Jarrell's quick strikes lead Naperville C.
Redhawks' senior scores twice in 3-2 win over Plainfield Central
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE -- Naperville Central hasn’t had a legitimate goal-scorer since Jordi Heeneman graduated five years ago.
The search for someone who can dent the net with regularity continues, though the Redhawks may have found their man if Owen Jarrell can replicate his performance in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over Plainfield Central at Memorial Stadium.
Jarrell, a four-year varsity player who tallied a career-high six goals last season, bagged the first brace of his high school career, scoring on a pair of spectacularplays 42 seconds apart in the first half.
The twin strikes gave the Redhawks a 2-0 lead which they never relinquished, though the Wildcats made it interesting by capitalizing on two defensive mistakes by Naperville Central, including an own goal with 53 seconds left.
“I hope (Jarrell turns into a big scorer),” Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said. “That would be lovely.
“We haven’t had one of those in a while, so it would be nice if we could have one or two guys that can consistently put the ball in the net. He definitely has that potential.”
Jarrell flashed that promise in a big way in the 30th minute. First, he deflected a perfect entry pass from fellow senior Nico Couropmitree inside the right post at the 10:59 mark.
The crowd had barely finished celebrating when Jarrell scored again, racing up the middle before using his left foot to unleash a 30-yard cracker over the head of leaping Plainfield Central goalie Andres Mendoza and into the upper 90 for a 2-0 lead.
“I just lined it up,” Jarrell said of his long-distance missile. “I saw that if I could put it on frame there was a good chance (Mendoza) might redirect it and one of my teammates could come onto it.
“But I hit it so clean, and it just kind of stayed at the same height, top left. I was like, ‘All right, I’ll take it.’”
Jarrell had a couple cracks at completing a hat trick but Mendoza denied him with a pair of fine diving saves in the second half. James Kim, though, buried the rebound off the first one with 10:09 to go to give the Redhawks a 3-1 cushion 16 minutes after the Wildcats (0-1-0) got on the board when Humberto Jaimes’ high-arcing 37-yard shot bounced past Naperville Central goalkeeper Ethan Gentile.
“Owen’s shot was a little wide and it was able to get cleaned up on the back six,” Adams said of Kim’s goal. “We’ve said if you want to get a half-dozen goals during the year, find the back six, camp there and wait for the ball to come through and just have enough composure to not knock it over the top.
“(The goals) all count. Doesn’t matter how much work you do for it.”
Though the season is young, Jarrell is on pace to far surpass his 2018 production. He might have difficulty scoring in more spectacular fashion than he did against the Wildcats.
The first goal came after the Wildcats thought they had successfully cleared Couropmitree’s corner kick from the right side. But Couropmitree hustled to win the ball back on the wing and whipped it back in to Jarrell just inside the 6.
“I thought the first goal was probably his best one because after the corner kick everyone was coming back out,” Couropmitree said. “But he stayed back, and I saw him going in the back post, so I just lofted it in the back and he was there to tap it in.”
Jarrell and Adams felt the second strike was more impressive. It certainly set the tone for the game and put the visitors in an early hole.
“The second one was probably the better goal,” Adams said. “When he runs with the ball, he’s very effective, and he has a good shot.
“He’s kept improving throughout four years and has taken a little more leadership and a little more control of the game, and that’s why you have four-year varsity players. You should be able to take control of the game.”
Jarrell relished his second goal, too.
“I’ve got to say the second one (was best), because when I hit it I knew I struck it really well,” Jarrell said. “I saw the keeper go up for it, but it was just too high for him. It was really a high moment, for sure.”
Jarrell is hopeful that more such moments are in the offing for the Redhawks (1-0-1), who opened the season with a 1-1 road tie at traditional power Morton on Monday. He wants to be the author of at least some of them.
“I’ve been on varsity for a while and I’ve always had players above me to be role models for me like Cam Strang and Nate Zain before that,” Jarrell said. “So I want to be like those guys, be a leader and maybe put the team on my back when it’s necessary.
