EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. —  For three straight years, the ESU Men's Soccer Team has been knocking on the door of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs, finishing as the first team out each year. However, Head Coach Tom Mustac believes this could be the year for the team to make a playoff run.
 
2025 saw the winningest season in three years under Mustac. With nine wins, it's the best the program has seen since 2019. Still, missing the postseason proved there was room for further improvement.
 
"We've had a lot of opportunities in the last couple years; we just didn't finish," Mustac said. "A lot of the games were close and we just didn't capitalize. If we scored a few more goals, we're looking at a playoff run."
 
Sometimes it's better to be good than lucky, but other times it helps to be lucky more than good. The Warriors consistently outshot their opponents last season, including in the final game of the season against Millersville. If a couple of bounces go ESU's way, they're talking about a conference tournament berth from last year. But that's just the nature of the sport.
 
"It kind of hurts, but that's the sick part of our game," Mustac preached. "Hopefully our guys can understand that. Finish games and just don't stop."
 
With its attack, ESU ranked seventh in the PSAC in shots, proving that its focus was mostly on defense as they were third in goals allowed. Mustac looks to take a different approach this year, hoping it to be what gets the team into the postseason.
 
"This year, the thought was opposite," Mustac stated. "Keep our backline tight and strong defensively. Be smart and keep in the same range of goals we give up, but score goals and win games."
 
While it may seem as simple as executing a new style of play to find success, the Warriors face a big challenge heading into 2026. Key players from last year's roster like Hunter Stites, Nathan Bradway, and Ethan Flickinger, have all graduated. To fill the spaces left behind by those players, this season will see 10 new freshmen added to the roster.
 
"We'll miss them, but we have to move forward with who we have and trust the younger guys to compete and fulfill their spots," Mustac asserted. "There's a bunch of guys that could step in and play significant roles, so the goal is just to find the right combination of guys."
 
If any program can bring the most out of its freshmen, it's East Stroudsburg. Drew Nyce and Owen Rennie earned PSAC East Freshman of the Year back-to-back in 2024 and 2025, respectively, and Coach Mustac is expecting to make it three-in-a-row this season. He believes there are a lot of players who could be potential candidates for the honor, naming Astin Lehman and Jeter Cardona, who have both played in the Pennsylvania Classics, as well as a band of international players including Mak Zerjav, Gabin Meneyrol, and Miciah Clarke.  
 
Expecting that many new faces to come onto the team and be instant contributors takes a lot of trust, and that's exactly what Mustac has in all his players. He believes that their growth comes from trusting them to play in a certain style and system that he incorporates. Proof of that system working is Jace Seara and Ryan Kiernan, as well as Nyce and Rennie, as they are all award winners from last season who are returning to the team. The impact of successful players who have grown in such a trusting system is immense, both when it comes to winning and developing the fresh faces.
 
"They understand what it takes to win games," Mustac stated. "We had our ups and downs last season, but with the group we have, a lot of young guys are taking the lead. I think that helps spark the younger guys to follow their path."
 
With the steady improvement the team has been seeing and the continued growth of its players, ESU is primed to have a strong season. Because of the expanded format of the PSAC Tournament, being ranked No. 4 in the PSAC East Preseason Poll would have ESU as the last team in from its division. But, Mustac has his sights set on a finish well higher than that.
 
"Our goal is to finish one or two," Mustac proclaimed. "I think we can with the level of guys we have coming in. We're super young but super experienced."
 
The first step of reaching that goal comes Thursday, Aug. 27, as ESU will be heading to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. to take on the Mercy Mavericks at 3 p.m.