The sliding center back Kyle Roleau and the rest of the Nashua Eagles will be back this spring after a year's absence, and will play their home games at Rivier Univrsity. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – They’re back, and even better, they’ll feel right at home.

Yes, semi-pro the Eagles of the International Soccer Club of Nashua are returning to action after a year’s absence, beginning with their United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) opener on Saturday, April 24 vs. Seacoast United SC Classics at Bedford High School’s Bulldog Stadium at 6:30 p.m.

But what was music to the ears of Eagles part owner and team president Jared Barbosa the most was a phone call the other day from Rivier University Athletic Director Joanne Merrill telling him the Eagles could use Merrill Field at the Robinson Pavilion as their home.

The team and league didn’t play last year due to the pandemic and two years ago had to play in Manchester while Merrill Field and the Pavilion were under construction.

Thus the Eagles quickly became an afterthought after playing at Rivier in their first year in 2018.

“This feels really good,” Barbosa said. “The last few years have been really tough but it’s good to get back, and playing at Rivier and it’s brand new stadium is great.

“It feels good on a human level as it’s somewhat back to normalcy, but to finally able to play at Riv again, it feels like home. … Things are just crazy right now, so a lot is out of everybody’s control. But (the OK from Merrill) was music to the ears in more way than one. We’re feeling back at home, and finally able to put on a good show for the community, and get the (area) kids to see this level of play again.”

The Eagles will play a 10-game schedule, five at home, and five away, competing in the UPSL’s Northeast Conference Patriot Division vs.opponents in the New England region. The first game at Merrill Field will be Saturday, May 1.

Normally, the Eagles were a June-July team to watch. However, this year, the UPSL season is starting earlier than in the past, to better be in synch with the UPSL’s national playoffs. The regular season ends on June 19.

Will fans be allowed? It’s Barbosa’s understanding they will, but just how many and all the protocols, he “hasn’t gotten that far. … We’ll do what we can to remain safe. On the youth side, we’ve had practices and been able to do it safely.”

The Eagles will be coached once again by Jerold White and have a roster of some of the top adult talent in the region. However, fan favorite and arguably their best player, Quincy Appah, has a knee injury and is expected to miss a good chunk of the season. Goalie Kyle Connolly will be back, along with center back Jared Roleau, and many others from the team that began back in May of 2018.

“We still have our core guys and some new guys,” Barbosa said. “It’s a great mix. I’m excited about having some new guys come in, some committed guys. … We have a lot of talented guys, that’s for sure.”

Barbosa said the ISC has a U-20 team that will feed into the Eagles as well.

Seacoast United, playing in Bedford, gives the Eagles their closest opponent yet.

“You better believe it,” Barbosa said. “I think something will develop there.”

Besides IC Nashua and Seacoast United Classics, other teams in the division include Brockton United, Mass. United Rush, (Boston), the Seacoast United Mariners of Maine, the Lincoln (R.I.) Futbol Club, Jaguars United (Boston), and UNations out of Worcester, Mass.

“They decided to keep it more localized,” Barbosa said, noting that the top four teams in the Patriot Division will make the playoffs, a division champ will be crowned, and that team as of now will play the American Divsion winner in Northeast Conference regional play.

“I’m just so looking forward to it,” Barbosa said. “The biggest reasons we do this is one to give these guys an opportunity, who can still play this game at a high level, and two, it’s for the kids, the community, the youth.

“It’s high level soccer for the community to come out and watch and inspire them. I’m just glad to be able to do this and do it back home.

“Riv will be incredible. It’s perfect. It’s beautiful, it’s your smaller type of (stadium). There’s some intimacy to it, some uniqueness to it. That’s going to bring a great energy.”

SCHEDULE

The complete schedule is as follows:

Saturday, Apr. 24, at Seaacoast United Classics at Bedford HS, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 1 vs. Brockton at Riv, 5 p.m.; Wednesday, May 12, vs. Mass. United at Riv, 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 15, at Seacoast Mariners, 5:15 p.m. at St. Joseph’s College; Saturday, May 22, 6 p.m. vs. Lincoln at Riv; Saturday, May 29, at Jaguars United, time and location tba; Saturday, June 5, vs. Unations at Riv, 5 p.m.; Sunday, June 6, at Lincolon RI, tba; and June 12, vs. Seacoast Mariners, 5 p.m. at Riv; Saturday, June 19, at Unations, 6 p.m., at Four Kicks in Marlborough, Mass.

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