Men's Soccer 8/12/2025 5:05:00 PM Chris Kuchta

Title Hunt: 2025 Men’s Soccer Preview

Veteran Pioneers Primed and Ready for New Campaign

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill. --- When qualifying for the national tournament moves from being a pipe dream to a legitimate yearly expectation, that's when you know your program has arrived.

And when the school's trophy case is beginning to become comprised mostly of hardware from your program, that's never a bad thing either.

This is exactly where the Prairie State College men's soccer team sits heading into the 2025 campaign.

The Pioneers, who constructed an overall record of 13-4-3 a year ago are eager to avenge an early exit from the 2024 post season, following a 1-0 NJCAA Region 4 quarterfinal loss to local foe South Suburban on their home field.

PSC returns eight members from last year's squad.

Leading the crew of returners is second team All-American Jim Boulanger (Lycee Alfred Kastler H.S., FRANCE) who's team-leading 24 goals led the club in 2024 and were good for fifth on the national charts.

Sophomore forward Mateo Nabona (IFC Valence H.S., FRANCE) will serve as one of head coach Carlos Reyes' captains in 2025. Last season, Nabona tallied seven goals while delivering 12 assists.

"The goal this season is to stay consistent and take it game after game," Nabona said. "Everyone's locked in – in both practice and matches – and we're working hard to reach PSC's goals as a family. It's about showing up every day, competing with intensity, and pushing for something bigger than ourselves."

Fellow sophomore Ilyass Umar (Archbishop O'Leary H.S., CANADA) will also be relied on heavily to help provide a veteran presence and lead the Pioneers. Umar, a forward, notched six goals a year ago.

"This season isn't about hoping for results, it's about taking them," Umar said. "We're ready to put in the work, we trust each other, and we're stepping onto the field to control every game. It's more than just winning – it's about setting the tone, playing with pride, and making sure PSC leaves a mark and that we leave a mark at PSC as players."

The Pioneers embark on the 2025 campaign as the 16^th-ranked team in the NJCAA Division II preseason poll as being ranked has also become a tradition for the men's program.

While packing plenty of offensive punch with the likes of Boulanger, Nabona and Umar, PSC's defense will also be a strong component of the squad.

Sophomore's Hudson Ferreira (IFB-Campus Ceilandia H.S., BRAZIL), Oliver Wozny (Conant H.S.) and Axel Becerra (Thornton Township H.S.) will provide a solid core of defensive leadership for the Pioneers.

Sophomore goalkeeper Goncalo Tomas (Escola Secundaria Camoes H.S., PORTUGAL) starts between the posts for Reyes' squad.

Tomas was more than serviceable during his first campaign of collegiate soccer.

In limited action a year ago, Tomas turned away 27 of the 34 shots he faced on the campaign.

Reyes is well aware of his team's potential, but also knows full well that the road to another successful campaign won't be an easy one.

"I think everybody understands that there is no easy task in our region," Reyes said. "Having lost last year in the quarterfinal gave the returning players an opportunity to not be overconfident and to work hard.

"Last (losing in the quarterfinals) was a feeling that I had not had since 2017 and it reminded me that we need to keep our feet on the ground at all times. We are going to be prepared well to perform the best that we possibly can and take it one practice at a time and one game at a time."

Reyes is also pleased with the role his team's second-year players have played from a leadership standpoint early in training camp.

"My returning players understand their role as leaders on this team and they are showing the freshmen the right path."

PSC opens up the 2025 slate on Saturday, August 23 when they travel to Indianapolis for the 2025 JUCO Kickoff Classic and a match against the Community College of Baltimore County Essex in a 1 p.m. (eastern) kickoff.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Axel Becerra: D; Sophomore

#9 Jim Boulanger: MF; Sophomore

#6 Hudson Ferreira: D; Sophomore

#10 Mateo Nabona: F; Sophomore

#1 Goncalo Tomas: GK; Sophomore

#11 Ilyass Umar: M; Sophomore

#3 Oliver Wozny: D; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#4 Axel Becerra
: Sophomore
: D

#9 Jim Boulanger
: Sophomore
: MF

#6 Hudson Ferreira
: Sophomore
: D

#10 Mateo Nabona
: Sophomore
: F

#1 Goncalo Tomas
: Sophomore
: GK

#11 Ilyass Umar
: Sophomore
: M

#3 Oliver Wozny
: Sophomore
: D

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned

Scoreboard