For Luca Mcgreevey-Couchman, a junior global student from Northern Ireland, soccer was more than a game when coming to America; it was about community. As he steps onto
Al Barbour Field, the student section goes wild! When Biolans make chants and songs about the Mcgreevey name, it shows how much he has made an impact. Chants like "Walking in a McGreevey Wonderland" are more than a cheer; it's proof of how deeply he's connected to Biola.
"Biola reached out to me, and I loved it, and everything that it stood for, " said McGreevey. "It was a really easy decision, and I really wanted to come here."
McGreevey-Couchman spoke with many schools, but after meeting with Biola's head soccer coach, Joey O'Keefe, via Zoom with his parents, his decision was made.
"When I first spoke with coach Joey, he didn't ask me anything about soccer; he wanted to know me as a person," said McGreevey-Couchman. "I was blown away, because all the other people didn't care about me as a person."
Biola has a special way of making its students feel seen in every department, but it's especially important for international students to feel that same support as they are miles away from everything familiar. Biola becomes their new home, and it's important for the community to be intentional in fostering that sense of belonging.
BIOLA BUBBLE
American culture, especially the Biola Bubble, is something McGreevey considers "different," with people in Northern Ireland being more reserved.
"[In Northern Ireland] Alcohol is a big part of the culture and is really embedded as a social lubricant for a lot of people," said McGreevey-Couchman. "I'm not the biggest fan of that, so I found it hard at times to connect with people."
The Biola culture is welcoming and friendly, where everyone wants to go out and explore.
"I haven't felt homesick once, and that's a credit to the school," said McGreevey-Couchman. "The people have made me feel very welcomed, and I love everyone here."
Growing up in a Christian community and attending church regularly, McGreevey stepped away from his faith during his high school years. Coming into a community where faith is so deeply embedded was a shift for him. Adjusting to such a strong Christian environment became one of his biggest challenges.
"It was very different to see how serious people took their faith, and it was amazing," said McGreevey-Couchman. "Growing up in Northern Ireland, there aren't a lot of Christians. Everyone's so angry all the time, and it's a ruthless community and society to live in."
Coming from that environment to the Biola community, where everyone's talking to and praying over each other, was a lot to take in for McGreevey, but it's become the highlight.
CHANGE IN THE GAME
The culture wasn't the only thing different; he also had to adapt to a different playing style.
The game in Northern Ireland is very old-school, with smaller fields, long grass, and an old-school style of play.
"All the games are very scrappy, old-school soccer," said McGreevey-Couchman. "Very rough, whereas here in America, especially in southern California, they like to keep the ball on the ground and play soccer out from the back."
The game is a different style of soccer, but McGreevey-Couchman is enjoying it.
McGreevey-Couchman has much respect for his coaches, because they aren't just honing his skills as an athlete, but they are also intentional with developing their players as men.
"They're absolutely ruthless and want you to keep improving your game," said McGreevey-Couchman. "They spend so much time filming and going over things. They care about you as a person, which also helps your game, because you can respect what they say since they actually know you."
AN EAGLE'S HEART
McGreevey-Couchman played in the Irish League and Northern Ireland's national team when he was 18. But at Biola was the first time McGreevey-Couchman heard someone in soccer talk about Jesus.
"I was used to coaches back home saying rude stuff," said McGreevey-Couchman. "You would never talk about Jesus, that's just not spoken about. So when I heard that at Biola, my ears pricked up. I was like, Wow."
Playing soccer in Northern Ireland, McGreevey-Couchman was trained to play "nasty," but at Biola, wearing the Eagles' uniform, he knows he is playing for something bigger than soccer. McGreevey-Couchman grew up with a mentality of winning games no matter how it looked. But at Biola, he understands the impact that comes with winning for an audience of one.
"Here you're representing something different; you're trying to be an image bearer of Christ," said McGreevey-Couchman. "To glorify Him through your actions because you're representing the school, you represent Christ."
