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Jonathon Critell's Switch to goalie was successful
Mooney's Jonathan Critell
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Although Jonathon Critell is known for his quick reflexes as Mooney’s No. 1 goalkeeper, his first step wasn’t always quite so quick.
During an indoor soccer game his freshman year, his coach, Joe DeMay, needed someone to fill in at goalkeeper.
“I went in and messed around,” Critell said. “My coach ... liked what he saw.”
So far, so good. But when asked about switching positions full-time?
“Uh, I was a little hesitant at first,” he said.
But Critell made the switch, even though he didn’t feel completely comfortable until after his sophomore year.
“I got the training I needed,” he said. “Joe Demay worked a lot with me on goalie training before he took a job in Indiana and Coach Lou [Cali] helped me because he used to be a goalie.
“I do a lot of work to get lateral movement and balance and [increase] how I jump. And I work on my hands a lot. You need good hands.”
Critell earned second team all-district and first team all-league last year.
He also plays club soccer for Tri-County Sports and travels around northeast Ohio for games.
He’s undecided about college, but he’s leaning toward playing soccer at Mount Union with plans to major in athletic training or physical therapy.
Although the Cardinals have been the area’s best program over the past decade, Critell admits that American football, particularly at a school like Mooney, can overshadow his sport.