Soccer struggles in first season with coaching changes

By Taylor James, Cornerstone Editor

ECC Men’s and Women’s soccer changes have affected how the season played out. 

Women’s soccer was able to play their season without it getting canceled this year, however the way the season went was not expected. Head coach Chris Lanneman was hired back in February to lead the team after having their previous season forfeited. 

The team lost every game and they finished with a record of 0-10. They only scored two goals all year in their competition against every team on their schedule. Opponents outscored the Falcons 70-2 in the 2025 season. Freshman Forward Audrey Declue led the team in scoring, as the only person to score the goals on the year.

Men’s Soccer produced similar results to how the season went for their sistren on the pitch. In Serevino’s first season the Falcons finished as an early playoff exit. The loss of a key group of sophomores from the 2024 season led to disappointing results. They went 0-12 on the season and teams outscored them 67-12. This year the men’s team had 14 freshmen and seven sophomores. In conference play the Falcons put up more of a fight, compared to their out of conference games. Their best performance came against State Fair Community College in which they lost 5-4, but State Fair had to come from behind to win.

“We didn’t play together,” said Sophomore Juan Pablo Justiano when referring to the struggles the team faced. Justiano came from Bolivia last year to play soccer at East Central. He became a veteran piece for Serevino’s team in the hopes to improve from last season. Instead, the season went in a different direction than what Justiano and his teammates hoped for. 

Last season former women’s soccer coach Joseph Benninger resigned and their season was canceled. The men’s team was able to finish their season because Alex Serevino, Benninger’s assistant, finished the 2024 season for them. The men’s team finished with a loss to St. Louis Community College in the first round of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) playoffs.

This 2025 season for East Central College soccer presented a tough road for both teams. Coaches and players can only hope to improve going into next season.