Naperville Central soccer star Eli Jarrell thought this season was going to be his last hurrah.

It still might be, but the senior midfielder is reconsidering his decision not to play in college.

“Going into the season, I wasn’t enjoying the game as much,” Jarrell said. “But this season has brought the love back to the game, so I am considering playing now.

“I’m going on visits to a couple DIII schools in Wisconsin and see how it works out.”

This season has worked out better than anyone expected for Jarrell, the last remaining player from Naperville Central’s 2022 Class 3A state championship team. He is the unquestioned physical and spiritual leader of the Redhawks.

“He’s a player that makes other players better, and it’s showed this season,” Naperville Central senior forward Michael White said. “(His production) is just something ridiculous, like only good players can do that. He makes us look even better.”

Jarrell has never performed better. In 19 games this season, he has 18 goals and 17 assists, and he is the program’s career leader in goal contribution with 42 goals and 41 assists.

That includes the game-winning goal in the second-seeded Redhawks’ 2-0 victory over sixth-seeded West Aurora in the Class 3A Naperville North Sectional semifinals on Tuesday night.

Jarrell’s goal came with 14:05 left in the first half, when he powered home a header off a corner kick from junior midfielder Logan Godfrey.

White scored 11 minutes later on a 28-yard rocket for Naperville Central (16-3), which will play top-seeded Naperville North (21-0-4) in the sectional championship game at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The Blackhawks (14-8-1) didn’t recover.

Naperville Central’s Michael White (12) celebrates with teammate Eli Jarrell (6) after scoring a goal against West Aurora during a Class 3A Naperville North Sectional semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Troy Stolt / Naperville Sun)

“Logan hit a good, driven ball near post, and I was happy to finish,” Jarrell said. “It’s definitely what we try to do is score early and try to score first, so we had the momentum to lead into Michael’s great finish.

“That energy at the beginning of the game is what won us that game.”

Jarrell made sure the Redhawks had enough energy.

“He brought the intensity,” White said. “It got us fired up. He’s the leader of this team. The team chemistry is honestly through the roof.”

The Redhawks are playing in the sectional final for a program-record fifth consecutive year, and Jarrell has rediscovered his joy for the sport along the way.

“I think it’s just the guys that we have and kind of just the way we’re playing soccer right now,” he said. “It kind of brought that spark back to me, how fun the game is.”

Naperville Central’s Eli Jarrell (6) makes a run against West Aurora during a Class 3A Naperville North Sectional semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Troy Stolt / Naperville Sun)

Naperville Central coach Troy Adams has noticed the difference in Jarrell, who has recorded at least one point in all but two games this season. The Redhawks were shut out in both.

“Eli is having an unbelievable season,” Adams said. “The totals are nice, but then the consistency of every game, he finds a way.

“He’s a smart player. He’s from a soccer family, so they’ve seen a lot of soccer, and you can see that background in the way he sees the field and the way that he moves without the ball.”

Adams also credited Jarrell with increasing his already solid work ethic and technical ability.

“He’s good with the ball at his feet,” Adams said. “He can accelerate really quickly to get by people. His expectation is to get up and down the field and cover a lot of ground.

“This year, that’s probably been the biggest jump in his game. He recognizes this is his senior year, this is it. That little mindset shift has really been a huge part of the season that he’s had.”

Naperville Central’s Eli Jarrell (6) takes a free kick against West Aurora during a Class 3A Naperville North Sectional semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Troy Stolt / Naperville Sun)

Jarrell’s older brother, Owen, played three years of Division I soccer at IU Indianapolis before injuries ended his career. Jarrell has had his share of knocks since he began playing soccer at age 4, but he’s healthy.

Now comes one final crosstown showdown. The Huskies and the Redhawks will meet in the sectional final for the fourth time in five years.

“It’s going to be great,” Jarrell said. “We’re going to work hard to try to prepare for it. It’s going to take a lot of energy to try to get that first goal.”

Jarrell’s ultimate goal is to finish his high school career the way he started it — with a state title.

“It’s a lot of success over the years, and hopefully there’s more to come for this season,” he said. “Hopefully we can go all the way and do it again.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/29/3a-soccer-west-aurora-naperville-central-eli-jarrell/