Four senior soccer players on their journey with the Crusaders
Evan Corsiglia, Major: Biology, Hometown: Oakdale, California
What are your plans following graduation?
I am taking a gap year before applying to medical school. I am interested in studying sports medicine.
What is your favorite memory of being on the team?
My first goal of my collegiate career was at a home game against Austin College. It was amazing having that first goal at home and celebrating with my teammates.
What is the best Core book?
Hands-down, my favorite is Augustine’s “Confessions.”
What is your goal for the remainder of this season?
My goals for this season are to win more games than previous seasons, and to be a strong leader for the team at all times.
What legacy do you want your teammates to carry on after you graduate?
I want my teammates to carry on a legacy of success that is not just built on winning, but more importantly built around an inherent desire to work hard, support one another, and represent the University of Dallas in the best way possible.
Thomas Raglow, Hometown: Edmond, Oklahoma, Major: Biology
What are your plans following graduation?
I am pursuing a career in environment and resource management, hopefully in the Coast Guard.
What is your favorite memory of being on the team?
My favorite memory on the team is the trip to Minnesota my freshman year. It was my first collegiate travel experience and I developed close bonds with my teammates in a location I had never been to before.
What is the best Core book (could be taken out)?
In my opinion, the best one is Dante’s “Divine Comedy.”
What is your goal for the remainder of this season?
My goals for the end of the season are to enjoy my last few weeks of competitive soccer and continue to build the team experience and culture.
What legacy do you want your teammates to carry on after you graduate?
I want my teammates to play for each other and help improve themselves both on and off the field.
Jordan Madero, Hometown: Parker, Colorado, Major: Business
What are your plans following graduation?
After graduation, I plan to continue my studies at UD and get my Master of Science in Business Analytics. After that, I plan to stay in the DFW area and work in the insurance industry as an underwriter.
What is your favorite memory of being on the team?
My favorite memory of being on the team was the first scrimmage of the season this year. We always start with returners vs newcomers, and it’s always a great feeling to get back to playing with all my old teammates and see how the new freshmen and transfers handle the new environment.
What is the best Core book (could be taken out)?
In my opinion, the best core book is “The Odyssey.” It’s one of the first books in the core and is a great story about Odysseus’s journey home, filled with mythical creatures, Greek gods, and crazy challenges.
What is your goal for the remainder of this season?
I want to continue to work hard and to help create a community that will drive success in future seasons both on and off the field. Scoring a goal or two would also be ideal.
What legacy do you want your teammates to carry on after you graduate?
I want them to continue to look after each other and continue to make the UD men’s soccer team a family.
Alex Melgoza, Hometown: Grand Prairie, Texas, Major: Business
What are your plans following graduation?
My plans after graduation is to find a job in the cybersecurity field, and hopefully continue to play soccer around the Dallas area.
What is your favorite memory of being on the team?
My favorite memory on the team is the Minnesota trip my freshman year. We made a lot of great memories as a team and also played really well.
What is the best Core book (could be taken out)?
The best core book for me is “The Iliad.” In this work, there are many themes of humanity like war, love, and honor, which resemble many of the things we go through as humans. Also some of my favorite characters like Hector and Achilles are in this book. Hector embodies the tension between familial duty and personal honor, while Achilles embodies the greatest Greek warrior, and also one of the more psychologically rich characters in literature.
What is your goal for the remainder of this season?
One of my goals for the season is to help the underclassmen grow as a team and pass on the baton to them. I would also like to get into the SCAC playoffs this year and hopefully get into the national tournament.
What legacy do you want your teammates to carry on after you graduate?
I would like them to continue to carry the legacy of being a family. During my four years on the team I always felt like I could lean on one of my teammates, whether it was an assignment, an issue with a girl, or maybe a health issue. I want them to be able to feel comfortable leaning on each other because if there is no trust off the field, there definitely will not be any trust on the field.
As the UD men’s soccer team heads toward the end of their fall season, these four seniors—Evan Corsiglia, Thomas Raglow, Jordan Madero, and Alex Melgoza—have not only played with skill and passion but have also left lasting impressions on and off the field. Their commitment to their teammates, their studies, and their futures speaks volumes about the type of leaders they’ve become.
While their time in collegiate soccer may be nearing its close, the impact they’ve made on the program will remain. Their legacy of hard work, leadership, and a sense of family will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of UD players, shaping the team for years to come.