By: Colton Steiner
BLUFFTON, Ohio – After finishing the 2024 season with a record of 6-7-5 and an HCAC mark of 3-4-2, the Bluffton Beavers men's soccer squad will go into the 2025 campaign under the direction of first-year Head Coach Nathan Herrera. Despite falling to Transylvania in the quarterfinals, the Bluffton men will look to continue their string of Heartland Conference tournament appearances which dates back to 2021.
The Beavers look a little different in 2025 after graduating 11 seniors from the 2024 squad. However, Bluffton will still utilize some core upperclassman to lead the way. Senior Alex Brown (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) returns, coming off a season where he recorded three goals, all of which finished as game-winners. The defender-turned-forward has continuously made an impact, starting in 51 of 52 games played in his career, tallying 11 shots on goal after having a combined four shots on goal in his first two seasons. Joining the All-Heartland Conference performer is senior defender Andrew Phillips (Westfield, IN/Westfield), who started in 15 matches last season and is one of Bluffton's most dominant players in the backfield. Senior Leonardo Campos (Santiago, Chile/Campbellsville University) is back for his final campaign after piling up a team-high six goals in 2024 while putting 15 of his 30 shots on frame. He has 13 career tallies and two assists on his sizable resume.
Returning to the back for the Beavers is junior captain Collin Scheid (Lima/Shawnee), who has been a constant workhorse on the defensive side of the ball, playing in 31 matches, including 27 starts. After playing three matches in his freshman year, junior Mathias Garcia (Fort Wayne, Ind./New Haven) saw an uptick in action last season, competing in 17 matches and starting four, while recording one goal. Luke Banschbach (Cincinnati/Oak Hills) saw action in 17 games, recording an assist while having a shot on goal percentage of 71.4 percent.
Also coming back for the 2025 season is Zach Johnson (Middletown), who started 13 of his 16 matches last year. The junior goalkeeper is coming off a season where he snagged 50 saves and turned away 70.4 percent of the shots he faced.
The sophomore class is led by Devin Homan (Dayton/Stebbins), who is returning after recording four points and having a shot on goal percentage of 71.4 percent with 15 of his 21 shots being on frame. After playing in 16 matches last season, sophomore Briant Eyrich (Xenia) returns in the midfield, with eyes set on being another viable option for his team.
Bluffton will kick of the 2025 season when it travels to Marietta on Sunday, Aug. 31, with a start time of 3 p.m. before returning on Wednesday, Sept. 3, to face off against Great Lakes Christian in their home opener. HCAC action starts for the Beavers when they go head-to-head with the Transylvania University Pioneers for a women's and men's doubleheader on Saturday, Sept. 27. The Beavers cap off the 2025 regular season with a home contest against the Mount. St. Joseph Lions on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
-BEAVERS-