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Speak with alum Devan Talley about the moments from her years with Eastside FC that made the most indelible impact, and you might get an unexpected answer. It’s not just about the goals and the clean sheets, games and championships won, but about the overall experience. “One of my favorite memories is traveling to Surf Cup. Not only did we get to play new high-level teams, but we also got the chance to explore and experience San Diego as friends,” she says. “I still remember going to the beach and playing in the waves with my teammates for hours, then getting up the next day and kicking butt in our games.” Devan graduated from Eastern Washington University, where she majored in visual communication design, collected a Big Sky Academic All-Conference honor and was a four-year starter on the soccer field. She currently works for Nordstrom in print design for kids’ clothing. Firmly entrenched in the Eagles record books, she ranks 6th all-time in matches played, assists and shots on goal, while finishing with the 8th most goals and 9th most points in program history. She credits much of her eventual success to the time spent at Eastside. “When I first joined Eastside, I believe I was U9 or U10, and I got to be on the red team with Chance Fry as my coach. Over the years the club prepared me for playing at the college level by giving me the chance to travel, meet new players and play against high-level teams,” she explained. “Eastside also taught me how to succeed on a team, how to support one goal: winning.” Devan went on to explain that it was the breadth of opportunity Eastside provides that made a difference to her, rather than just any one thing. “My time at Eastside FC brings back nothing but great memories. From the state championships to traveling to San Diego for Surf Cup, my team always battled to win and supported each other to keep going. Through Eastside, I also got the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Development Program, where I met many rival players and gained tons of exposure for playing at a higher level.” After collecting a laundry list of high-school accolades, including 2013 KingCo 4A Most Valuable Player and being named to the 2013 and 2014 KingCo All-Conference first team, Talley traveled across the state to compete at Eastern. There she was part of a squad that won back-to-back Big Sky regular season championships in 2016 and 2017, as well as the 2017 Big Sky Conference Tournament. “The highlight of my college career was definitely getting the opportunity to win a conference championship on our home field,” she said. “I still get flashbacks from when we won—the entire football team storming the field. Having your peers and community behind you, always showing you support, that can really change your experience.” As usual, it always circles back to the ‘experience’ for Devan Talley. “My advice for current Eastside players would be to enjoy the ride,” she says. “When you’re young and starting off, you don’t realize how fast it goes by. But when I look back now, I have nothing but smiles and great memories to thank Eastside for. Not everyone in this world is lucky enough to get the opportunity to play with such amazing coaches and teammates, so really cherish it.”

Carlos is a Class of 2020 University of Washington graduate, currently working as a Paralegal in downtown Seattle while he studies for Law School. He is also the father of a cute and adventurous two year old daughter who makes sure he is on his toes at all times. When he is not at work or chasing his toddler around, he is at Preston as an Assistant coach for the Boys '07 Red and '06 White teams, learning more about coaching and the game as a whole. Carlos joined Eastside FC back in 2010 going into 7th grade. During his first year, he played on the ‘97 Blue team with Coach An Nuon. He then worked his way onto the '97 White team two years later, coached by David Wharton, until 2016 when he graduated. Personally, he is proud of the fact that he was picked to be the captain of each of his EFC teams! “All of the coaches I worked with put their trust in me to lead the team and I will always greatly appreciate that. It grew a sense of confidence within me that I didn't know existed until my time at EFC and it just shows how the club grows its youth to become leaders on and off the field.” Carlos is grateful to Eastside FC for doing an amazing job of selecting coaches who not only lead by example, but prepare players to lead themselves and others, on and off the field. It provided him with the necessary tools and a sense of belief in himself that has aided him in any obstacle that he has faced since first stepping foot at Preston. He will always cherish and be thankful to the club for connecting him with great teammates, who are now lifetime friends. His fondest memories at Eastside were because of who he made those memories with! His advice for current players is to not stress the little things. When one starts to overthink, it only leads to mistakes on the field, frustration, and suddenly the game loses its purpose. He always found that remembering to stay loose, have fun, and play with a smile on his face allowed him to play his best, but also encouraged others to let loose and just play the game they all loved. Playing soccer at a high level can be stressful and overwhelming, but if you can change your mentality from "everything has to be perfect" to "it's not perfect yet, but I am happy to keep working on my craft while making sure I'm having fun", he promises the game will keep you coming back for more! Live in the moment and always keep in mind how it felt when you first became obsessed with the sport. Then just remember to play with that feeling each time you step on the field! “Eastside FC was a home away from home when I was a player, and it continues to be as I go down the coaching path this time around.”

