Men’s Soccer Opens Season with Historic Win

EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka men's soccer team opened its 2025 season in record-breaking fashion on Friday evening, delivering a dominant 14-0 victory over Kuyper at McKinzie Field. The win marks the largest margin of victory in program history.

Eureka (1-0-0) wasted no time asserting control, as Landon Porch (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, assisted by Jesus Canas (Miami, Fla./John A. Ferguson). Porch added his second goal in the 13th minute, quickly establishing his presence in his Red Devil debut.

The first half also featured a career day for Joyce Kabesa (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington), who netted his first career hat trick with goals in the 5th, 26th, and 27th minutes. He was assisted by Porch and Jovani Zuniga (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice). Despite several saves from Kuyper goalkeeper Garrett Brown, the Red Devils continued to add to their tally in the first half.

Uli Castaneda (Bloomington, Ill./Normal West) and Tyler Kramer (Beecher, Ill./Beecher) each scored their first career goals in the 35th and 36th minutes, respectively, both curling left-footed efforts into the top corner to round out a commanding 7-0 halftime lead.

The second half brought more of the same from the Red Devils. Owen Peich (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) scored in the 47th minute, assisted by Leo Mendoza (Lake Villa, Ill./Grant Community), and added another in the 57th minute, with the assist coming from Diego Bueno (Round Lake, Ill./Grant Community), completing a career-best two-goal performance.

Gabriel Gonzalez (Oak Forest, Ill./Homeschooled) marked his collegiate debut with a goal in the 50th minute, assisted by Merdi Ilonga (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington), who also added a goal of his own in the 63rd minute.

Aldo Mora-Lovera (Lisle, Ill./Lisle) extended the lead with his first two collegiate goals, the first coming on a penalty kick in the 69th minute, and the second in the 84th, assisted by Pascal Calonges (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township).

Calonges capped the scoring with a goal of his own in the 87th minute, sealing the historic 14-0 result.

Defensively, Eureka held Kuyper without a shot on goal, while the Red Devils' relentless attack produced 58 total shots and 33 shots on goal.

Up Next

The Red Devils will look to carry their momentum into Sunday's non-conference road match at Benedictine. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.