Metea Valley’s Jordan Lange was destined for soccer stardom.
That was evident years ago.
“Even as a freshman, you could see that she was going to be a difference-maker, a playmaker, somebody that could compete at the highest level,” Metea Valley coach Chris Whaley said.
“But a lot of girls in her situation get distracted. She really just focused on what was best for her and trying to find the right fit for her. So credit to her.”
Lange’s freshman season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the fleet-footed midfielder wasted no time establishing herself as one of the top players in the state.
As a sophomore, Lange had 10 goals and a team-high 13 assists. Last season, she led the Mustangs to their first state championship, finishing with 17 goals and eight assists, and she was the Beacon-News/Courier-News Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
A college career appeared to be a certainty, and most people assumed it would be in a Division I program. That’s not what happened.
As recently as October, Lange was undecided about whether to continue her career beyond this season.
“First off, I wanted to stay close to home,” she said. “I knew that for sure. I didn’t know whether I was ready to play soccer in college because it is such a huge commitment.”
Eventually, though, Lange found her fit, a place where she will get the best of both worlds: North Central College. She reached out to the coaches at the Division III program in Naperville and made her commitment after visiting campus.
“I just really fell in love with the school,” Lange said. “I don’t think the division really matters. Everyone wants to go D-I, but to me that doesn’t matter. I’m really excited for staying close to home and being part of the team environment that they have there.”
Lange’s older sister, Halle, played one year of soccer at another Division III college, Illinois Wesleyan, before hanging up her cleats.
“She loves soccer, but it just wasn’t for her anymore,” Lange said. “I still love soccer a lot, so I still want to go and play.”
The addition of Lange will be a boon for North Central, which reached the CCIW Tournament final in the fall.
“It’s great for her,” Whaley said. “It’s great for North Central.”
Lange has been great for the Mustangs (10-0-2), who have not lost to an Illinois opponent since the 2021 season, and she’s getting better. She has scored a team-high 13 goals and has four assists.
Senior defender Kaylee Bannack, a fellow co-captain who also will play at the Division III level at Case Western Reserve, can testify to Lange’s improvement.
“I’ve been playing with Jordan for over 10 years now,” Bannack said. “To see her every single day just come out here and try her best to always show up is great.
“She always comes up with big goals because she’s so talented. She can beat anyone.”
During a game last week, Lange scored both goals as the Mustangs beat Wheaton Warrenville South 2-0. She also had the game winner in a 4-1 rout of Neuqua Valley.
The strike against Neuqua Valley demonstrated Lange’s nifty ball skills. She tried to beat a defender to her right and then spun back toward her left before blasting a 22-yard shot under the crossbar.
Naperville Sun
Twice-weekly
News updates from the Naperville area delivered every Monday and Wednesday
“She’s leading the offense and making sure everyone is staying hyped and excited to score more goals,” Bannack said.
Whaley is excited to coach Lange, who can take charge of a game while helping set up talented teammates like Lucy Burk, Tyra King and Cydnie Bayless, who scored the last two goals against Neuqua Valley.
“Each year she grows a little more confident,” Whaley said of Lange. “We have good players around her, and she’s not above the team. It’s the opposite. She just has that mentality that she’s here to win and to have fun and contribute. You can see it out on the field that she’s enjoying herself.”
That’s been true even though teams are trying their best — futilely so far — to stop Lange and the defending state champions.
“Oh, my gosh, we’re having so much fun,” she said. “I love high school soccer because it’s so different than club. All the girls just become so close with each other in such a short amount of time. Building relationships with them on and off the field has been great.
“We’ve been working so hard in practices to play well in games, and that really shows.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
