The lights were on, and they were finally home.

It wasn’t a huge deal for a lot of soccer fans in the city of Nashua, but it certainly should have been.

But it was understandable, given the late 8 p.m. start on a school night, that the Eagles of the International Soccer Club of Nashua’s return to Rivier University for their first home game in nearly three years didn’t draw droves.

But it did draw a small but noticeable crowd that, unlike three years ago, had someplace to sit (bleachers) at the beautiful new Joanne Merrill Field/Linda Robinson Pavilion. The players were even able to use locker rooms.

“It’s a beautiful pitch right now, the stadium looks great,” Eagles coach Jerold White said after the game. “It’s good to have the crowd and the people. It was awesome.”

Yes, the Eagles patience was rewarded. The franchise three years ago opened on a rainy, drizzly day, no one was there. Later that summer, however, there was a following, so the feeling was the Eagles would take hold.

Ah, but then the building of the Robinson Pavilion forced them to play in Manchester for a year, and the pandemic scrapped their expected season and return home a year ago. They became an easily forgot

Nashua’s Quincy Appah beats the Mass United double team to the ball during hte Eagles home opener Wednesday night at Rivier’s Joanne Merrill Field. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Even their original home opener of a much more fan friendly Saturday 5 p.m. May 1 game vs. Brockton had to be rescheduled due to a tournament conflict.

“Finally being home,” team part-owner and president Jared Barbosa said, “it’s just a good feeling.”

Hopefully it will be an even better feeling as the season goes on. Wednesday’s start time couldn’t be helped as on a weeknight, the opponent, Mass. United, which plays out of Gloucester, Mass., needed time to navigate rush hour, etc.

But when the games are on the weekends, the soccer community in the city should come out, all the way from the youth level through high school. The Eagles and their opponents in the United Premier Soccer League’s Northeast Conference/Patriot Division play at a level that’s worth watching. Wednesday night’s game, despite the 2-1 Eagles loss, wasn’t decided until about 10 minutes left and the play was fast paced.

Hey, if they don’t, shame on them. The facility is perfect, much more fan friendly than three years ago thanks to Rivier’s renovations.

Barbosa’s patience is being rewarded. He was adamant two years ago, when the team was forced to use Manchester Memorial High School’s field for its home games that the Eagles were a Nashua team, and Nashua was where they would return to play. And Riv was able to open its doors.

In case you’re wondering, Stellos Stadium is only available for youth events – that’s a topic for another day, but what’s better, have the facility not be used later in June or have the city get some coin for three hours use?

But Barbosa has never complained. He knew the deal going in.

“Just looking at this place, and being able to play under the lights, too, it’s an amazing and beautiful atmosphere,” he said. “I’m happy that it happened like this, for our first game to be here (at Riv) and at night. Just a different feeling for that.”

But his feeling has always been the same.

“It was hard the last couple of years,” Barbosa said. “But there were no ifs, ands, or buts about it. We wanted to be here. And here we are. And hopefully we can pick things up and keep this ball rolling and get more people.”

Barbosa feels that the closer things get to some semblance of normalcy, people will be looking for things to do. And the Eagles are a viable option through June.

“We have kids here having a good time on the field,” Barbosa said at halftime. “Our most committed families are here. They’re excited. Kids are excited to be out. And it was appropriate, because we had our youth practices just before this, so a lot came from there.”

Nobody probably said “Welcome Home” to Barbosa the other night, but they probably should have.

“Almost three years,” he said. “We’re back. We’re here.”

And that’s a good thing.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.