A lot has changed in the past two decades.

Presidents. Music. Edwardsville itself.

What remains the same, though, is the boys soccer team’s success – 21 straight winning seasons and 320 total wins since 2002.

According to senior left winger Henry Vivian, playing for a team as dominant as Edwardsville is a weighty privilege.

“It’s definitely an honor, but it can also create pressure,” Vivian said. “Every practice, we hear about past players or teams and how successful they were. Knowing the history of the program definitely creates pressure for individuals, as well as our team as a whole.”

That history includes two state championships and eight second place finishes. Since 2002, the team has won a state title and placed second five times. According to Vivian, that track record pushes the team forward.

“I think everyone on the team accepts that pressure,” he said. “It’s used as motivation because we want to be a player or team that continues to get talked about years later.”

According to senior central midfielder Owen Mahler, the team’s past success means that opponents play even harder against the Tigers.

“Everyone we play treats our game as the World Cup final,” Mahler said. “We always have a target on our backs. Everyone loves to see Edwardsville lose, which gives us even more motivation to play our best.”

For senior goalie Collin Schlechte, that pressure is a part of the standard that makes the team better.

“I think that it’s a great program we have, with a lot of talent that comes in,” Schlechte said. “The team holds themselves to be the best in the area. Everyone hates losing, and we try everything in our power to win those games.”

Schlecte appeared in five games last season, earning four of those 320 wins.

“It felt amazing to win those games, especially at home with all the fans,” Schlechte said. “It took a lot of hard work and dedication before the season even started.”

According to Schlechte, the hard work needed to extend the streak to 22 started May 24, when summer scrimmages kicked off. Official practices started the first week of school.

Whether it was formed in practice or as a result of years of playing together, chemistry will be a “major factor” in the team’s ability to end the season with a positive record, according to Vivian.

“[A] majority of this team has played together since grade school, which is a huge benefit in knowing each person’s play style, as well as their strengths and weaknesses,” Vivian said. “Everyone has a role to play, and if each person plays their role, there is no reason we can’t have a winning season and make a playoff run.”

The team’s finishing with a winning season was made more difficult when they lost their season opener against Mascoutah 2-1 Aug. 27.

“Another factor of our success will definitely be our ability to bounce back,” Vivian said. “Instead of getting down on ourselves [about the loss], everyone just wants to play that next game and move on, which is very important for [the] long term.”

According to Mahler, the team did bounce back, as the Tigers beat Civic Memorial 6-0 at SWIC-Belleville.

“The loss has given us a lot of motivation,” Mahler said. “We are not dwelling on it. We know who we are and what we are capable of, and we are going to stay mentally strong. [The Mascoutah] game will not define who we are as we move through the season.”