The College Soccer Journey: Former Eastside FC Players Reflect
- Jay Peters
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Last night, Eastside FC hosted a 90-minute Alumni Player Panel designed to give older players and families a candid look at the college soccer journey—from recruiting to life as a college student-athlete. The session brought together current Eastside FC players and a diverse group of alumni who are now competing at the collegiate level across both Division I and Division III programs.
The panel featured the following Eastside FC alumni:
Men's Programs
Andrei Bulankou — Air Force Academy, DI
Luke Hammond — Seattle University, DI
Gavin Honey — Pomona-Pitzer, DIII
Patrick Kearney — Seattle University, DI
Andrew Myerson — Yale University, DI
Elliot Spatz — Connecticut College, DIII
Women's Programs
Jaelyn Byeman — Seattle University, DI
Sawyer Frye — Cal Lutheran University, DIII
Chloe Smith — Cal Lutheran University, DIII
Throughout the evening, panelists shared honest reflections on their individual recruiting processes, the challenges they faced, and what daily life looks like now at their respective programs. Players spoke openly about balancing academics and athletics, communicating with coaches, navigating setbacks, and finding the right overall fit—not just the biggest name or highest division.
Several consistent themes emerged: the importance of patience in the recruiting process, being proactive with outreach, and keeping an open mind about different levels of college soccer. The alumni emphasized that success looks different for everyone, and that finding a program aligned with both soccer goals and academic interests is key.
Chloe Smith, Cal Lutheran University
“At first I was super adamant about going DI, and I made my dad take me to all these ID camps and I went on so many visits. I just remember every time I had a meeting with the coach and hearing about their daily schedule and how much they did, I felt really overwhelmed and stressed out by it. The Cal Lutheran (DIII) coach reached out to me. And I went on a visit there and talked to the coach and the girls and heard about their schedules. I felt like it aligned well with my priorities."
Andrew Myerson, Yale University
“It's very challenging (Yale). Everyone that goes there accepts that challenge. You really are a student athlete. Everyone says that, it's cliche, but the second you step outside the classroom, you need to be very disciplined about switching into the athlete mindset, and the other way around.”
Jaelyn Byeman, Seattle University
“The biggest reason why I left my previous (ECNL) club was the culture. At the end of the day you have to love your teammates and you gotta love your coaches. I really liked the team (Seattle University) and I could really see myself playing there. So that was a big thing for me. The culture.”
Elliott Spatz, Connecticut College
“My recruitment process was a little whacky because of an injury my senior year. I had offers from multiple programs. It's very important to visit the campus. I was actually thinking of going to a different school before my visit. The guys were amazing.”
This Alumni Player Panel is one component of Eastside FC’s College Pathway program, which is designed to support players and families through every stage of the college search. The program includes educational workshops (such as creating effective highlight videos), alumni panels, College Combines, and access to the recruiting technology platform SportsRecruits.
Events like this panel reinforce one of Eastside FC’s core beliefs: learning from those who have gone before you is one of the most powerful tools available. We are grateful to our alumni for giving back, sharing their experiences, and helping the next generation of Eastside FC players navigate the path ahead.
Building Champions in Life.