Men's Soccer | 10/13/2014 12:54:00 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(article posted by Emily Zadny, Student Sports Information Assistant)

Oct. 13, 2014 - For Jake Johnson, soccer has been a way of life since he was very young. "My parents signed me up when I was [a child]," he said. "I enjoyed it, and the rest, as they say, is history."

Looking to close out his North Central College soccer career, the senior has a bit of added motivation to make his last season the best one to date.

In the 2013 season, Johnson made 10 starts in 10 games, tallying one game winning goal and an assist, before fracturing his tibia and fibula on a slide tackle in the team's first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) game. He was named to the Academic All-CCIW Team at the end of the season.

This season, fans most likely could not tell Johnson has just recovered from a serious injury. Even Johnson himself is impressed with the progress he has made, which enabled him to be the team's first finisher in the fitness test at the beginning of training camp in August. Johnson has started eight of the Cardinals' 13 games in 2013, contributing two goals, the game-winner on Oct. 8 in a victory over Concordia University Chicago and a second-half goal on Oct. 11 against then-No. 18-ranked North Park University, as well as two assists.

"I feel healthy," he said. "I am extremely thankful that the Lord has given me another year to play. It feels good; I often forget that I broke it!"

A double major in Sociology and Religious Studies, Johnson is looking forward to the opportunities that await him after graduation. He is also a part of FOCUS and intends to continue his involvement with his faith after his time at North Central.

"My initial plan is to stick around Chicagoland and find a job with my Sociology degree for a few years," he said. "Faith is also important to me, so eventually, I would love to move overseas and help start churches in cultures that do not have many, or any, people who follow Christ," he added. "It would be awesome to be a part of bringing the love of Jesus to one of these places."

Aside from lessons learned in the classroom, Johnson has also received a great deal of advice and support from his coaches and teammates over his Cardinal career.

"Coach (Matt) Klosterman has not only pushed me as a player, but he has pushed me as a leader," he said. "It took me a while to grow into the shoes of a captain. There were certainly growing pains, but it has been worth it. It is a blessing to play your favorite sport with such a group."

With an overall record of 8-4-1 and sitting at 1-1 in CCIW play with five games remaining, the Cardinals are looking to make history, something that would be the icing on the cake for Johnson's soccer experience.

"We are hoping and working to win the CCIW Championship," said Johnson. "We also want to give North Central College men's soccer its first NCAA tournament appearance."

Johnson and the Cardinals take on Elmhurst College on Wednesday on the Bluejay's home turf. Action at Langhorst Field is scheduled to get under way at 5:00 p.m. Click HERE for links to live video coverage and in-game statistics.