Energy, optimism high for JCC men’s soccer
Trending
There’s a heightened level of optimism around the 2026 Jamestown Community College men’s soccer program as it returns 15 players from last season, including three all-conference standouts in Adam Doyle, Liam Doyle and Casimiro Espeso, who also earned second team all-region.
"I am absolutely buzzing," said sophomore Adam Doyle. "I know a lot of us sophomores, we haven't played much competitive games since last season. Excitement is high around the place the last couple of days and meeting the new boys is electric."
"Very excited. We are all extremely excited to be practicing and playing," said sophomore Casimiro Espeso, who led the team last year with 10 assists. "The new guys are great. The guys who came back are wonderful. I feel like it is easier to start off with that experience we have playing together. It is way easier, even with the new guys, we can hopefully have a great season."
"I am definitely excited to be back," said sophomore Jack Morris. "It’s a great group of lads so far. All the new boys, straight from the start, put in the work. It is looking good for the season."
Part of the excitement on the pitch is also getting a new, but familiar, face at head coach, as former Jayhawk star and assistant coach Jesse da Costa takes over for Pat Anderson, who roamed the JCC sidelines for nearly two decades.
"Coach (Jesse da Costa) has been really good," said sophomore Liam Doyle, who led the team last season with 20 points. "He is great at communicating with all of us. He is treating us as equals and teaches us what he has learned through his college career; that is an inspiration."
"It is good. (Coach da Costa) did a lot of work with Pat last year," Adam Doyle said. "Him taking the reins now is best for the team. He’s young and energetic.
"It has been great. Coach (da Costa) is a great coach. He is very young, but he knows what he is doing, so we are ready," Adam Doyle added. "He has that experience of playing D1. We all know that. We are going to listen to him."
JCC has made it to the regional semifinals each of the last five seasons but has failed to get over the hump and earn a spot in the Region 3 championship game. That’s one goal in what the squad hopes is a long journey this year.
"At least make it to nationals. That is our main goal, and hopefully, the ultimate goal is to win nationals, of course," Espeso said. "We know it will take a lot of hard work. Way more than last year; we put in a lot last year, but we will put in triple this year."
"That banner inside the gym, we want to put something on that banner," Morris said. "That is the goal since we first stepped in here. That is what we really want."
Every journey starts with the first step; for the Jayhawks, that is visiting Lakeland Community College on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 3:30 p.m. JCC’s first home contest takes place Saturday, Aug. 29, at 1 p.m.