Eastside FC Alum Emily Bunnell shares great memories of her soccer journey and beyond. Bunnell, 25, lives in Denver, CO where she works for Searchspring as a Customer Success Manager. Once she gets acclimated, she wants to get back to playing soccer in a co-ed league or coaching a team of her own. Prior to Bunnell’s move to Denver, she played college soccer in Bellingham at Western Washington University. She enjoyed plenty of success on the pitch, including winning the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2016. “Winning a National Championship was the highlight of college but along with winning the Natty, I was able to play for amazing coaches, met some of my closest friends to date, and learn more about myself as a person,” said Bunnell. “I think that is one of the biggest blessings coming out of playing a collegiate sport, you learn a lot about yourself, personally and as an athlete!” Bunnell was part of the first “DEV” team at Eastside. A large group of younger players had come to tryout early, so the club decided to launch a pilot initiative and keep them all together. Throughout her tenure at EFC, Emily developed into a very strong and reliable player. A fantastic player at the club and college levels, Bunnell’s shows that progress isn’t always linear, and that the club’s dedication to player development helped her become the best version of herself on the pitch. ‍ “I joined Eastside FC at the age of 10 and played for the G96 Red team for the majority of my career, with a year stint for the G96 White team,” noted Bunnell. “This was honestly a great year for me, I was able to develop my soccer skills during my time with the White team and earned a spot back on the Red team the year after. I was lucky enough to play under Chance Fry my whole career, as well as Tom Bunnell (my dad) until high school years came around, and also can't forget about the fantastic Emily Cole while I was on the White team.” Bunnell’s eventual success in college was a culmination of the experience she amassed during her youth soccer days. Not only did she grow as a player, but her confidence and leadership skills were honed during this formative time. “I was pretty fortunate to play for some pretty awesome teams during my developmental years,” she said. “On the Red team we won a handful of State titles, were finalists in regionals, and secured 2 Surf Cup championships. On the White team, we won state and were regional finalists as well. High school soccer was also such an amazing experience for me. I was a 4-year varsity player and was lucky enough to be rewarded captain my junior and senior year as well. In my 4 years at Lake Washington HS we won 2 Kingco titles as well as district champions my senior year.” Reflecting on her time at Eastside, Bunnell spoke fondly of her favorite moments but also noted the lessons she learned that have helped her on and off the pitch. “Playing at Eastside FC for the entirety of my youth soccer career was such an incredible experience overall,” added Bunnell. “To me, some of my fondest memories were playing in the state championship on Mother’s Day every single year, going down to San Diego for Surf Cup, and getting to see/play soccer with my friends 3 times a week every week! Traveling for showcases and tournaments was always fun as well! “As mentioned before, I was fortunate enough to play on such an experienced and overall great team, so we got to play in one of the most competitive leagues at the time (even for a couple years we were playing in a division a year up). Not only was the playing competitive, but we also had our fair share of fitness that came along with it all. I think overall our practice and game structure along with the competitive nature I was playing in, really helped develop my mental and physical capabilities as a player heading into college.” Asked what advice she would share with current EFC players, Bunnell was quick to point out that success stems from hard work, and that finding happiness outside of the game is beneficial in all facets of life. “If you are a current EFC player and want to play college soccer, you must put in the work. Do the extra fitness, do the extra skills trainings, this is something I wish I took more seriously my senior year and heading into the season. Along with all of that though, it's vital that you also make sure you are still having FUN! And lastly, the best advice I was ever given was actually from my dad. If you decide you want to play in college, pick a school that you can be standing in the middle of campus in the worst weather possible (whether that's scorching hot or dumping rain) with a season ending injury and STILL be able to say you are happy with the choice of the school you're at. Balance is key in all aspects of life!”

Heck, 27, lives in Marina Del Rey, Calif. where he works as a Product Manager at IBM following an impressive collegiate career at Cornell University. Across three seasons with the Big Red, Heck tallied three goals and two assists from 44 appearances and was named team captain his junior year. “Eastside prepared me mentally and physically for playing at the collegiate level,” said Heck. “There is so much social learning that occurs from team sports and Eastside does a great job of pushing players to be amazing people and to learn how to grow together.” Heck first joined Eastside FC at the U-13 age group, making the ’94 Red Team, where he spent six seasons with the club. During his time at EFC, his team won regionals every year, won the Washington State Cup ever year but one, and even won the USYS National League once. On two occasions, Heck’s team finished third at nationals, missing out on the final by a single goal. “It was amazing to win so much and to be a very good team, but more so it was just a privilege to be around so many amazing players and people,” said Heck. “The bond that you form with people who are on a team for long periods of time is unlike any other. You fight through adversity together and win together and everything in between.” Heck’s success on and off the field exemplifies Eastside FC’s commitment to building champions in life. From 12 years old, he was able to work hard and learn countless valuable lessons as he progressed through the club and into college soccer. Reflecting on his time at Eastside FC, Heck noted that it’s important for players with similar ambitions of playing at the highest levels to constantly push themselves and put themselves in an environment where they can grow. “College soccer is much different than club,” he said. “I loved my time playing because I desired that competitiveness and I wanted to play every day. In order to play in college, you need to do extra training, get good grades, be proactive with letting coaches know that you are interested in their school, and do your research. “In order to play, you really need to commit to learning the game tactically, improving technically, and growing physically…. Above all else, you need to want it. If you truly want to play in college, you will find a way.”

