Story by Teija Stearns
Photos by Luke Hausman

“It’s my addiction,” says Mario Hernandez as he surveys the playing field at North Eugene High School. After alternating between watching and coaching three games that Sunday, he’s already anticipating the next soccer match. Hernandez’s Sundays have revolved around soccer ever since he took over leadership of the Eugene International Soccer League (EISL) eleven years ago.
Then called the Latino League of Eugene, Hernandez transformed the group into an organized and competitive collection of teams that takes soccer seriously. The league, comprised of seven teams and 200 athletes, later changed its name due to the diversity among its players. Hernandez estimates that  sixty percent of the league are from foreign countries with players from Argentina to Italy, Germany to Peru.
“It’s amazing how you can get everyone together from different nationalities who speak different languages just because of soccer,” says Marcelo Alves, team captain for this year’s defending champion, United FC. Alves was born in the US and raised in Brazil.
The EISL competes in the highest division of amateur soccer designated by the United States Soccer Federation. “It’s the most competitive league around,” says Alves, who also plays on teams in Corvallis and Salem. Zach Lazar, from Asheville, North Carolina, and team captain of first-year team Athletico says, “Eugene City league comes close, but the best Eugene has to offer all play on an EISL team.” The league’s season runs longer than others in the area with twenty games played  March through September.
Soccer fans looking to get involved in the sport locally quickly learn about the EISL through their friends. Lazar moved to Eugene and got involved with soccer at Kick City in Springfield and also played on the Eugene City League. It was his Kick City team members who first invited him to join the EISL three years ago. Around that same time, Alves decided to join the league and created his team United FC, recruiting players from among his friends, many of whom still play in the EISL. One member, Peruvian Luis Tong joined up when he moved from the East Coast to Eugene and says a more aggressive game style sets the EISL apart from the city’s league.
“Skill level and physicality go hand in hand,” Lazar adds. “If you throw a high school player into a college game, he is going to get beat up because he is not used to playing bigger and stronger guys. The guys in the EISL are physical, but they are not dirty by any means.” Many athletes in the EISL played soccer in college and are accustomed to rougher play. Lazar pointed out that though the league is more physical, punishment for red cards and yellow cards are often enforced. “There are stricter rules, which results in higher quality competition,” he says.
Experienced referees attend all games, many of whom hope to gain the qualifications to ref in professional leagues. Hernandez carefully tracks the statistics for each team and individual and inputs the numbers online.
Though only in the first part of the season, the players are already looking ahead to the playoffs in September. With Athleticio’s 8-1 win-loss record, Lazar is optimistic his team will continue to keep up their wins and gain a good seat in the playoffs. Alves also hopes to see his group win the league championship for the second year running and take on the Portland champion in the season’s first clash between Portland and Eugene. Games take place every Sunday at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm at North Eugene High School (during the spring) and Ascot Park (in summer).
 
 
 

Gallery • 3 Photos

Local Soccer League Attracts Athletes of All Origins