GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) -- With a talented mix of veterans and underclassmen from across the district, the Union Redhawks boys soccer team is entering the 2025 season determined to leave their mark.
Under the steady leadership of Head Coach Juan Zavala, who’s passionate about both player development and team unity, the Redhawks are focused on developing cohesion, improving their attack, and turning a young squad into a playoff contender.
“Our number one goal is to have a winning season,” said Coach Zavala. “Second, I’m hoping to get the new generation of players to break the ice. We have a gap in the middle—upperclassmen and lowerclassmen—so it’s going to be important to have the group bond and prepare to be the next group of, hopefully, district champions.”
Building the Foundation
Union spent the offseason focusing on fundamentals and film, paying special attention to their on-field attack.
“We’ve been doing a lot of ball mastery, position-specific understanding, and trying to watch organized soccer to get a better idea of what each player’s roles and responsibilities are,” Zavala said. “We had a hard time finishing last year; we didn’t capitalize on our opportunities [to score].”
This year, Zavala says the team has “a lot more attacking players coming in,” making them stronger challengers for the conference title. He believes the mix of returning seniors and up-and-coming underclassmen gives the team defensive stability on the back line and exciting scoring potential up front.
High Press and Tactical Flexibility
Zavala plans to run a high-attack 4-3-3 formation to take advantage of his younger team’s energy and pace. However, he's also realistic about adjustments.
“If I have to adjust to a bigger opponent, we’ll go 4-5-1,” he explained. “Our group is not known to be that big—we’re typically mid-size without a lot of height—so we have to learn to defend with the ball in our possession.”
Zavala believes his group is connected enough to make this style of play happen.
Growing Together, On and Off the Field
Strong team chemistry is becoming a defining strength for the Redhawks, fueled by year-round training and the genuine friendships forming beyond the sidelines.
“We practice so much together, and we have fun together on and off the field,” said senior Brody Carpenter. “I’ve been on the team all four years, and my experience has been very positive. I’ve improved my speed, endurance, skills, everything.”
Sophomore Lazarus Dewit is optimistic about what this squad can achieve.
“Our biggest challenge is getting far in the playoffs and facing other opponents based on results from last season,” he said. “But I feel like we have a good squad with a lot of talent. As long as we put in the work, I feel like we can perform.”
Stepping Into Their Roles
Every Redhawk on the pitch knows their role, and they are embracing their responsibilities with pride and purpose.
“I play center back, so my job is to stop any counterattacks and help the goalkeeper out as much as possible,” said sophomore Issac Parra. “I’m just trying to give it my all.”
Dewit, who plays center defensive mid, understands the mental side of the game. “The toughest part is being aware of your surroundings and maintaining your composure,” he said. I like to stay calm and be smart about what I do. I try to make smart decisions based on the players around me and the situation I’m in.”
Sophomore Joey Zhou, who also plays in the midfield, agreed. “The hardest parts are having composure and giving good distributions to my teammates. I try to have a good mentality and focus on playing my own game but also have intensity and remain focused with the ball.”
Younger Players Are Forging Their Way
The future of Union soccer is already making its presence known, with underclassmen not only joining the roster but contributing immediately. Between the JV and varsity teams, many new faces will have an impact this season.
Freshman Espoir Mwenyi is embracing the challenge. “I hope to learn and to be good with the boys. I want to get used to the way the coach is going to play me, and I expect to score goals and do my job on the field. I’m going to play varsity this year, and it makes me feel good. As long as I learn more, I know I’m going to get better.”
Another freshman, Jeffren Garcia-Lopez, is ready to prove himself at the high school level. “It’s going to be a new challenge. I used to play for club, and I want to test this new level in high school. I heard it’s a quicker pace, less thinking and more doing. I’m going to have to rely on my natural instincts.”
Eyes on Leadership and Legacy
For Parra, one of the biggest takeaways from last year is how important communication and team connection can be.
“I learned leadership, talking more, and being more open to my teammates’ thoughts and ideas on the field,” he said. “When we understand each other, we click more. Team chemistry is increasing, and I think that’ll help the team.”
With a reloaded roster, a fearless mindset, and a deep bench of rising soccer stars, the Redhawks are ready to step up and define their own legacy this season.
