“Welcome to the Team” is a Q&A series where the Collegian sits down with first-year student-athletes who are entering their first season at Butler University. These articles will address why they chose Butler, what they hope to get out of this season and some personal tidbits that you won’t find anywhere else.
This week, staff reporter Lyla Koopmann sat down with four first-years on the men’s soccer team: Finn Moran, Chace Crismale, Alec Sexton and Hayden Neale.
Finn Moran is a 5’9” forward from Cranford, N.J. Photo by Darcy Leber.
THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN: When and why did you start playing soccer?
FINN MORAN: Probably [when I was] 3 [years old]. It was fun. I liked it.
TBC: Why did you choose to play soccer at Butler?
FM: I like the coach.
TBC: What has been different about living in Indianapolis at Butler?
FM: There’s no beach but I’ve liked it more than I expected.
TBC: Who is your favorite soccer player?
FM: [Lionel] Messi.
TBC: Which do you like better:morning practice or afternoon practice?
FM: Morning.
TBC: How did you learn about Butler and when did you realize it was the right fit for you?
FM: When I was younger [in 2017], I watched Butler beat No. 1 Villanova [in basketball], so I’ve always known of Butler, but I picked it because I liked it.
TBC: Who is the teammate that has helped you the most since you arrived?
FM: [Redshirt junior goalkeeper] Jameson Metz.
Chace Crismale is a 5’10” forward and defender from Glen Gardner, N.J. Photo by Darcy Leber.
TBC: When and why did you start playing soccer?
CHACE CRISMALE: I started playing soccer because I wanted to follow in my dad’s steps.
TBC: Why did you choose to play soccer at Butler?
CC: I chose to play soccer at Butler because of the great programs and the great coaching staff.
TBC: What has been different about living in Indianapolis at Butler?
CC: Not much around here to do, but it’s definitely fun. [It is] great getting out with the team.
TBC: Who is your favorite soccer player?
TBC: Which do you like better: morning practice or afternoon practice?
CC: I like morning practices more.
TBC: How did you learn about Butler and when did you realize it was the right fit for you?
CC: I learned about Butler in about December of 2025. When I came on my visit, I knew this would be my new home.
TBC: What’s your go-to hype-up song?
CC: Sweet Home by Don Toliver.
Alec Sexton is a 5’10” midfielder from Annapolis, Md. Photo by Darcy Leber.
TBC: When and why did you start playing soccer?
ALEC SEXTON: When I was 3, I started playing to get closer to my dad.
TBC: Why did you choose to play soccer at Butler?
AS: I chose to play soccer at Butler because of the new coaching staff. When I met [them], I really thought that they wanted to build something, and that was something I wanted to be a part of.
TBC: What has been different about living in Indianapolis at Butler?
AS: I’m from Maryland, so there’s no water here, and that’s a little off-putting because I haven’t seen a body of water in a long time.
TBC: Who is your favorite soccer player?
TBC: Which do you like better: morning practice or afternoon practice?
AS: Morning.
TBC: How did you learn about Butler and when did you realize it was the right fit for you?
AS: I learned about Butler through [head] coach Ian [Sarachan]. I started talking to him over the phone at first, and then when I came out here for my visit with Coach Perry [Kitchen], I saw the campus and I really liked the size of it and that drew me here. All the guys on the team had really good things to say and sounded like they loved it.
TBC: What is your favorite movie?
AS: “Good Will Hunting”.
Hayden Neale is a 6’2” forward from Boulder, Colo. Photo by Darcy Leber.
TBC: When and why did you start playing soccer?
HAYDEN NEALE: I started playing soccer when I was 5 years old, and I just did it because my parents signed me up for it.
TBC: Why did you choose to play soccer at Butler?
HN: I just really like the players here, liked the teammates when I came here and I think it’s a really beautiful school and nice area as well.
TBC: What has been different about living in Indianapolis at Butler?
HN: It’s been very different since I’m from Colorado. I’m used to a lot more like nature and stuff like that but I’ve liked the city here, and I feel like the people here are very nice as well.
TBC: Who is your favorite soccer player?
HN: Bukayo Saka.
TBC: Which do you like better: morning practice or afternoon practice?
HN: Morning.
TBC: How did you learn about Butler and when did you realize it was the right fit for you?
HN: I always knew about Butler from basketball more so. It became more of a soccer option when I saw Ian was going to be the coach here, [so] I just reached out and it’s a great school.
TBC: What is your go-to hype-up song?
HN: Devil In A New Dress by [Ye].