The primary position of De La Salle senior Jayden Farley is defender, but his versatility allows the coaching staff to play him all over the field. When the offense needs an extra spark, he moves to midfielder or forward.
Farley demonstrated that ability Friday to give the Meteors an offensive jolt in the biggest moment of the season.
An overtime goal in a state semifinal? Talk about unforgettable.
“Definitely the biggest goal I’ve ever scored in my life,” Farley said. “We definitely needed it. The feeling was crazy. It’s still hard to believe. I’m in shock.”
Farley provided his heroics four minutes into OT, helping the Meteors complete a wild comeback from a two-goal deficit as they rallied for a 4-2 win over Streamwood in a Class 2A semifinal at Hoffman Estates.
Fidel Orozco, Christian Flores and Alex Panduro each provided a goal and an assist for De La Salle (24-3-1), while Jahir Anaya made 12 saves.
De La Salle’s Jayden Farley (8) leaps into the air to control the ball against Streamwood during a Class 2A state semifinal at Hoffman Estates on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Rob Dicker / Daily Southtown)
The Meteors will take on downstate Washington (29-1-1) — a 4-2 winner over Rock Island — at 4:45 p.m. Saturday in the state championship game.
It will be the second straight appearance in the finals for De La Salle, which dropped a 3-2 overtime heartbreaker last season to Belleville Althoff. The Meteors are looking to win the school’s first state title in any team sport.
“Last year left a bad taste in our mouths,” Panduro said. “But this year we’re going to come out on top.”
Streamwood (13-11) jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead behind a goal and an assist from Josue Lopez and a goal from Max Galvan.
De La Salle’s Jayden Farley (8) kicks the ball as Streamwood’s Max Galvan (10) defends during a Class 2A state semifinal at Hoffman Estates on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Rob Dicker / Daily Southtown)
Lopez’s goal on a free kick with 41 seconds left in the first half made it 2-0 and could have been crushing for the Meteors, but they kept their confidence.
“You just have to keep believing,” Flores said. “Faith over fear. Once that first one goes in, it gives you hope to keep going and create more and more chances and get one in.
“And that’s what we did.”
After Orozco got De La Salle on the board, Flores tied it with 4:03 left in regulation, finding the net on a header after Panduro’s free kick was deflected high into the air.
De La Salle’s Jayden Farley (8) and Streamwood’s Josue Lopez (24) collide during a Class 2A state semifinal at Hoffman Estates on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Rob Dicker / Daily Southtown)
That set the stage for Farley, who took advantage after Streamwood went a player down and lost starting goalkeeper Alex J. Garcia to a red card at the end of regulation.
“I knew there was a new keeper who was fresh in the game,” Farley said. “I saw I was open, told my teammate to pass me the ball and took a shot. I was surprised it went in, but it was super exciting.”
De La Salle coach Francisco Martinez knows Farley — who scored his fourth goal of the season — is the kind of player who can make a difference no matter where he is on the field.
“It helps because it allows us to do different things,” Martinez said. “He’s able to fill in the role, and that gives other guys opportunities to try something different as well.
“It lets us try some different combinations.”
De La Salle’s Jayden Farley (8) takes off with the ball against Streamwood during a Class 2A state semifinal at Hoffman Estates on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Rob Dicker / Daily Southtown)
Farley feels comfortable in any role.
“When I started off soccer, I always liked to play up and score goals,” Farley said. “But as I got further into my career, I played more center back. It gave me the ability to play both positions. I think I’ve mastered both of them.
“I just love playing both spots and helping the team any way I can.”
Panduro added an insurance goal with 7:23 left in OT and the Meteors were on their way to another state championship game.
Farley believes a different outcome is coming this time.
“It wasn’t just the one play that won us this game,” he said. “It was the whole team. We did it together. We have a goal to win state and we’re going to do it.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/07/jayden-farley-de-la-salle-streamwood-ihsa-boys-soccer/