Stagg’s Bart Jaskowski plays soccer like an instrumentalist. Like a lead guitarist.
The senior midfielder is drawn to the currents, sound patterns and flow, working his way up the field and turning the momentum into a more recognizable shape and form.
“My game is very, very loud, and that’s what I love about the game,” Jaskowski said with a smile. “I love to have the ball at my feet and that I get to dance with it a little bit.
“I never play just for myself. I love to find my teammates.”
Jaskowski was the one who got things going Wednesday afternoon for the Chargers, starting the surge that saw senior forward Piotr Zawislan score off a rebound for a 1-0 lead.
Senior forward Chris Fernandez, continuing his breakout season, then scored a goal in the 65th minute for Shepard as the teams settled for a 1-1 nonconference tie in Palos Hills.
A three-year starter, Jaskowski is a harsh critic for Stagg (4-3-1). He wasn’t afraid to point the blame at himself about allowing Shepard to rally (7-5-1) and force the tie.
“We didn’t deserve this win,” he said. “Not a single person played well.
“I didn’t even start the game (Wednesday) because I acted badly in practice. I need to change my attitude and be ready for us to win the next game.”
After Zawislan scored in the 32nd minute, Fernandez followed suit. He’s become the Astros’ offensive leader after the graduation of all-staters Zach Soltysiak and Aidan Breslin.
“It always feels good to score, and the opportunity was there,” Fernandez said. “Bringing back my team into a game where we were down most of the way feels really good.
“With Zach and Aidan gone, that makes me more of a leader. I have to be more of the team leader that everyone looks up to.”
Fernandez found the ball in space for his eighth goal, taking advantage of an errant clearance that deflected off a Stagg defender and created an open net.
Contrasts make the game. But Jaskowski and Fernandez are similar entities — savvy, skilled and technical players who set the tone. And for Jaskowski, the words matter.
He’s one of multiple Stagg players whose background is Polish. The language is more likely to be heard than English at critical junctures of the game.
Jaskowski, who was born in Poland, came to the south suburbs as a child. Zawislan, who scored his sixth goal, is first generation American. His entire family is from Poland.
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Even Stagg coach Mike Kealy has gotten into the act, using the Polish word “dobry” — or good — to express a strong action from one of his players.
“It makes it very easy to communicate,” Zawislan said. “We have a lot of guys on the team who speak Polish. It’s just part of the culture.”
Like Jaskowski, Zawislan is a three-year starter and captain. In replacing six graduated starters, Stagg is trying to develop chemistry, refine roles and forge a new identity.
The process isn’t always linear.
“As somebody who started, it’s definitely my role to fill in the gaps with the new players,” Zawislan said. “I believe in our team. I think we’re going to take a step forward.
“We just have to get back on track.”
As a sophomore, Jaskowski earned all-conference and all-sectional recognition. Now a senior, it’s part of the reason he holds himself to a higher standard.
“Last year, we had an amazing front three, a great team, won a regional,” he said. “It’s hard to adjust sometimes to a new team, new season, especially with so many younger players.
“One person comes into the game and it changes. That’s what we have to get back to.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.