Brothers in Arms

Brothers Reese and Bryant Mayer make up half of the defensive back line for Northwestern men’s soccer. Sandwiched between them on the pitch is teammate Nigel Prince — but he likes to joke that he’s basically a Mayer brother too. 

It’s easy to see why Prince feels like part of the family. He and Reese finish each other’s thoughts and talk with pride about how they challenge each other and their soccer teammates to be the best they can be. 

“I’m a vocal and emotional guy, especially on the field,” says Reese. “Nigel gets caught between Bryant and me in our screaming matches, but he understands I’m never yelling out of anger. I’m pushing guys to the next level.” 

It can sometimes feel a little “turbulent” to be caught in the crossfire, says Prince, an only child. But having a pseudo big brother on the team means “somebody [is] always looking after me. Reese has seen a little bit of everything and has given me a lot of perspective, which I really appreciate.” 

Prince, a junior, arrived at Northwestern in fall 2022 as a highly touted recruit. But he came into his own after playing alongside the veteran Reese, who transferred to Northwestern in fall 2023 after playing for Notre Dame.  

“When you talk about Nigel’s growth and development, you can’t help but talk about Reese,” says head coach Russell Payne. “Reese has shown Nigel what it means to be consistent both on and off the field — playing every play in practice, being on time to meetings, all the little things that are important. Reese came with those things already in his back pocket. And he was the perfect player for Nigel to partner with so that he could continue to grow.” 

The Prince-Mayer back-line bond helped Northwestern to a 10-4-3 record in 2023, when the Wildcats allowed just 17 goals on the season. After a hot start in 2024, the Wildcats battled through a rigorous Big Ten schedule to finish 9-7-1 overall. The team enjoyed back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2013–14. But Prince is focused on the team’s longer-term legacy.  

“We’ve done a great job laying the groundwork,” he says. “But we’re not done yet. My goal is to win a Big Ten Championship and play in the NCAA Championships. I want to establish a culture that stands the test of time.”