EFC Congratulates Alum Lucas Meek for being drafted by Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer. "Ever since I watched my first professional soccer game something clicked that I wanted to become a professional soccer player," said Meek. "Getting drafted and having a team put their faith in me at the pro level is a dream come true. I can’t thank all the people including coaches, family, teammates and friends who have made this dream a reality. I was overwhelmed with emotion when I saw my name on the draft board, and I couldn’t be more excited to go to such an exciting organization." Meek, fresh off a historic season with the University of Washington where they were NCAA Championship Finalists, continues his amazing career. Good luck Lucas!

Congratulations to EFC alumni Olivia Van Der Jagt for being drafted in the 3rd round by the OL Reign of the NWSL! After her stellar career at Eastside FC, where her G98's won the National Championship, "Olo" went on to star at the University of Washington. Eastside FC sat down with her and talked about her experiences at Eastside FC, UW, and now as a professional with the OL Reign. EFC: Describe your journey leading up to being drafted. OVDJ: I started playing on Eastside when I was a freshman in high school and I immediately knew that this team was something really special. Not only was there a great environment on the team, but I knew that the team was going to challenge me to become a better player and prepare me for college soccer. Winning regionals and competing at nationals were definitely two of my favorite moments on Eastside because I made so many memories with my teammates and was able to compete against some of the best club teams in the nation. This type of competition really prepared me to go in and compete at the college level. I had a really great experience at UW and I grew a lot as a soccer player from freshman year to my fifth year. I was able to play with some amazing players and learn from them and also compete against the top teams in the nation. A big moment for me at UW was making it to the sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament in spring 2021. This was the furthest I had made it in the tournament at UW, so it was a really cool experience to make it that far and play against some really good teams. EFC: What was draft day like? What was going through your head when you saw your name on the TV? OVDJ: I was really nervous and excited for draft day! I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect on the day, so I was just watching and hoping for the best. When I got the call that I was going to be drafted, I was so excited and kind of blown away at the same time. It didn’t really feel real until all my emotions came down and I was able to process that this was actually happening. It just made me even more excited to get started! EFC: Describe the preparations of going into the NWSL and the Reign- expectations, things you are looking forward to. Have you met the team yet? OVDJ: Once I got drafted, I immediately started preparing for preseason, which starts February 1st. I am currently just training and playing in order to be ready for that start date. I am super excited to get started and meet everyone in person and just jump right into training. I’m excited to be playing with some of the top players in the country and learn from them and ultimately get better from it! EFC: Is there anything you want to tell players at EFC about playing at this level? OVDJ: I would tell players to not be afraid to fail in order to get better and learn. It definitely was an adjustment for me going from club soccer to college soccer, but playing at a higher level made me a better player and I’m thankful for the times that I had to struggle in order to get to where I am now.

Eastside FC alum Lucas Meek has had a storied career at the University of Washington, culminating in a trip to the 2021 NCAA Championship game. In his junior season, Lucas and the Husky Men's Soccer team completed their best season ever, earning a #1 ranking during the regular season and a #2 seed in the NCAA Playoffs, where they became the only West Coast team to participate in the College Cup. Sadly, their season ended with a heartbreaking loss in the final against Clemson. Lucas also went on to earn several individual accolades this year, including All PAC-12 2nd Team, All Region 2nd Team, Scholar All-American Second Team, Scholar All-Region, and PAC-12 Academic Honor Roll. EFC: Describe your journey this season with UW. LM: This season was a very fun, challenging, and rewarding season for myself and the team. We started out the season really well, I had 3 goals and 3 assists in the first 3 games and was named national player of week. This all came to halt when I broke my collarbone at the end of the Grand Canyon game. I had to get surgery and was then out for the next 10 games. As hard as it was to sit on the bench and watch from the sidelines, the rest of my team was amazing and pulled out some fantastic wins. Leading us to the best start in UW Men's Soccer history. I had so much support from my team and our staff, and my comeback was able to happen with a few PAC 12 games remaining. It was an unreal experience to walk out on the field again and have all the support from my teammates, staff, and fans. From there we were able to come in close second in the PAC 12 having played one less game, and make a historic NCAA tournament run. EFC: Reflecting back, what were some of the best moments of your career so far at UW? LM: Going to the College Cup was an unbelievable experience. Making it there was a dream for myself and a lot of the team from the moment we stepped foot on UW's campus. So getting there and having the support of all of Seattle was something I wouldn't trade for the world. My redshirt sophomore year I was able to score the golden goal against Stanford when we were both top 10 teams. That was a feeling that I can only dream of having again. EFC: What does the team outlook for your Senior year? LM: The team looks great, of course as with every year in college soccer some important players are going to graduate and move on from the University. But the team has all the components to be successful and make it back to the College Cup. EFC: Describe the atmosphere in Cary, NC from the games to the other parts of the weekend. LM: The atmosphere in North Carolina was electric, although we were the only team from the West Coast we had so many fans and so much support from UW. During the games we were able to feed off of our fans' energy and the feeling of playing in such a cool stadium. The rest of the weekend was amazing as well, we had some great meals and got to train at some really cool facilities. EFC: Is there anything you want to tell players at EFC about playing at this level? LM: The level at college can be really challenging and it's very hard to make an instant impact once you get there. It took me a couple years to really find my footing and spot within the team. Humility, perseverance, and a positive mindset are super important to making it to the next level.