Metea Valley’s Jake Anargyros never lost his confidence, even at the time of his greatest disappointment.
Anargyros was one of the final players cut from the varsity team last year. Unlike several other juniors, Anargyros got assigned to the junior varsity team.
“That’s hard for kids,” Metea Valley coach Josh Robinson said. “It’s hard in the day that we live in of pressure from peers to have a little humility.
“He was a tough decision when we made some tough decisions last year. Jake wasn’t with us, but what I’m most proud of him about is that he got back to work right away and he had an amazing JV1 year.”
Indeed, Anargyros led the JV team with 11 goals and five assists. He didn’t waver in his determination.
“It was just a lot of hard work last year, and I just needed to prove myself on JV1,” Anargyros said. “So I was trying my best to be the No. 1 guy on that team so when I come on varsity this year, I want to be that No. 1 guy as well.”
Robinson encouraged that ambition in Anargyros.
“We talked about it in the offseason,” Robinson said. “He kind of set some goals for himself, and he’s come out here with an amazing attitude. This guy’s been outstanding. His work rate and energy is paying off every day for us.”
It paid off again Wednesday, when Anargyros scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season to cap the scoring in the Mustangs’ 2-0 nonconference win against Hinsdale Central in Aurora.
The senior forward’s strike came on a penalty kick with 12:22 left in the second half and 26 minutes after senior midfielder Abel Lopez had given the Mustangs (4-3) a 1-0 lead.
Anargyros had never attempted a penalty kick at the varsity level, but he knew what to do.
“My strength as a soccer player is probably my confidence,” he said. “I’m super confident every time I step on the field. Especially with that PK, I trusted the team, but I trusted myself the most, and I knew that I was going to step up and put it in the back of the net.”
Anargyros did exactly that. He lined up as if he was going to take a left-footed shot, but he stutter-stepped during his approach and rolled a right-footed shot inside the left post as Hinsdale Central goalkeeper Martin Contreras dove the wrong way.
“It was a little trickery,” Anargyros noted. “I’ve been practicing that a lot.”
Metea Valley senior goalkeeper Patrick Maroney made four saves, including one on a breakaway, against the Red Devils (1-5-1) to record his first shutout. He often faces Anargyros in practice while working on penalty kicks.
“I can’t read his mind half the time,” Maroney said. “I know his whole run-up situation, but it still doesn’t change the outcome because he stutters, and it’s hard to read.
“It’s hard to get in his head. If he’s confident, then there’s not much you can do about a penalty.”
But Anargyros isn’t good only on penalty kicks. He’s dangerous in the run of play too.
“He’s very confident, and we have confidence in him,” Maroney said. “We know that every time we give him the ball, he’s going to do something special with it.”
Anargyros knows that, too, although he’s not one to broadcast it.
“I was putting in a lot of work in the offseason, and every day I was going at it,” he said. “And even though I may not post a lot of stuff online, I’m shining in the dark.
“I’m just super proud to have this opportunity. Once coach said I was (on the team), I wasn’t relieved, but I was just proud of myself because I knew I gave myself that opportunity and I capitalized on that.”
Anargyros wants to play in college and is already talking to several schools. He knows he will have to prove himself again at the next level, and he’s fine with that.
For now, Anargyros is relishing his lone varsity season, which is made more special by how hard he had to work to earn his spot.
“I’m cherishing the moment,” he said. “Every time I’m on the field, I’m in the moment and I’m just experiencing it all, taking it in.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
