Bluffton University Men's Soccer

Jacob Graham

The Bluffton University Men’s Soccer Team is in the middle of their offseason right now, although the regular season has ended, this is not a time for rest for the group. The Bluffton University Men’s Soccer team is challenged everyday in the “off-season” in order to both earn a starting spot on the roster or end with a record better than last year’s dismal 4-12-1 record. Whether the challenge is in weight lifting, fundamental drills, skill building, or the regular play of the game, these athletes are faced with out of season tasks.

Despite the tension among the ranks and immediate culture shock for incoming freshman, the history of the men’s soccer program indicates the men’s team to be one of the campus’ most successful programs. The Bluffton University Men’s Soccer Program has yet to make it to a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament appearance but still have an incredibly promising future.

The Bluffton University Men’s Soccer team has 8 returning juniors (seniors next year), including co-captains Brian Good and Jacob Graham, which is the biggest senior class in the last decade and possibly in school history. This is not the only reason that next year has high hopes as well as shows real promise. The offseason this year has an attitude towards it that has never been matched. Everyone on the team is expected to go and be a part of the team in everything the team does. The team unanimously agrees that lifting is more structured and cared about more than ever before. Fundamental drills are taken seriously by the players to edge out competition both on the field and for next year. Skill building has been approached in a new way by splitting up the offseason into different areas of skills. All of the hard work by the players can still be shown through intense games of 4 on 4 soccer displayed in both Burcky and Founders Gyms as well as at Bluffton Family Recreation.

There are many things that are included in the offseason for the men’s soccer program here at Bluffton. Some of the things that are included are: weight lifting, training (both outdoors and indoors), indoor games, outdoor scrimmages against other schools, fundraisers, youth camps, recruit night, and planning for next year.

So far this offseason, the Bluffton University Men’s Soccer Team has almost doubled the amount of fundraising from last year. Most of this fundraising is done in hopes of purchasing new long-sleeved jerseys for next season as well as another pair of game shorts and game socks. Unlike the lack of diversity on the team, the fundraising has been quite diverse. Fundraising for the Bluffton Men’s team includes: Food services at Ohio State University, selling Bluffton Men’s Soccer T-Shirts, selling Bluffton Beavers wristbands, and selling bundles of care products (which includes shampoo, conditioner, body spray, lotions, etc…).

The Bluffton University Men’s Soccer Program doesn’t only work hard in the offseason to become better at soccer but are becoming better people in society as well as knowledgeable in each of their own future professions. One of the goals for the Men’s Soccer Program is to become better people “Academically, Physical/Mentally, and Spiritual/Socially” as stated in the Bluffton University Soccer Mission Statement.

Watch interviews with members of the Bluffton University Soccer Team here.