The expansiveness of the soccer field suits the mentality of St. Charles North’s Matt Beaulieu.
“I love to roam,” said Beaulieu, who celebrated his 18th birthday on Aug. 24. “I have always been a high-energy player. In some situations I drop back deeper than our center midfielders or I move wider than our wingers.
“I have a lot of freedom.”
A two-year starter, Beaulieu is off to a fast start. The senior forward has scored four goals with two assists for the undefeated North Stars (4-0).
His early performance marks a continuation of his excellent play from last year’s state finals as St. Charles North finished fourth in Class 3A to capture the first state trophy in program history.
Beaulieu finished with six goals and seven assists last season.
In the third-place game against Bradley-Bourbonnais, he scored the North Stars’ final goal in a 4-3 loss.
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That game symbolized the passing of the baton as top scorers Jake Persenico and Bernard Elegbede graduated and Beaulieu became the offensive centerpiece.
Coach Eric Willson has installed Beaulieu up top as the primary scoring threat.
“My role has definitely expanded, and now this year I have more control over the team,” Beaulieu said.
Beaulieu is a late bloomer. He originally started playing soccer as a lark to tag along with kids from his neighborhood. Beaulieu did not sign up for his first organized club program until he was 12.
He said his breakout occurred during an indoor league at the Intra Sports Complex in Elgin.
“At first I was supposed to be a defender, but our team did not have enough forwards and so they moved me there,” Beaulieu said. “I was a freshman playing against guys in college, but it was in those games I really learned to develop my game offensively.”
His top two college choices are Lewis and Western Michigan for a specific reason.
“I want to be a pilot, and both of those schools have great aviation programs,” he said.
Changing roles: As a junior midfielder last season, Hampshire’s Jack Fairwood contributed seven goals and 11 assists to earn all-sectional recognition.
Now a senior, Fairwood has unselfishly switched to the holding midfielder role to stabilize the possession game for undefeated Hampshire (3-0-1).
“In four games, Jack has made 200 positive passes and only 11 bad passes,” Whip-Purs coach Rick Schuster said.
Meanwhile, junior midfielder Sawyer Shores has been learning the intricacies of the varsity game, blossoming in the process. He scored three goals against Belvidere in the season opener. He has four goals and four assists.
“Sawyer has brought a more mature game this year,” Schuster said. “He understands how to be a more complete player by getting other players involved.”
Standing tall: In the best season in St. Edward program history last year, it was easy to lose track of the accomplishments of goalkeeper Evan Sajtar.
The Green Wave made noise with its prolific offense as A.J. Franklin scored 70 goals, the second-highest single-season total in state history.
St. Edward won 21 straight games to begin the season and won its first state trophy by placing third in 1A.
Sajtar was stellar at his end of the field with 13 shutouts and 113 saves. He finished with a 0.89 goals-against average. By finishing 27-2, the team set a single-season program record for victories.
St. Edward (3-0) is again flashing potent offensive numbers this season with 19 goals. Sajtar, a junior, has maintained his solid play by conceding just one goal.
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.