Chicago, Ill. - Men's Soccer Head Coach Dylan Milkent didn't walk into his first preseason at Illinois Tech expecting everything to click overnight. What he found, though, was a team with two great strengths: unity and work ethic. "We have a group that's dedicated to really being together as one unit," Milkent said. "They're really supportive of each other—on and off the field."

He noticed it immediately. Players moved in pairs and groups around campus, showing the kind of chemistry coaches hope to build over years, not weeks. That camaraderie translated into intense practices. "Every training session, they're dripped in sweat," he said. "They work super hard."

For a new coach, those were gifts. Milkent knew he could teach tactics and refine systems, but culture is tougher to manufacture. At Illinois Tech, it already existed. His job became about channeling that togetherness and high motor into a clear identity—one that could compete in a stacked conference.

Teaching First, Transforming Second

Milkent approached his first season less as a disruptor and more as an educator. "Right now it's a lot of teaching," he said. He didn't want to overhaul everything a team with recent success had built, but he also understood the need to evolve. "We will do things different, and we do have a different approach," he explained.

The early focus was on small, daily gains. Milkent and his staff poured over film, compared last season's patterns to this year's principles, and emphasized growth in every session. Players responded by asking better questions and embracing adjustments. The goal wasn't to chase perfection by opening day—it was to keep climbing.

Ultimately, the target is simple: stay together long enough to make a run. "We want to keep playing together as long as we can with our best friends," Milkent said. That means returning to the conference tournament and giving this veteran-heavy group a postseason stage.

Leadership That Sets the Tone

For a new coach, strong captains are invaluable—and Milkent feels he has three of the best. Adrian Cogolludo, Paul Balea, and Dominik Kroupa anchor the team's leadership, blending accountability with humility. "They're some of the most unselfish dudes you're ever gonna meet," he said.

Their impact shows up in the details. They help set up and break down training, stay late to fix up the field, and even handle laundry when needed. That servant-leader mentality made Milkent's transition smoother. The captains helped him learn the program's traditions, and their openness encouraged the rest of the team to buy in.

On the field, Cogolludo's presence allows Illinois Tech to be creative, while returners like Junior Pineda-Alcala—finally healthy—add punch in the attack. Pineda's goal and assist in a preseason scrimmage signaled his potential to become a consistent contributor.

Playing on the Front Foot

Ask Milkent about identity, and his answer is clear. "We want to be an aggressive team," he said. Illinois Tech aims to play on the front foot, attack with intent, and defend with the same proactive mindset. The idea isn't reckless soccer—it's controlled urgency.

When the team presses the tempo, their best athletes shine. Dynamic players like Pineda-Alcala, Tomas Rebelatto and Theo Balea thrive in open space, and attacking options like Cal Graham are poised to take another step forward. The challenge, Milkent said, is replacing a star like former conference Freshman of the Year Mateo Secaira by committee. "We don't need one guy to score 18 goals, but that's 18 goals that we need to try and find somehow," he said.

That means being more clinical and asking multiple players to step into high-pressure moments. It also means defending with pride. "We want to be really proud of how we defend," Milkent said, knowing that clean sheets will matter in a conference he calls the best it's ever been.

Scrappy by Design

Beyond the tactics and talent, Illinois Tech's edge might be its grit. "We are relentlessly scrappy," Milkent said. He sees it in training and on film—second balls won, blocks made, and attackers fighting for rebounds. That mentality generates extra chances and keeps them in games even when they're not the biggest team on the field.

It's a trait that should serve them well in a league where every match has unique challenges—different surfaces, day games, travel, and city rivalries. Milkent embraces the grind. "Every point, every game matters," he said. Early non-conference tests will help the team sharpen its depth and enter league play healthy and confident.

Looking Ahead

With a large senior class—12 expected to graduate—the roster will turn over quickly in the next two years. Milkent sees that as both a challenge and a testament to the program's appeal. Players stick around because of the education and the relationships. "They just really enjoy being together," he said.

That makes the mission for this season straightforward: maximize the now. The team wants to play an exciting, attacking brand while staying balanced defensively. Milkent hopes that identity, paired with results, will energize the campus and community. "We should aim high because there's no reason not to," he said.

Opening with three home games gives Illinois Tech an immediate chance to make a statement and build momentum. The first opponent, North Central, is a conference favorite—exactly the kind of test Milkent welcomes. "Win, lose or draw, we're gonna give everything that we've got," he said.

If his team's early traits hold, that effort will be the standard.