Naperville Central senior forward Michael White is not afraid to take big shots.

Sometimes he makes them, as was the case when he buried a rocket for the game-winning goal in the Redhawks’ season opener last week.

“He ripped one from probably 25 yards out that never stopped going up,” Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said. “It was that type of shot.

“It was a phenomenal goal, but not every goal needs to be phenomenal.”

Adams explained what he meant.

“The problem is if you hit one of those, and all of a sudden, you’re like, ‘I’m going to hit that every time,’” Adams said. “But all you need to do is hit it with enough pace that it gets in behind the goalie and rolls in.

“So we’re working a lot on finding our composure inside the final third and being more effective in front of goal.”

White continued that process during the Redhawks’ 2-1 win over Plainfield North in the Best of the West Tournament opener at Memorial Stadium in Naperville on Tuesday. He took a bunch of shots but didn’t make any of them.

Naperville Central’s Michael White shoots the ball against Plainfield North during a game in the Best of the West Tournament in Naperville on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (Troy Stolt / Naperville Sun)

Yet White still found a way to affect the outcome, which was decided when senior midfielder Eli Jarrell scored with 52 seconds left in regulation.

“I had some really bad shots out there today,” White said. “I’d say today was probably not my day shooting-wise.

“But I said if I can’t shoot, then I’ve got to look to playmake. I can’t be selfish out there.”

White wasn’t. His best scoring chance of the game came when he walked in alone on Plainfield North goalkeeper Kye MacPhail in the 39th minute. Most people would have shot the ball. White wanted to take the shot, but he didn’t.

Instead, he passed the ball back into space near the top of the box to sophomore forward Pierre Mazza.

“Obviously, playing the 9, the goal is to attack,” White said. “I won’t lie. At first, I was looking for the shot.”

Then he heard Mazza yelling

“I can hear him coming in, so I just brought it back inside,” White said. “I knew I could shoot this, but it probably wouldn’t be a good angle.

“Pierre is pretty quiet, so when I hear Pierre calling for it, I’m like, ‘He’s got to be pretty open.’”

Naperville Central’s Pierre Mazza (22) moves the ball against Plainfield North during a game in the Best of the West Tournament in Naperville on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (Troy Stolt / Naperville Sun)

Indeed, Mazza was open and eventually scored his first varsity goal with 1:25 left in the first half, although not in the way White intended. Mazza made a cutback move to get the ball on his right foot and then had to elude a defender before shooting it.

“Right when I passed it, I thought he was going to one-time it,” White said. “I was a little confused.

“I was like, ‘Oh, my god, what’s going on here?’ Then he takes another touch, and I’m like, ‘What’s he doing?’ Then I saw him line it up, and he banged it in.”

The goal gave the Redhawks (2-1) a 1-0 lead.

“When he passed the ball, I was looking for someone to pass the ball to,” Mazza said. “But when I couldn’t find anyone, I took a touch in, decided to look for a shot.”

The decision to shoot can sometimes decide the outcome. It’s not always easy to know what is best.

“Sometimes they’ll make the extra pass when they should shoot,” Adams said. “Sometimes they shoot when they should make the extra pass.

“That’s a learning experience. That’s people getting comfortable.”

Mazza has played only three games with White, who is in his third varsity season, but they are starting to get comfortable with each other.

“He’s awesome,” Mazza said. “I like his intensity and how he works and keeps going after he loses a ball.

“He cheers on his teammates whenever they get the ball. He’s one of the top talents on our team.”

Naperville Central’s Michael White (12) moves the ball past Plainfield North’s Cristian Mirza (5) during a game in the Best of the West Tournament in Naperville on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (Troy Stolt / Naperville Sun)

For the first time, White is also one of the leaders for the Redhawks.

“Michael brings the intensity,” Adams said. “That’s the best thing. He’s very good about keeping our intensity in practice and in games high, where it needs to be.

“And then the other thing is he’s gotten a lot stronger, so he brings a little bit of a physicality to it.”

White said he has learned leadership skills from Adams.

“I’ve learned a lot from Troy,” White said. “Everything that Troy has taught me these past couple years, I’m putting it together, and I can already see I’m making more improvements every time.

“Everything needs to be better, but I think it starts with me.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/03/soccer-naperville-central-michael-white/