Jaxson DeRossett is under strict orders from his mom.
“I told him he was born a champion,” Karen DeRossett quipped. “I told him now it’s his turn to start winning some championships.”
The reason for that “advice” is that Jaxson was kind of a state champion before he was even born, as he was kicking around in Karen’s belly while she coached the Robbinsville High girls soccer team to the 2008 NJSIAA Group I state championship. It was the first of two straight state crowns for what was then still a fledgling program.
Her son is now trying to help the revitalized Hopewell Valley Central High boys soccer team gain some hardware as a senior midfielder for the Bulldogs.
“He’s basically been the centerpiece of whatever success we’ve had this year,” coach “Uncle” Ed Gola said. “He’s been a leader, he works hard and he’s got some soccer blood in his system.”
And the origin of that blood finds herself on the sidelines at HoVal games trying not to be an overbearing parent despite what’s in her genes.
“Oh, it’s definitely my instinct to coach from the stands,” Karen said with a chuckle. “I try not to, but I definitely yell a few things from time to time. But mostly I keep quiet. I do try to give advice after the games and he usually is receptive.”
In true coach fashion, mom is quick to point out the mistakes.
“If I didn’t do something well, she’ll definitely let me know,” Jaxson said. “But she’s pretty helpful, she’s always telling me to work harder, do everything 100 percent.”
Apparently, that advice is heeded.
“He’s a hard worker and a good worker,” Gola said. “He’s very coachable. He’s a captain and he leads by example, based on the overall way he plays.”
DeRossett’s value and team-first attitude were never more apparent than this season, as he has moved up from his natural position of center back to the midfield. The move was made to provide more offense for a team that scored just 31 goals in 22 games last year. It has paid off, as the Bulldogs had 31 through their 10-3-1 start this season after going an un-Bulldog-like 10-12 last year.
Leading the way was DeRossett with eight goals and three assists, while Peter DiDonato had seven goals and five assists and Will Rye had six goals and three assists.
“He’ll always be a back but this year he’s playing more of a midfield role for his personal growth and to get more in the attack,” Gola said. “He’s always gonna be defensive-minded naturally. You’ve got center-mids that dazzle you with their footwork, he’s more of a guy who’s strong, who’s fast, he’s got good feet. He can just plow through you.”
DeRossett felt it was a bit of an adjustment, but after a few games he settled in.
“It’s been pretty good,” he said. “I can give the team some extra help up there, it gives me some space to roam around and just do my thing. I do play more defensively just to help out. For the most part it’s been pretty simple.”
Since he was born into soccer, DeRossett began playing rec ball at age 4. He moved up to the Hopewell Township travel team and “once I got older I got more serious,” so he moved to PDA and then Match Fit, where he currently plays.
He actually got some midfield play as a tyke, but as he got older he played outside back and then his most natural position of center back.
At HVCHS, DeRossett was pulled up to varsity as a sophomore and was slotted on the outside “just to get his feet wet at the varsity level,” according to Gola. During that 10th-grade season he transitioned to center back and remained there as a junior. There was some talk of pushing him forward last season, but the back line struggled, so he returned there.
“The defense needed some help back there,” DeRossett said. “It was very unorganized, that was my natural spot so he was like ‘All right you gotta go back there and clean everything up.’”
The Bulldogs endured no such problem this season. With Gola still wanting to put DeRossett at midfield, senior Emil Rybovic and junior Michael Cappucci have filled the roles of center backs nicely.
“We haven’t had to make any changes,” Gola said. “They have transitioned well and they’ve been working well with one another.”
DeRossett agreed, saying, “They’ve been doing great. They’ve been holding down really well.”
With that problem solved, DeRossett has been free to go on the attack, and he has loved every minute of it. His first goal came on opening day against Hun. The Bulldogs trailed 3-1, and he tallied on a free kick to spark a comeback in a 5-3 victory.
It did not surprise Gola that the goal came on a restart.
“One of the things that you don’t really know until you see it, is when he opens up he has one of hardest shots I’ve ever seen,” the ice cream magnate said. “He’s hitting crossbars, he hit a shot at the buzzer against Delaware Valley. He can rip it.”
DeRossett feels that ability comes from years at center back, where he was constantly playing long balls.
“It kind of comes naturally,” he said.
And he loves putting that leg to use by scoring goals, which is something he did not do once during his first two varsity seasons.
“It feels great, it feels really special,” he said. “I’ve just been enjoying it out there. It was pretty cool getting that first goal against Hun. It was a great feeling.”
In assessing the move from back to midfield, DeRossett feels the biggest difference is understanding the big picture.
“It’s just being aware of everything around me,” he said. “It’s a little different from center-back because you gotta be all around the field. It’s a little tough to get that sometimes but once you’re settled in you find your spot and you’re good.”
Gola feels that DeRossett has the vision required of a midfielder, which is needed to scope out the entire situation.
“He’s looking for guys,” the coach said. “He had good connection with Archie (Seas) before Archie got hurt, and with Will Rye. He’s good at putting balls into space, not necessarily passing to the guy but putting the ball in the place where the guy should be on the attack — between the defenders, between the gaps.
“He’s also good with spacing and conditioning so he knows not to crowd the other center midfielders and will play on the weak side if we need him to. Or, if he needs to check toward a certain position player he’ll do that. He’s pretty smart.”
His knowledge goes beyond the field, as witnessed by a 3.3 grade point average. DeRossett’s soccer ability and classroom savvy have landed him a spot on The College of New Jersey’s team next year. His major is undecided, but he is leaning toward business.
“It’s pretty local, the coach there is really bringing the program back and they have a really solid team,” DeRossett said of his decision. “I know some of the guys and some of the coaches. There are some really great guys there. I got a lot of looks from other Division III schools. But TCNJ came down to good academics, good team, good spot.”
A spot where his parents can get to rather easily, and give his mom more opportunities to try not to coach from the sidelines.
Proofing notes: Corrected grammar, punctuation, agreement and minor typographical errors while preserving the full story and original quotations. Removed the reporter’s contact information from the byline.
Items to check before publication: The reference to Gola as an “ice cream magnate” may need context for readers. Also, the statement that DeRossett was “pulled up from varsity” appeared to be a typo and was corrected to “pulled up to varsity.” The goal totals, team record and TCNJ commitment have not been independently verified.
