Spring brings plenty of rain and clouds, but the sun always seems to be shining in Jade Eriksen-Russo’s world.
The Metea Valley junior is one of the top soccer players in the area and definitely the most upbeat. Spend even a little time talking with her and you can’t help but smile during conversations that feature plenty of laughter.
“That’s just the way she is,” Metea coach Chris Whaley said. “She’s very childlike in the sense that she just loves the game and enjoys playing it and doesn’t get caught up in a lot of the other stuff that comes with it.
“She’s really nice to have around. It kind of keeps us as coaches and as players just in that happy place of, ‘Why are we out here?'”
Eriksen-Russo, a DePaul commit, clearly is out to have fun and score goals — and she’s adept at both. The latter seems to be a byproduct of the former.
“I like to have fun,” Eriksen-Russo said. “When I’m smiling is when I’m most relaxed and I’m most myself.
“The reason I have so much fun is just the simple things, like getting the through-ball (pass) to score the goal or doing a great combination with my teammates. You can’t take it too seriously. That’s the point of it all — (having) fun.”
But make no mistake, Eriksen-Russo’s attacking ability is as potent as her personality is delightful. She uses her speed to knife through defenses, and she’s also an accurate passer.
“I don’t know how much she really reads the game but she reacts well to the game,” Whaley said. “Her movement is good and she reacts well.
“We’re going to lean on that. We’re going to need her to do well if we’re going to do well as a team.”
That was the case last season as Metea (15-8-3) was just 2-6-1 in games when Eriksen-Russo — who totaled a team-high 22 goals with six assists — did not have a point.
Eriksen-Russo scored four goals in the playoffs, including one in a stunning 2-1 upset of state power Waubonsie Valley in the regional final. It was Metea’s first-ever win over the Warriors. She then delivered the winner against Plainfield North in the sectional semifinals before the season ending with a 2-0 loss to Neuqua Valley in the sectional final.
What the Mustangs have come to expect from Eriksen-Russo: a grin, a giggle and a goal.
“We had a funny moment (last) weekend,” Whaley said. “We were doing some team building and we were talking about favorite memories of soccer, scoring goals or having an assist or a funny thing that happened.
“She was talking about how she really enjoyed as a kid having oranges at halftime.”
Whaley pointed out that prompted Eriksen-Russo’s teammates to refer to her as an orange butterfly. Eriksen-Russo would laugh at that description, but she’s determined to make the Mustangs soar.
“We are hoping to get even farther this year and I think with a lot of work we can,” Eriksen-Russo said. “I think something with Metea that is prevalent throughout the years is that we always have a lot of heart and that’s really what gets you far.”
The Mustangs will go as far as Eriksen-Russo will take them, but where she plays is undetermined. The natural forward is stronger and faster than a year ago, but Whaley may opt to play her at attacking midfielder.
“We’ve got to figure that out,” Whaley said. “She’s so valuable on the field. She’s been dynamic so far being in the midfield but the trick is to keep her in a position where she can score goals. I don’t want to lose that.”
Le Cren is a freelance writer for the Naperville Sun.