“Other than that, play simple and get my teammates involved. That’s my goal for the season.”
Couropmitree believes Jarrell is capable of filling that role.
“Definitely,” he said. “I think when he has the ball, it’s definitely a dangerous moment. And when he goes after players it’s a good opportunity for one of us to score or for him to score himself.”
Couropmitree’s contributions figure to be vital as well. This is the senior striker’s third varsity season but first since 2017. He took last year off to concentrate on club soccer.
“It was good to have him back,” Adams said. “He provides us with that senior mentality of ‘We need to win today.’ That’s something you always want.”
Coming off a losing season, the Redhawks want to get back to their accustomed winning ways. That’s especially true for the 13 seniors which also includes starters Dylan Kahn, Mitch Becker and Rohan Bhargava.
“I’m glad to be back,” Couropmitree said. “I think we have a good squad.
“We’re pretty much all seniors, but we’re all kind of getting to know each other. I think as we keep practicing, we’ll build more chemistry.”
Starting lineups
Plainfield Central
GK Andres Mendoza
D Jered Witkowski
D Tanner Rains
D Noah Celefski
D Carlos Rosales
D Isaac Gonzalez
M Isa Enriquez
M Joe Finder
M Berto Centento
F Elvis Lembe
F Moses Mata
Naperville Central
GK Caden Redpath
D Mitch Becker
D Seth Landzion
D Mateo Lopez
D Patrick Longhitano
M Rohan Bhargava
M Johnny Kim
M Benjamin Tietjen
F Dylan Kahn
F Owen Jarrell
F James Kim
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Owen Jarrell, sr., F, Naperville Central
Scoring summary
First half
Naperville Central – Owen Jarrell (Nico Couropmitree) 10:59
Naperville Central – Jarrell 10:17
Second half
Plainfield Central – Humberto Jaimes 27:16
Naperville Central – James Kim 10:09
Plainfield Central – own goal :53
Redhawks' senior scores twice in 3-2 win over Plainfield Central
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE -- Naperville Central hasn’t had a legitimate goal-scorer since Jordi Heeneman graduated five years ago.
The search for someone who can dent the net with regularity continues, though the Redhawks may have found their man if Owen Jarrell can replicate his performance in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over Plainfield Central at Memorial Stadium.
Jarrell, a four-year varsity player who tallied a career-high six goals last season, bagged the first brace of his high school career, scoring on a pair of spectacularplays 42 seconds apart in the first half.
The twin strikes gave the Redhawks a 2-0 lead which they never relinquished, though the Wildcats made it interesting by capitalizing on two defensive mistakes by Naperville Central, including an own goal with 53 seconds left.
“I hope (Jarrell turns into a big scorer),” Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said. “That would be lovely.
“We haven’t had one of those in a while, so it would be nice if we could have one or two guys that can consistently put the ball in the net. He definitely has that potential.”
Jarrell flashed that promise in a big way in the 30th minute. First, he deflected a perfect entry pass from fellow senior Nico Couropmitree inside the right post at the 10:59 mark.
The crowd had barely finished celebrating when Jarrell scored again, racing up the middle before using his left foot to unleash a 30-yard cracker over the head of leaping Plainfield Central goalie Andres Mendoza and into the upper 90 for a 2-0 lead.
“I just lined it up,” Jarrell said of his long-distance missile. “I saw that if I could put it on frame there was a good chance (Mendoza) might redirect it and one of my teammates could come onto it.
“But I hit it so clean, and it just kind of stayed at the same height, top left. I was like, ‘All right, I’ll take it.’”
Jarrell had a couple cracks at completing a hat trick but Mendoza denied him with a pair of fine diving saves in the second half. James Kim, though, buried the rebound off the first one with 10:09 to go to give the Redhawks a 3-1 cushion 16 minutes after the Wildcats (0-1-0) got on the board when Humberto Jaimes’ high-arcing 37-yard shot bounced past Naperville Central goalkeeper Ethan Gentile.
