By Taylor James Staff Writer
ECC’s Men’s Soccer team has kicked off the season and so far they’ve shown promise.
The first thing that Head Coach Joseph Benniger wants is to put a competitive product out on the pitch. The next step of the team’s development is for him to produce strong student athletes whether it be from an athletic or academic level. Every year the goal is simple: of course they want to always compete for a national championship but on a smaller level they want to win the conference. ECC competes in the Missouri Community College Athletic Association (MCCAC) and they are one of nine teams within it. Coach said there’s the “big three” the team will have to look out for during competition: Mineral Area College, S.t Louis Community College, and St. Charles Community College. Benninger hopes to have ECC on the same level as these schools throughout the year.
Building a competitive product comes first and foremost through recruiting. The team has been able to recruit in the St. Louis area and also internationally. Coach Benninger talked about the importance of recruiting but he also needs the team to be bought in. This year though the team is very bought in. During the preseason the players came in fit which made Benninger’s job a lot easier and he hopes this momentum will carry into the rest of the season.
On the team from top to bottom it doesn’t matter what level of experience a player has, they’re all ready to go. Redshirt Freshman Conner Bisgrove comes from Carnoustie, Scotland and believes that anyone on this team has a chance to make them better. Bisgrove’s teammate, Sophomore James Harrison is also very invested in making the team better and wanting to reach the national stage of NCJAA D2 soccer. Harrison believes their biggest competition will come from St. Louis Community College who took ECC’s title from them last year. Harrison is itching for revenge against their rival just a quick drive east from Union, Mo.
Bisgrove had this to say about his philosophy regarding the level of experience with younger players,”“Age doesn’t really mean anything in this case…age just means nothing in soccer… and I don’t think age has any impact on playing ability, not at this level.”
Bisgrove and Harrison have enjoyed their team at ECC. Harrison is a tutor in the library and helps out his teammates and also other students. Bisgrove wants to get involved with the same thing Harris is and make a difference on campus with his fellow students. They give to the ECC community but also they would like ECC students and members of the community to get out to their games.
The season is well under way for this year’s Falcon team at ECC. In order for them to reach their goals they will have to keep building and feeding off of each other. They will face tough competition within their conference and challenges will arise. Will they uphold the goals they have set for themselves during this season?
ECC Cornerstone 