Columbia River’s Jake Connop finished with 26 goals and 10 assists, helping the Chieftains to a runner-up finish in the Class 2A state tournament. Nathan Howard/The Columbian
Columbia River junior Jake Connop relishes the underdog role.
Often playing up two or three age levels in club soccer, he was tasked with competing against bigger, stronger and quicker players. He’s frequently faced with the same challenge for his high school squad.
“That’s always been me,” Connop said. “I’ve always been the youngest, always been the smallest, probably not the quickest. So I’ve always got to put my best foot forward and work for every ball.”
Connop, The Columbian’s All-Region boys soccer player of the year, outworked opponents to 50-50 balls, rose above taller defenders for spectacular finishes and ended with 26 goals and 10 assists in a state runner-up campaign for River (21-1-1).
While his mentality has been ingrained in him since he started playing as a youngster — and perhaps born into him from his soccer-loving England-native father — Connop had to learn a new skill to take his game to the next level this season: leadership.
After seven starters graduated from last season’s state championship team, Connop noticed something missing during a 2-2 tie against Skyview in nonleague play.
“I felt like we didn’t have as many vocal kids,” he said.
So he took it upon himself to embrace that role, one he’d never had to play before.
“At first it was a struggle,” Connop said.
But like he had to with his powerful shot and knack for finishing, Connop quickly polished the skill.
By season’s end, he was always the first to encourage a struggling player. When Aaron Espinosa mishit a 12-yard shot in a 1-0 state semifinal win over Fife, Connop ran over and placed an arm around the fellow junior’s neck and urged him to keep shooting.
“I think he really started to understand his influence on the team,” coach Filly Afenegus said. “He went from worrying about himself playing well to now, not only taking responsibility for his own performance but finding ways of inspiring and motivating his teammates.”
It helped that the Chieftains had their own “prove it” mentality throughout the season, wanting to show that the young and reloaded team wasn’t about to fade away.
They fought like underdogs despite a 45-game unbeaten streak and defending championship in tow at every step.
With Connop leading the charge, the Chieftains made the program’s second-ever state title game, a 1-0 loss to Sehome of Bellingham.
And with Connop returning for one more season, odds are good Columbia River soccer will make a strong run at a third straight appearance.
“Jake has a very high ceiling and I think he’s just scratching the surface right now,” Afenegus said. “While he’s becoming a great leader, there’s still untapped potential there that he’s just starting to realize. … I’m really excited to see him moving forward.”
Rest of the All-Region team
Alex Ashmore, Columbia River
Junior anchored a defense that allowed just 11 goals all season, including shutouts in 13 of last 18 games.
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