The Ironmen boys soccer team opened its 2025 season with a 2-2 draw against the Dunlap Eagles, a top-ranked opponent coming off a 19-2-2 season a year ago.

Senior Logan Lelm put Community on the board in the match’s opening minutes, converting a penalty kick. 

Head coach Mr. Matt Chapman praised Lelm’s shot against a talented keeper, senior Joseph Heiar, saying it was placement and power that made the difference.

“Dunlap’s goalkeeper is fantastic,” Chapman said. “[He] guessed right, went the right direction, but Logan put it past him.”

Believe Avida, last season’s leading scorer, extended the lead later in the first half, scoring off an assist from Braxton Orrick.

Dunlap responded with two goals of its own, but goalkeeper Kai White recorded 11 saves—including two on a penalty sequence against returning All-Stater Jackson Orris—to preserve the tie.

“That was a big moment,” Chapman said. “It was really galvanizing for the team … and a great confidence builder for Kai.”

White denied all six shots from Orris, who lead the Eagles in goals as a sophomore with 26, avergaging 1.1 a game last season.

The Eagles narrowly outshot the Ironmen 13-12, but Chapman said he was pleased with how his team handled the challenges of a high-pressure road environment in its opener.

“We were a bit short-handed,” Chapman said, “with some injuries but I thought we handled the challenge of an exciting and loud soccer environment.”

One of the most significant setbacks came in the first half when midfielder Cooper Lee exited with an injury.

Chapman said Lee, a key part of the Ironmen’s offensive core, was missed throughout the match.

“If he’s healthy, Cooper would be in that mix with Believe, Joyce [Lubika] and Logan,” Chapman said. Last season, Lee tallied six goals and five assists. 

“We don’t yet know the results of how he’s doing, but we’re hopeful he’ll return at some point.”

The tie also marked a promising first test for a restructured Ironmen lineup that graduated three starting defenders, including All-State selection Cassius Sharp and goalkeeper Bode Thompson.

The graduation of All-State selection Cassius Sharp, Jaden Orrick and Jalen Sandlin, Chapman said, have left the Iron backfield with “big holes to fill.”

“All three of those guys are playing in college now,” Chapman said. 

Players like Braxton Orrick and Griffin Tierney have stepped into larger defensive roles, along with sophomore Grant Modine. 

Chapman said several players are adjusting to new positions while the team experiments with its lineup.

“We’re still trying to figure out who’s going to be a presence for us on the field, and who we’re missing,” Chapman said. “The guys that are here now have done a great job so far.”

Despite those questions, the Ironmen’s offense continues to center around returning scorers.

“Defenses are going to key on Believe Avida, Joyce Lubika and Logan Lelm,” Chapman said. “Those are the guys they’re going to look at.”

Community continues its early-season tests Saturday at Minooka before opening Intercity Tournament play Monday against perennial powerhouse University High, a team that went 26-5-1 last season.   

“These high-level games are helpful,” Chapman said. “We don’t have too many cupcakes on our schedule, which is by design.”

While the Ironmen are still settling into their system, Chapman said early lessons from games like Dunlap will be key to long-term progress as they look to repeat last year’s sectional appearance—the program’s first since 2018.

“How we gave up goals against Dunlap are very fixable things,” Chapman said. “We just need to do a little better in key moments … we’ll get there.”