“Owen’s shot was a little wide and it was able to get cleaned up on the back six,” Adams said of Kim’s goal. “We’ve said if you want to get a half-dozen goals during the year, find the back six, camp there and wait for the ball to come through and just have enough composure to not knock it over the top.
“(The goals) all count. Doesn’t matter how much work you do for it.”
Though the season is young, Jarrell is on pace to far surpass his 2018 production. He might have difficulty scoring in more spectacular fashion than he did against the Wildcats.
The first goal came after the Wildcats thought they had successfully cleared Couropmitree’s corner kick from the right side. But Couropmitree hustled to win the ball back on the wing and whipped it back in to Jarrell just inside the 6.
“I thought the first goal was probably his best one because after the corner kick everyone was coming back out,” Couropmitree said. “But he stayed back, and I saw him going in the back post, so I just lofted it in the back and he was there to tap it in.”
Jarrell and Adams felt the second strike was more impressive. It certainly set the tone for the game and put the visitors in an early hole.
“The second one was probably the better goal,” Adams said. “When he runs with the ball, he’s very effective, and he has a good shot.
“He’s kept improving throughout four years and has taken a little more leadership and a little more control of the game, and that’s why you have four-year varsity players. You should be able to take control of the game.”
Jarrell relished his second goal, too.
“I’ve got to say the second one (was best), because when I hit it I knew I struck it really well,” Jarrell said. “I saw the keeper go up for it, but it was just too high for him. It was really a high moment, for sure.”
Jarrell is hopeful that more such moments are in the offing for the Redhawks (1-0-1), who opened the season with a 1-1 road tie at traditional power Morton on Monday. He wants to be the author of at least some of them.
“I’ve been on varsity for a while and I’ve always had players above me to be role models for me like Cam Strang and Nate Zain before that,” Jarrell said. “So I want to be like those guys, be a leader and maybe put the team on my back when it’s necessary.
“Other than that, play simple and get my teammates involved. That’s my goal for the season.”
Couropmitree believes Jarrell is capable of filling that role.
“Definitely,” he said. “I think when he has the ball, it’s definitely a dangerous moment. And when he goes after players it’s a good opportunity for one of us to score or for him to score himself.”
Couropmitree’s contributions figure to be vital as well. This is the senior striker’s third varsity season but first since 2017. He took last year off to concentrate on club soccer.
“It was good to have him back,” Adams said. “He provides us with that senior mentality of ‘We need to win today.’ That’s something you always want.”
Coming off a losing season, the Redhawks want to get back to their accustomed winning ways. That’s especially true for the 13 seniors which also includes starters Dylan Kahn, Mitch Becker and Rohan Bhargava.
“I’m glad to be back,” Couropmitree said. “I think we have a good squad.
“We’re pretty much all seniors, but we’re all kind of getting to know each other. I think as we keep practicing, we’ll build more chemistry.”
Starting lineups
Plainfield Central
GK Andres Mendoza
D Jered Witkowski
D Tanner Rains
D Noah Celefski
D Carlos Rosales
D Isaac Gonzalez
M Isa Enriquez
M Joe Finder
M Berto Centento
F Elvis Lembe
F Moses Mata
Naperville Central
GK Caden Redpath
D Mitch Becker
D Seth Landzion
D Mateo Lopez
D Patrick Longhitano
M Rohan Bhargava
M Johnny Kim
M Benjamin Tietjen
F Dylan Kahn
F Owen Jarrell
F James Kim
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Owen Jarrell, sr., F, Naperville Central
Scoring summary
First half
Naperville Central – Owen Jarrell (Nico Couropmitree) 10:59
Naperville Central – Jarrell 10:17
Second half
Plainfield Central – Humberto Jaimes 27:16
Naperville Central – James Kim 10:09
Plainfield Central – own goal :53