Naperville North’s Jake Hadaway Shines in Varsity Debut

Jake Hadaway has emerged as a key player in his first varsity season for Naperville North, despite not being part of the previous year’s Class 3A state championship team or the top junior varsity team. In a notable match on Tuesday, the senior forward scored his team-leading third goal against rival Naperville Central. “I don’t think I’m gonna have any better feeling this season,” Hadaway stated. “To put us up 1-0 against our rivals, especially when on paper we were the underdogs, that is going to mean a lot to me looking back.”

In the closing moments of the first half, with only eight seconds remaining, Hadaway scored after receiving a long pass from Will Boniface. Their collaboration continued in the second half when Hadaway set up Boniface for another goal. Naperville North then sealed their victory with a third goal, defeating the Redhawks 3-0 in the DuPage Valley Conference clash.

“Soccer’s funny,” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad remarked. “We’re not three goals better than Central for sure.” However, the Huskies, who started the season with only one returning starter, delivered a strong performance. Their 31-game unbeaten streak ended earlier this season, but their keen play and teamwork were evident in this match.

The more experienced Naperville Central team controlled much of the first half without scoring. “Soccer’s a cruel game,” said Troy Adams, Naperville Central’s coach. “We weren’t the better team today. We played well for stretches but didn’t finish our chances.”

Leading the team, Dylan Healy, the only returning starter, showed adept finishing. When the Huskies were up 2-0, Ukiah Morris’s shot rebounded off the crossbar, giving Healy the opportunity to score, increasing their lead. “Everybody built off each other,” Hadaway explained. “Our first touches were on point today. We have a lot of good players; if everything’s done correctly, you can score three goals against your rival.”

The team consisted mostly of players from the JV2 squad, known for good chemistry. Hadaway added, “A lot of the players here I played with my freshman year, so I still have a lot of chemistry with them. Our JV2 team was strong last year, and we have many of them now on the team.” Hadaway scored 28 goals last year for JV2, demonstrating his ability.

Coach Konrad praised Hadaway’s attitude, citing his drive, “There’s good players and kids who want to win. Jake is a good player who wants both.”

Will Boniface is also benefiting from a more significant role due to graduating players. “We got Jake Hadaway, and he’s been excellent,” Boniface said. “We might not have a superstar, but everyone’s playing together.”