Radical Change Under Way for EC Men’s Soccer
EUREKA – First-year Eureka men's soccer coach Ryan Woodside and the 2022 Red Devils have big ambitions this season.
After two winless seasons, everyone who is a part of the program is expecting radical change.
"I think we've set out the goal of just being different than the program has ever been for the entire history of it," Woodside said. "We want it to be different. We want it to be something really special to be a part of. Our vision that we talk about on the team is two-fold – part of it is on-the-field success and part of it is off-the-field success, and just being a transformational, life-changing experience."
Stop by practice at McKinzie Field or pop into a team meeting at the Reagan Athletic Complex, and you'll be able to tell that there's a different vibe with this team. There's a palpable excitement for what's happening and what's to come.
There's a small sample size to survey at this point, but the early on-field results have already been encouraging, too. Through two matches, the Red Devils are 1-1 and they have already scored more goals (11) than they did in 16 matches last fall (8).
Last Friday, the maroon and gold opened the season with a competitive, 3-1 loss against a solid Illinois College squad on the road. The following day, Eureka traveled to Emmaus and handed the Eagles a 10-1 rout. It was only the second time in program history that the Red Devils scored 10 goals in a match.
On Wednesday at 7 p.m., the new-look Eureka men's soccer team is ready to show Red Devil Nation what it can do for the first time. The Red Devils are set to host Moody Bible in a long-awaited home opener under the bright lights of McKinzie Field.
"I think that we've learned a lot," Woodside said of the first two matches and the season so far. "The guys are in it with me. I've always said that I don't just want to impose a system on them. I want them to be a part of making sure they're bought into the things that I want to do and the changes that I want to make. I want to make sure that they think they're going to be successful as well, so it's been collaborative."
Woodside says that it started with the attitude of the seven returners: Jerry Anderson, Sean Blair, Bryn Callahan, Jake Edmondson, Casey Frietsch, Teddy Wesoloski and Will Wiegand. When you're coming into a new place and a situation where players are coming off a couple of rough seasons, it's hard to know what to expect. Woodside, who came to Eureka last spring after coaching and playing at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, said that he was pleasantly surprised to find that all of his returners were nice kids who got along well. They came in eager to learn a new approach and to be pushed in a new way.
They've been joined by a slew of talented and motivated newcomers. The Red Devils now feature a diverse roster of returners and first-year players, Lincoln College transfers and transfers from other colleges, local and out-of-state talents and players from all over the world.
Woodside and his staff have made some lineup adjustments through the first weekend and their starting 11 is still very much in flux.
In goal, the Red Devils welcome freshman Brayton Strawkas, who has made nine saves and allowed two goals in his first two matches.
In the back, the Red Devils have Lincoln transfer Jordan Pierre on the left and returning sophomore Teddy Wesoloski on the right, with freshman Jake Adamson, Illinois Valley Community College transfer Tyler Russow and Heartland Community College Roberto Bucio filling in the middle.
South African international Troy Arries and Lincoln transfer Jacob Russow join returning sophomore and team captain in the midfield Jake Edmondson, while Lincoln transfers and fellow captains Khalil Alleyne and Isaac Noriega play up top.
Alleyne scored the Red Devils' first goal of the season on Friday at Illinois College.
"He has come in and just been a stud," Woodside said of Alleyne. "He played 90 minutes against Illinois College and his motor just doesn't stop, so he's just kind of been an Energizer bunny, runs around the field, been great in the press, great in the attack and opens up a lot of opportunities for us."
Noriega started off the season playing defense, but after the first half on Friday, he was moved to forward and instantly made an impact. He scored four goals at Emmaus on Saturday.
Unlike past seasons, the 2022 Red Devils have a deep bench of contributors. Friday's season opener saw 19 EC players enter the match, and all 26 on the roster saw action in the Emmaus drubbing.
Among the most impactful were Lincoln transfer Dan Jüeliger, freshman Edgar Sanchez-Gravez and returning sophomore Will Wiegand.
Woodside is looking forward to seeing his team perform in front of the home fans for the first time.
"Overall, I'm really appreciative of everybody here," Woodside said. "People have been really welcoming to me and the guys. They've been really supportive, and it seems like there's a bit of a buzz on campus. It's definitely fueling some of the work that we've put in."
