maxx said. “When I saw my brother play here, I knew I needed to do the same thing. My brother performed well at state. I’ve got to do it, too.”
