Daily Pilot High School Athlete of the Week

Fed up with his Estancia High boys’ soccer team’s rocky start this season, senior J.J. Rodriguez was prepared to draw a line on the pitch.

Few knew, at the time however, that that line was already in place, in the form of the midfield stripe.

Rodriguez, a returning starter from a team that went 15-2-7 last season, opened this year in his familiar forward spot.

“He was our go-to forward in the beginning,” Estancia Coach Robert Castellano said.

But that 1-6-2 beginning led not only to frustration, but also got Castellano thinking outside the 18-yard box.

“Our midfield was looking kind of weak and [Rodriguez] is the biggest, most physical player we have,” Castellano said. “A lot of physical teams were bumping us off the ball. And J.J. can hold the ball at his feet better than anybody we have.”

So, Castellano approached Rodriguez about a move to center midfield and the idea was greeted with enthusiasm.

“I was excited, because I used to play that position on my club team,” Rodriguez said. “I like it better, because I get to touch the ball more and you get to defend.”

After one day of practice at his new position, Rodriguez became the Eagles’ centerpiece. As it turned out, he was also a big of a missing piece to their puzzle.

After two games of getting his bearings, he guided Estancia to a five-game winning streak that culminated Dec. 23.

On that day, Rodriguez scored three goals, had one assist, and also converted a penalty kick in a shootout to key a pair of victories and propel the Eagles to the championship of the Valencia Tournament at Valencia High.

It was Estancia’s first tournament title since 1996, Castellano said.

And Rodriguez was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

After notching a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over California of Whittier, Rodriguez helped his team overcome a 2-0 deficit to Orange Coast League rival Calvary Chapel in the title game. The Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week scored twice in the second half to force the shootout, then was among four Eagles to convert their penalty kicks to provide the winning margin.

“When we were down, 2-0 (to Calvary), I was just feeling like we had to do it,” Rodriguez said of the dramatic comeback.

He scored with roughly 15 minutes left in regulation, then knotted the score with five minutes left.

Against California, he scored the game-winner with five minutes left.

He has a team-leading eight goals and has also added six assists. He had five goals last season.

But Castellano said Rodriguez’s most noteworthy contribution can’t be seen on the stat sheet.

“Before, as a forward, he was taking guys on and trying to go one on one,” Castellano said. “Now, he is more of a team player, a distributor. He is more of a playmaker. And he has become more of a leader for us. He’s much more vocal now.”

Rodriguez said he was happy to do whatever it took to shake the Eagles from their early season slump.

“It was very frustrating,” he said of the 1-6-2 start. “Last year, we lost only one game until the playoffs [bowing out in the CIF Southern Section Division IV quarterfinals]. But this year, we were struggling. I felt bad. I knew we had to step it up. We had to play with more heart.”

Rodriguez’s willingness to giving more has extended to defense, Castellano said.

“He has saved us many times with his defense, which is something he wasn’t know for,” Castellano said. “He has been carrying us. He is a dominating presence. He has put this team on his back.”

Rodriguez said he would like to continue to also carry a book bag on his back a college student-athlete.

He said he has received recruiting interest from Soka University, Chapman and Cal Baptist.

Then again, since his position change, Rodriguez is less concerned with forward thinking.