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Skagit Valley College

Skagit Valley College
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Pre-Season Preview: Skagit Valley College Men’s Soccer

Head Coach Richard Henderson enters his 4th year leading the Cardinals after guiding the team to a top-3 finish in the North Division last season with 9 wins and a berth in the NWAC Soccer Championships. With a strong mix of returning leaders and new talent, the 2025 squad is poised for another competitive campaign.

Season Preview Q&A- with Coach Henderson

Q: How are you feeling about the squad this year?
We're really excited. We've returned a strong core of players, which has given us continuity and leadership. On top of that, we've blended in some quality new players, and the feel in the group has been excellent so far. Because we had such a solid returning group, we were able to be more intentional with our recruiting this year. We went with slightly smaller numbers, which we think is key—big squads can sometimes create unhappy camps if minutes get too spread out. When you don't have returners, you often need to take bigger numbers because players are more of an unknown. This year, we didn't have to do that, and we're really happy with the balance.
Q: Who are some of the key players to watch this season?
  • Eddie Longhurst (England) – A freshman captain last year, Eddie played a huge role in our success. He's a goalscoring threat from midfield and puts in a tireless shift every match.
  • Robbie Spain – A cornerstone of our defensive line. Robbie is excellent at connecting play from phase 1 to phase 2 and consistently matches up well against the league's most dynamic players.
  • Riki Kaji & Jesper Louis – Both bring excellent technical quality. They're players who can unlock difficult games with creativity and vision, and we'll be looking for big performances from them.
  • Diego La Torre (Freshman) – A dynamic newcomer who can cover multiple positions. His versatility will be a huge asset as the season unfolds.
Q: What are the goals for this team in 2025?
Our main goal is simple: to be the best version of ourselves every single day. One of our core team pillars is continuous improvement—whether it's training like a champion, studying, lifting, or just how we interact with each other. Every day is about that champion mindset.
We haven't spent much time talking about results, because our belief is that if we take care of our process, the results will follow. That approach has already led to winning seasons and playoff appearances in the past. We expect the same this year if we stay committed to our standard.
The Cardinals open their season at home against Walla Walla College on Wednesday, September 3rd at 4:00 PM at Sigmar Field.


For more information and updates, visit: skagit.edu/athletics






 
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Players Mentioned

Robbie Spain

#5 Robbie Spain

D
Sophomore
Jesper Louis

#7 Jesper Louis

M
Sophomore
Riki Kaji

#11 Riki Kaji

M
Sophomore
Eddie Longhurst

#21 Eddie Longhurst

M
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Robbie Spain

#5 Robbie Spain

Sophomore
D
Jesper Louis

#7 Jesper Louis

Sophomore
M
Riki Kaji

#11 Riki Kaji

Sophomore
M
Eddie Longhurst

#21 Eddie Longhurst

Sophomore
M

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