Marmion’s Jordan Peinado plays the game with a clear-eyed purpose and a direct objective. Make no mistake about it, the senior midfielder wants to score a goal every time he puts on a jersey.
You can say that he sees red in more ways than one.
“I mean, it’s all about going strong every game and trying to get on the scoresheet,” Peinado said of his mindset. “I’ve played 10 games now and I’ve scored in almost all of them.
“Coming back from what happened last year, I knew I had to just leave everything on the field.”
Peinado continued his scoring focus Thursday night for the Cadets, converting for his 10th goal of the season in a 1-0 Catholic League Blue victory over host DePaul Prep in Chicago.
Unbeaten in their last nine games, the Cadets (9-1-1, 2-0) posted their eighth straight win, with senior goalkeeper Christopher Tapia recording six shutouts during the streak.
Peinado delivered in the 37th minute to help Marmion top the Rams (3-3-4, 0-2-1).
“I saw the ball coming in the air,” he said. “The defender was hesitant and didn’t really step to it.
“That was my chance. I headed it down and made the defender dive, took it off with my left foot and hit it into the bottom-left corner.”
A four-year varsity player, Peinado has faced a wide range of emotions and experiences. As a freshman, he notched the winning assist as the Cadets beat Lemont for a Class 2A sectional title.
But last year, in his final regular-season game, a lapse in judgement resulted in a red card, causing him to sit out a loss to Geneva in a regional semifinal. That moment humbled him.
“I had to watch from the bench,” he said. “Mistakes happen and I had to live with that. Seeing my team lose wasn’t a good feeling.”
This season, as a team captain with senior midfielder Emilio Morones, Peinado has shown a deepening maturity that hasn’t gone unnoticed, according to junior midfielder Jamin Berman.
“Jordan’s a great teammate,” Berman said. “He’s always happy, energetic and brings the team up. He’s a great captain and role model and he’s somebody you can base your play style off of.
“He has a great shot and he’s great in the air.”
Anne Iwinski, in her first year as Marmion’s coach, praised Peinado’s willingness to take direction and do whatever is asked of him.
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“He’s our ace in the hole,” Iwinski said. “He goes with a smile on his face and plays wherever you put him. He’s played every position except outside back, even goalkeeper.
“Once we had the lead (Thursday night) but started giving up a little in the middle, we put him at defensive central midfielder.”
Peinado also is a specialist on set pieces who has displayed a natural facility for scoring off headers or in the air around the goal.
“I’m strongest in the air,” he said. “I like going in aggressively and trying to create opportunities for the team. I love the atmosphere like (Thursday night).
“It’s not easy playing in front of crowds in the Catholic League. Every game is tough and a fight. It’s fun to score, celebrate with teammates and feel that support.”
Off the field, Peinado pursues more solitary activities like bowling or fishing, seeking out whatever challenges are in his path. Soccer, though, is the sport that captured his imagination and love.
The Montgomery native started playing the game at age 3.
”I just knew it was something I wanted to do,” he said. “The friends I grew up with had great work ethic and that rubbed off on me.
Peinado arrived at Marmion small, scrappy and determined. Now, he hopes a strong senior season opens up possibilities for his future
“I just try to be physical and leave everything on the field because you never know who’s watching,” he said. “Win or lose, I try to play with heart.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.