2024 Times Boys Soccer Player of the Year: Streator’s Noah Russow

Streator senior forward Noah Russow smiled with a chuckle when asked when he started playing the game of soccer.

“I was a little kid when I started playing soccer,” Russow said. “My two older brothers played, I’d go watch then play at the YMCA and I was always wanting to play with them. I signed up the first year, I think I was five years old, that I could play in the Streator Youth Soccer leagues.

“I started as a goalkeeper. But back then I would sometimes dribble the length of the field and score. I think I played the position until I was maybe 9 or 10, then I was mainly a forward.

“To this day, there are always times I could play keeper again. I just always thought it was fun.”

The Bulldogs' opposition over the past four seasons probably would have been happy with him sticking to keeper as well.

This past fall Russow — the 2024 Times Boys Soccer Player of the Year — posted 15 goals and 13 assists, finishing his fantastic prep career tied for first in program history with 50 assists and second all-time with 71 goals scored.

“I enjoy both scoring goals and setting teammates up for goals,” Russow said. “I guess for me, when the match is on the line, or we need a goal to tie the match or put us ahead, or it’s a big match, I want to be the guy that scores. That said, I’m also excited when I can make a play that sets up an easy chance for someone else. I guess overall the situation dictates my excitement level when either a teammate or I puts one in the net.

“The last four years I’ve had some really good teammates, and they deserve the credit as well. I couldn’t have done as well as I did without them. Also, credit goes to Coach (J.T.) Huey, he made us work hard but also made things fun.”

Even more remarkable in Russow’s season this past fall was the fact that he had to deal with a knee injury the final 18 matches.

“This season had highs and lows for me,” Russow said. “The low was injuring my knee in a match against Lisle pretty early in the season. One of their defensive players tried to clear the ball and it hit me square in the face, and my knee buckled as I fell backwards. At first, I thought something was torn, but it ended up being a sprained MCL. The doctor told me to take a week off, but if I could push myself to play and I felt I was OK to play, then to go for it. It hurt the rest of the season, but I wanted to play, and I wanted to help our team.”

The high point of the season for Russow, who earned Illinois Central Eight All-Conference honors for the fourth consecutive year, was a 3-time Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-Sectional honoree and ranks in the top 20 in single-season goals and assists all four years he has played, was not only because he performed well, but the team did as well.

“The high was easily the regional semifinal match against Ottawa,” Russow said. “To be able to assist on three goals and score another that helped us win was awesome. It was just one of those matches where it just seemed like anytime I had the ball someone was making a good run or finding open space for me to get it to them. I feel like as a team it was one of our better matches of the season.”

Russow says his passion for the game stays strong by watching the sport at a professional level and he may pursue the game at the collegiate level.

“I watch a lot of professional soccer with Real Madrid being my favorite team,” Russow said. “I feel like, especially in my younger years of playing, watching those matches kept me very interested in sticking with the sport and also trying to get as good as I could.

“My freshman year he had a chance to attend a camp in Spain where he was able to meet a former star, tour the stadium and watch a match.

“As of now I’m leaning on trying to continue playing soccer at the college level. If I find a place that fits, I’ll give it a try, but nothing is for sure right now.”