Round Lake soccer coach Hugo Tellez kept pushing midfielder Jaden Albarran to change his playing style.
Tellez wanted the talented Albarran to unlock his full potential, but doing so required a dramatic shift.
“I was always too unselfish,” Albarran said. “If I can get an assist, I’d rather get an assist. I’m not the type to be a little more selfish. I’m used to not being selfish. Coach wanted me to shoot more shots than pass the ball.”
Tellez said Albarran was slow to adapt.
“Last year, we asked him to be more aggressive and more selfish,” Tellez said. “I wanted him to take a shot and not to always have to pass or go for an assist. Sometimes you can just do it all yourself and finish.”
Albarran has finally followed Tellez’s advice in his senior season and is scoring goals in bunches, leading the Panthers (10-3-1, 6-1) to the Northern Lake County Conference title. Albarran has a team-high 16 goals as well as seven assists.
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“Jaden is way more aggressive and more selfish,” Tellez said. “For the most part, he’s been doing a lot of finishing. But he still has it in the back of his head that he should give the ball off sometimes. It’s just his mindset.”
A third-year starter, Albarran finished with 11 goals and 13 assists last season, when he was named all-sectional and all-conference. He nearly matched that goals total with hat tricks against Lakes, Grant and Zion-Benton this season.
But Albarran’s best effort came in a game against conference co-champion Grayslake Central. He had two goals and an assist in the Panthers’ 7-2 win.
“I would definitely say I’m trying to be more selfish,” Albarran said. “I feel like I can do better if I can get an assist, but I’ve realized I can do it myself and score. I’m starting to get into that rhythm of being a little more selfish.
“When I first started to score more, it changed me as a player. I feel like I’ve adapted better and want to score more.”
Round Lake junior midfielder Cristian Valadez said Albarran has become a complete player.
“Jaden knows where and when the team needs a change,” Valadez said. “When he sees the midfield having trouble, he comes down and provides his help in the midfield. That strengthens the team as a whole. When the team misses opportunities, he goes striker and gives the forwards a boost too.
“He provides the most assists and goals on the team, but he knows when and when not to be selfish.”
Selfish or not, Albarran never lacks effort.
“He doesn’t give up on any ball,” Round Lake senior defender Eduardo Gonzalez said. “He plays to the whistle.”
Albarran has taken on additional responsibilities this season.
“I became more of a leader and learned how to lead the team,” he said. “I’ve been taking more initiative in everything.”
Ever the team player, Albarran wants to push the Panthers, who lost in the Class 3A regional semifinals last year, further in the playoffs. Seeded ninth in the Fremd Sectional, they will play eighth-seeded Rolling Meadows in the Hersey Regional semifinals on Oct. 20.
“I think we have the potential, but we have to put our mindset into it,” he said.
Much like Albarran has already done.
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.