IU Columbus’ Justin Sylva looks to pass the ball against Ohio Christian Sept. 30, 2-24 at Richard Wigh Soccer Complex in Columbus.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
The IU Columbus men’s soccer team experienced some growing pains last season.
After going 8-9-1 in its inaugural season in 2023, the Crimson Pride slipped to 4-11-2 last season. They hope to turn that back around this fall.
“We got humbled last year,” IUC coach Kevin Nolan said. “I think teams were prepared for us. We had a lot of young players, starting seven freshmen last year, and you’re going to get the growing pains. You’re going to go through it, but I think we are returning the most experienced team in the conference. All of the original guys who started this program two years ago have all played amount of minutes that you wouldn’t see at a four-year school that’s been around for awhile. So the experience we have is finally here.”
Two of the key players returning are local products that started for the Crimson Pride as freshmen last year. Columbus East graduate Justin Sylva was a starting defender, and Columbus North grad Christian Cardoso tied for the team lead with five assists.
IU Columbus’ Christian Cardoso dribbles the ball upfield against Ohio Christian Sept. 30, 2024 at Richard Wigh Soccer Complex in Columbus.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
Cardoso played for the Alliance FC team that made it to the US Youth Soccer Championships Presidents Cup Nationals this summer.
“My summer was awesome,” Cardoso said. “It was amazing. Also, me and (last year’s leading scorer and current assistant coach Jon Michael Bright) played together at IU with some of the guys that play for the IU men’s soccer team, and I learned a whole lot of new things from them. Then just going to nationals was just an awesome experience. Making it to the final four was really great. We sadly couldn’t make it to the final, but we just left it all out there. Now, we’re back in business for IUC.”
Jacob Kasarda (junior, Crown Point) returns for his third year in goal. The Crimson Pride have added six transfers, including defender Eddie Cordova (junior, Columbus North) from Indiana Tech.
Among the other top transfers, Nolan mentioned Ukranian native Anton Bezborodov from Marian and Maruwe Exauce from Manchester University.
“We have a lot of new faces,” Nolan said. “We have a lot of returners. All of our growing pains, I hope we’re kind of done with. I’m hoping we’re just more consistent, and mistakes go away. But the experience we have is good.”
IUC opens the season Wednesday at home against Calumet College of St. Joseph.
“We’re really excited,” Nolan said. “I haven’t been this excited since this program started the first year, just the amount of energy surrounding the program and the players we have coming in.”
The Crimson Pride averaged about 150 fans for its home games last year at Richard Wigh Soccer Complex.
“Obviously, we’d like the crowd to be bigger,” Sylva said. “You always like a big crowd. Playing in the East-North game, you always have a big crowd. The more people we can get in there, the better.”
