Dundee-Crown senior Jabari Washington tends toward the negative. On that soccer field, that is.
A four-year starting defender for the Chargers, Washington is a disruptor who seeks to nullify what the other team’s offense is trying to accomplish.
“The role of the offense is try and score, and of course my job is try and stop them,” Washington said. “I slow them down or lock them up and sweep the ball away.
“Stopping the ball right before the other team has a good chance to score is my greatest thrill as a player.”
Washington is doing an outstanding job in that role.
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Riding an eight-game unbeaten streak after defeating Prairie Ridge 2-1 in double overtime Thursday, the Chargers (7-1-1) have allowed just one goal in their last four games. The team has posted five shutouts.
Washington underwent serious weight training after his freshman year, packing on 30 pounds of muscle. The 5-foot-11 Washington now weighs 185. He’s also a hurdler for the track team, and that experience has improved his speed and agility.
“Over the years I have adapted to the position,” Washington said. “Players are not able to run through me now and I can win the balls in the air.”
Jabari’s two older brothers also excelled for Chargers.
“My brother Malik is six years older than me,” Washington said. “He was the team captain his senior year. He used to take me out to the backyard and I got to practice going one on one versus him. My other brother, Jelani, I played with him my first two years.”
Jabari has made a striking progression from a skinny freshman to a rangy and athletic stopper, according to Chargers coach Rey Vargas.
“He has come a long way,” Vargas said. “When he came here as a freshman he was a work in progress. You could also see the ability and talent coming through. It was about him understanding his role and fitting in to what we were trying to do.
“Now he reads the game well and he works harder than anybody I have ever seen on the soccer field.”
Finding the groove: Jacobs figured to experience a transition year. The Golden Eagles captured Class 3A sectional titles in 2016 and 2017 with star Noah Melick, who’s now a freshman at Wisconsin.
Colin Brice is in his first year as coach of the program.
A 2007 Jacobs graduate and former player for the Golden Eagles, Brice installed a new system and incorporated a different style of play.
After back-to-back shutouts of Larkin and McHenry, Jacobs (4-4-2) is finding its stride. Junior forward Johnny O’Connor, senior forward Austin Snobel and sophomore midfielder Liam Armstrong have been the offensive leaders.
Junior goalkeeper Preston Krahl has anchored the defense.
“Two players (Melick and Colin Walsh) accounted for 60 goals last year, and that production is hard to replace,” Brice said. “We are young but we have the talent. Three of our losses are by one goal.
“We have played a tough schedule that will benefit us in the Fox Valley Conference.”
Getting hot: St. Charles East is another team on the rise. Since a double-overtime loss to Elgin, the Saints (5-3) have won four of their last five games.
During that stretch, they have outscored opponents 13-2. Senior forward Nick Nelson scored two goals in last Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Bartlett. Junior Renato Avendano also has emerged as a bright offensive talent.
Zach Doerr and Jack Settle, a pair of juniors, have split time at goalkeeper. They have combined for two shutouts.
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance writer for The Courier-News.