Niehues Looks To Use Experience To Have A Championship Season For The Ocelots

As the team's elder statesman at age 24, Brazilian native Eduardo Niehues brings a totally different perspective to the Schoolcraft College men's soccer program.

Under longtime coach Rick Larson, the Ocelots have always relied on international talent to help parlay their continuing success.

During his freshman season, Niehues appeared in 14 games, starting five, as Schoolcraft won the NJCAA Division II Region XII and Michigan Community College Athletic Association championships before falling to Mercer CC (N.J.), 4-1, in the District final.

The speedy 6-foot-3, 190-pound central defender brings a wealth of experience beyond his years, whether it be on the pitch or on the academic side.

"He decided to start his education a little bit later in life and this is where Schoolcraft comes in and he's been thriving since he walked on campus," Larson said. "When you put on a Schoolcraft men's soccer jersey expectations of you are always very high. And that kind of added pressure, I think, brings out the best in people . . . he really, really gets it and loves it."

Wise beyond his years, Niehues understands his role will change somewhat as he embarks on his second collegiate season.

"I'm the oldest guy on the team, so it's important to be a leader on this team, bring my experience in, show it's not like high school, it's going to be a little bit different," he said.

Soccer is important for Niehues, but just as important are his studies. He's majoring in Sports Management with plans to continue at a four-year school while playing soccer.

"And you can see when you look at his G.P.A. and the quality in the classroom, the fact that he got no B's all year and only A's and 4.0 the whole year – you know what kind of person that you're dealing with and he is just a fabulous person," Larson said. "He's always driven."

Niehues displayed his prowess in the classroom as he was one of eight Schoolcraft student-athletes earning a 4.0 for 2024-25 while earning NJCAA All-Academic First-Team honors as well as the prestigious Ford Motor Company scholarship, which is given to the Schoolcraft men's soccer student-athlete with the highest grade-point average.

"Eduardo is everything you could want in a student-athlete -- active in the community while being impactful in their sport, and most importantly excelling in their academics," Schoolcraft athletic director Patrick Yelsik said.  "He was a counselor for our youth camps this summer and the kids gravitate towards him like he's the Pied Piper. He's got that kind of personality. He sets a great example."

Even though Niehues carries a big stick on the soccer field, he walks softly off of it.

"Eduardo is a very quiet human," Larson said. "He's one of those guys that really talks less and listens more, and then he'll really be honest with you about things that he does not understand. And he'll want that explained to him in greater detail, or in less detail, if he really doesn't understand it. And there's never a situation where he feels embarrassed if he doesn't understand because he always wants to get to the meaning and the reason to what you're telling him."

Niehues grew up in the South Region of Brazil in Blumenau, a city in the state of Santa Catarina, It's 130 kilometers from the state capitol Florianópolis.

Blumenau, with a population of over 300,000, was colonized by Germans in the 1800s and boast the largest Oktoberfest outside of Munich, Germany. The city's main economic activity is the textile industry, but it also known as the headquarters of Brazil's so-called Silicon Valley.

Niehues played competitive soccer until he was 18½, first for Professor Francis IAFA's soccer school and then for Clube Atlético Metropolitano. He also played futsal, a version of beach soccer, for his school.

Eduardo's father Donato Niehues works as an industrialist at Weg Transformers. He works in the field of large-scale electrical transformer construction. His mother Sueli Roden Niehues is a financial analyst for Eletro Aço Alton, an international company that exports parts to the U.S. for the construction of NASA's Artemis rocket launch pad.

His younger sister, Isabelli Roden Niehues, 15, is also involved in sports playing both volleyball and badminton.

Niehues initially worked at a law office, but switched gears and got into banking in 2019 while continuing to study and helping out at home.

"Initially, I worked in customer service for individuals," Niehues said. "I resolved billing issues, sold credit cards, arranged bank loans, insurance, investments, and other services. In the last year and a half that I worked there, I changed segments and served companies as an assistant manager. Basically, I did the same thing, but for a different kind of customer in reinvestment."

But all along, Niehues still had the itch to play competitive soccer.

"I came to the U.S. for the opportunity to play soccer at a competitive level again, and to be able to study at the same time," Niehues said. "I still wanted to play because I didn't have the opportunities in Brazil like they have here at the college level or university level."

Niehues contacted an agent, who then got in touch with Larson's assistant coach Johnny Garcia, who is well-connected with international agencies.

"We really scoured his video and we really liked what we saw," Larson said. "We just continued to talk to him. He decided late and it was about this time of year ago and he said he was going to come here, and we said, 'Yeah, he's so good that we are going to take him late.'"

Niehues had interest from one other collegiate program, but quickly decided Schoolcraft was the best fit.

"I checked out the school and it was all good in joining," Niehues said. "I talked with Coach Larson and I saw it was a really good program. They always have a good season and then we set up everything, I got my visa and then I came here."

In a preseason 3-0 exhibition win last August against NCAA Division II quarterfinalist Saginaw Valley State, Niehues made an immediate impression.

"He was absolutely outstanding," Larson said. "Rock solid in defense and cutting out chances, starting attacks and just played wonderfully in that game."

And it was then that Niehues knew he had made the correct decision after his Saginaw Valley State performance.

"After that game, I was certain I'd done the right thing," he said. "It was a high-level, physically demanding game, and we came away with the victory. That fulfilled something I'd been missing when it came to soccer."

Learning a new language proved to be as challenging as learning the style and play of his new teammates.

"It wasn't as good as I thought, but now it's really good," Niehues said of his English. "I think I had a good background at my home. My parents helped me and supported me."

Niehues appreciates the fact that Larson has been to help shepherd his path throughout his Schoolcraft College experience.

"Coach Rick is a good guy," the Brazilian import said. "Since I arrived here, he's always helped us on and off the field. During training, he always tries to be clear with his players and always strives for our improvement. He has his own way of commanding and likes to see the team playing in harmony. I find it interesting when he uses analogies to other sports to talk about soccer.

"Off the field, he provided me with different experiences. I was able to play golf with him for the first time in my life, and I also went fishing with him and other players at a lake here in Michigan. I consider our team a family, and Rick plays the role of a father, especially when we are away from our family."

Niehues, however, does get homesick. His girlfriend of seven years, Júlia Eduarda Wagner, has a degree in pharmacy and works in a clinical analysis laboratory.

"They're all in Brazil, and I always miss them and my friends, but from the beginning everyone supported me in this decision and they are my constant energy to continue," Niehues said.

And hoisting an NJCAA Division II championship trophy this fall are the motivating factor and Niehues hopes to play a key role.

"Nationals are the main goal this season, it's really important," he said. "For the moment, we want a great season, win the regionals, win the district and go onto to nationals."

By: Brad Emons