Naperville North senior Colin McMahon’s passion for soccer was born from numerous backyard battles with his brother Aidan, who is three years older.
Both were offensive-minded, and their competition was fierce. That played a key role as Colin McMahon developed his skills from an early age.
“Growing up, we had a lot of back-and-forth and went against each other all the time,” Colin McMahon said. “So he really prepared me, and he’s someone who I really look up to in my soccer journey.
“My brother was the first person in our family to play college sports, so I’m just trying to follow in his shoes. He just paved the way for me.”
Aidan McMahon, a forward, played three years of varsity soccer for the Huskies and plays at Ohio Northern.
Colin McMahon is a three-year starter for Naperville North, but not as a midfielder, the position he knew best.
“When he made varsity as a sophomore, I knew he was most comfortable in the midfield,” said Naperville North coach Jim Konrad, who has known the McMahon family for more than 15 years.
“But I said, ‘Hey, man, for you to get a chance to play a lot, you’re going to have to think about playing center back.’ “He said, ‘Whatever it takes to get on the field.’”
Colin McMahon had never played defense but embraced the challenge.
“Konrad came up to me and was like, ‘I need my best 11 guys on the field, and I need you on the field,’” he said. “I had never played it, but I just wanted to help my team the best way I could. So I adapted, and it just stuck.”
Indeed, Colin McMahon has thrived in the back. The shift wasn’t difficult for him.
“I was back a line, but just knowing that we pride ourselves on defense here, I knew that I had to put my head down and work extremely hard,” he said.
Playing defense, however, meant largely forgoing the accolades and limelight showered on offensive players like his brother and seniors Josh Pedersen and Sam Hess.
“Obviously, everyone would love to have that, but I truly pride myself on serving my teammates and just being the best human I can,” Colin McMahon said. “I pride myself on doing the little things well.”
Colin McMahon has been doing so for three seasons. He was a key cog in the Huskies’ run to the Class 3A state semifinals in 2023, and this season he is the leader of an inexperienced defense that also includes senior Luke Bouska, another converted midfielder.
“You need a little humbleness in a back, and he’s really good at keeping humble and doing his job and making sure everybody else is as well,” Bouska said. “He’s great at communication, has a very loud, strong voice, so you can’t miss him.
“He’s great in the air, super physical, and he’ll get on you. He’s just a great person and great leader all around.”
Konrad said Colin McMahon has been impactful from the start, perhaps even better than anticipated.
“He really made a statement because I didn’t see him starting as a sophomore going into the season,” Konrad said. “But he really bought in, fought hard, got better and better in the air, got better 1v1 defending.
“We didn’t take him off the field the whole year, and we made that great run to state. Colin was a huge part of that.”
Colin McMahon continues to make an impact for the Huskies (10-0-3, 3-0), who are 53-4-7 during his career following a 3-1 DuPage Valley Conference win against Metea Valley on Tuesday.
“It’s unique to have a kid like that, to have all the tools that he has,” Konrad said. “Obviously, he’s a big part of why we’ve been so successful.
“I know Josh and Sam get all the attention, and it’s deserved, but Colin is another kid who has been just incredible for us for three years now. At this school, that’s very rare.”
Colin McMahon, whose younger sister Keira is a junior defender on Naperville North’s girls soccer team, which finished second in 3A in June, wants to play in college. He has offers from Ohio Northern, Calvin and Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Konrad will be sad to see him graduate.
“I will be close to Colin for the rest of my life,” Konrad said. “I’m hoping to get as many games as I can with him. He brings that really fun, exuberant personality to the field.
“But he also is desperate to win, a hard competitor. He’s a joy to coach.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.