Aurora Central Catholic’s Olivia Lujano has grown accustomed to getting her way.
That’s almost a given as the oldest of four sisters. But even on the soccer field, the senior central midfielder has shown a natural way of getting the desired result for the Chargers.
“I think one of the best parts about my game is that I’m always aware of my surroundings,” Lujano said. “I’ve definitely gotten more comfortable, more talkative and just being a leader.
“That has made me more confident on the field.”
Lujano, her team’s catalyst on offense, is ready to close out a decorated career with a flourish. She scored a team-best 15 goals to go with five assists as a junior last year for ACC (12-7-1).
Few people understand Olivia better or appreciate her contributions to winning more than sophomore forward Viviana Lujano, her younger sister.
“On and off the field, she’s known to be a quiet person who sticks to herself and her friends,” Viviana said of Olivia, who has 26 goals and 16 assists in her career. “And to be honest, she doesn’t need to talk a lot. She lets her game do that.
“She just has to look at you and you know whether you’re doing good or bad.”
Senior forward Isabella Matty is another beneficiary of Lujano’s playmaking and creativity.
”She sees goal opportunities differently and always has the best way to score or set someone up,” Matty said. ”We’ve gotten close over these four years, and she is just very positive and funny.
“She always makes sure everyone is seen and heard.”
Lujano’s desire to be welcoming and helpful will be a positive in her professional aspiration to be a nurse. She’s also receiving interest to play on college from several NCAA Division III programs.
Growing up in Yorkville, she was a sprinter and also played basketball. But soccer turned out to be the best fit for her open, quiet and determined personality.
“I played those other sports, but I always found that soccer is just different,” Lujano said. “It’s more creative. You can make more friends. And I think there are more opportunities to grow.”
What does Lujano also like about soccer? It’s not one size fits all.
“There are so many different styles,” she said. “Some people are very technical. Some are good at defending or dribbling. Each player contributes differently, and I like to do it in my own way.”
Part of that includes becoming a tandem with her younger sister.
“I’m very excited to play with her this season,” Viviana said. “Olivia inspires me because she works hard and pushes me to work harder.”
Olivia, meanwhile, is both a protector and leader with her younger sister.
“We train together a lot, doing personal actions together like strength work, and we’re very competitive,” Olivia said. “We also push each other on the field, but it’s fun.
“We know each other so well. We know how the other one is and how we like to play.”
Neither of their parents were athletes growing up. Their father loved watching the game and he passed that on first to Olivia, who flashes a quiet confidence and inner cool on the field.
She calls soccer particular and unique, the open runs forming their own shapes. And now with her sister making those runs at forward, Olivia wants to create a dizzying form of scoring patterns.
She also realizes the complexity of being an athlete and being a student.
“I’m like an actor playing a part or two people, one person on and off the field,” Lujano said. “You practice so much, and when you go out there and do so well like scoring, you just feel great.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
