Now we get it.

The Eagles of the International Soccer Club of Nashua aren’t about the dollars and cents.

They are about the game, as well as the opportunity, that ISC chief Jared Barbosa has tried to give many youths and young adults in the game of soccer.

Last Saturday’s 1-1 season opening tie for the Eagles at Rivier University’s Joanne Merrill Field brough a decent crowd for a chilly early April night, anywhere from 100-150 fans. There were raffles, giveaways, and it seemed more like an event than most Eagle games past.

And when it was over, Barbosa gave his head coach, Eusebio Marte, a hug, as his first game along the sidelines was in the books.

That’s the feeling you get after opening nights at home when they’re over – relief. It was a 1-1 tie, but the feeling was it was a win for soccer in Nashua.

“I thought it was great,” Barbosa said. “It was a great turnout, great support from our fans. It was just all around positive, very positive.”

It harkened back memories of the local United Premier Soccer League’s debut back in 2018 on a rainy, raw late Saturday afternoon in early May, a debut made thanks to the lousy conditions in relative anonymity.

In between these two openers was a season away from Nashua due to the building of Rivier’s beautiful Linda Robinson Pavilion, but Barbosa felt it was worth the wait. But then the pandemic hit, a season was completely lost. Last year? A team that was aging, a little slow, and still restrictions on fans due to the virus.

Perhaps now this thing can take off, with the next home game on April 23.

But it’s not about the dollars and cents for Barbosa & Co. It’s about the game, and the opportunity it gives the kids and the young adults Barbosa has playing in the whole ISC chain of teams. Soccer has given the community Barbosa has worked with opportunity and focus.

ISC Eagles president Jared Barbosa watches his team play in its season opener at Rivier University last Satuday. (Courtesy photo)

He wants the young players in the ISC to look up to the Eagles, and aspire to play for them. And if they and the community come out to support the team and the brand, it’s a good deal.

“Absolutely, and it just keeps getting bigger, too, that’s the important part,” said Barbosa’s Eagles general manager Jeremy Zelenas, who also will be the Nashua North varsity coach next fall. ” And to see the kids come into the program, watch them grow in their game and become young men, it’s super exciting.”

It’s a younger, faster team, one that may not win right away but will entertain. There are locals, like Nashua’s Jose Ochoa and Hudson’s Nick Cardenas, who make you watch every time they break down on the right or left side.

“The team represented well, they worked hard,” Barbosa said. “It’s getting there. We’re right in the beginning, they certainly have to get more games in, more training sessions in. But besides that, they looked good. And again, I was happy with the turnout.

“It was a nice day. It got a little bit chilly, but I think people were like,’It’s nice, let’s come out.'”

The turnout helps. It justifies the hard work, validating the value of this team for the whole ISC organization – and the city. With that in mind, there has been a ton about the Eagles on the ISC social media platforms. This is the time.

“I think so,” Barbosa said. “In the past, it was always kind of uncertain, particularly last year with coronavirus, we were only able to have half the people we wanted.

“So we were careful how we marketed last year. This year for sure we’re going all out. We’ll see bigger crowds for sure.”

But we now get it. It’s not about the dollars. Sure, there are expenses. But it’s more about the game and the opportunities it provides.

And that’s a good thing.

tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.