Nashua’s Jared Barbosa never usually has a bad day. He’s always upbeat, his glass, even during a pandemic, is always half-full.

But he certainly has to feel like that glass is slowly leaking water now.

The semi pro developmental soccer team that he was hoping would be the crown jewel of the local soccer conglomerate known as the International Soccer Club of Nashua just can’t catch a break.

A so-so first year, a second year with not a single United Premier Soccer League game played in Nashua, and now a pandemic leaving in question whether there would be a third year.

You can’t make this up. Certainly Barbosa never had so much as a bad dream like this.

“Hey, joy wouldn’t be so good if it wasn’t for pain,” Barbosa said. “We’re going to keep at it. There’s no reason not to.”

Exactly. There’s not a high overhead involved here, and the area could use this level of soccer, like the old New Hampshire Phantoms days, to stick around.

But boy, the ball hasn’t exactly bounced the Eagles’ way.

Look back to two years ago this week, when the Eagles opened their inaugural season at what was then Rivier University’s Raider Field. It was rainy, raw and drizzly, and despite having tents there were only about 30-50 people there when hundreds were expected for what was supposed to be a festive occasion.

The soccer was great; Barbosa just needed fans to know about it, and to experience it on a nice, sunny spring or summer day.

He got a couple of those home games with more fans in attendance later in the season.

That should have been a great springboard for taking things to the next level last season at a newly renovated Rivier facility. But that construction project’s completion didn’t mesh with their schedule, so they played all their home games out of town, mainly at Manchester Memorial High School.

Barbosa is a Nashua guy, a former Nashua High School South boys varsity soccer coach. His brother, Hayden Barbosa, is the Rivier head men’s soccer coach. He didn’t enjoy his Eagles having to nest out of town, playing in front of a handful of people.

But this expected third season was to make the early struggles all worthwhile. The Eagles would be playing at the new Merrill Field, part of the $4.5 million Linda Robinson Pavilion. It would clearly be the jewel of the UPSL’s Northeast Conference Patriot Division.

Oh, but wait. There’s this virus thingie called COVID-19 that has virtually brought life as we know it to a standstill. The UPSL is smartly not pulling the plug but rather waiting and setting different scenarios, most likely the best one opening in late June. But even if that happens, some teams may not compete, either because players are concerned or their facilities aren’t available. The latter would likely be more of a worry for the Eagles, as Rivier shut things down back in late March.

But Barbosa won’t give up, and good for him. He knows at some point the breaks will fall his organization’s way. The soccer, which took a bit of a dip last year, still is good. And the IOC of Nashua starts with the youth all the way up, and we all know youth is the foundation of soccer.

“That’s why we’re going to keep pushing on,” Barbosa said. “We know the importance. We know what it means for the youth to see that level of play. We know for our club and our club members, the importance of having a true developmental player pathway.

“It’s important for the community. It’s important for families to have that level of play, for the players to see. Look you still can play at a very high level. The league is growing, and with that is more exposure.”

In fact, the Eagles have a player on

Mayele Malango, who is playing with the New England Revolution’s second team, a developmental U23 squad.

“Thinking of players like that, it’s getting the exposure,” Barbosa said. “It’s leagues like this that will get players like that the exposure to a Revolution or teams like that.”

And that’s fun to see. Fun for kids to see. And thus, Barbosa is adamant, the show will go on, whenever it can. No quitting here.

“It’s gonna happen,” Barbosa said. “And when it does happen, it’s going to be exciting.

“It’s going to be worth it. It’s all going to be worth it in the end. That’s all I keep thinking about.”

Hopefully he’ll be able to score one for joy over pain.

Tom King may be reached at 594-1251 or tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on Twitter (@Telegraph_TomK).