SPRINGFIELD, IL – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) men's soccer team looks to build upon its ninth-place finish in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) last season.

"We're aiming to finish higher in the conference standings than last year," UIS coach Adam Hall said. "Our goal is to keep improving and be a consistently competitive team."

The Prairie Stars compiled a 7-9-2 overall record and a 6-7-2 conference record during their 2016 campaign. UIS is picked to finish 10th in the conference this season, as voted on by the coaches. Rockhurst University, ranked No. 3 in the NCAA Division II United Soccer Coaches (USC) preseason poll, was selected as the unanimous favorite to win the GLVC crown after capturing regular-season titles the previous two years. The Hawks completed the GLVC sweep after topping the University of Indianapolis in the conference championship in a match settled by penalty kicks.

Rockhurst, Drury University, University of Southern Indiana, and Quincy University each made the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Drury fell to Rockhurst in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in a match also decided by penalty kicks. Rockhurst advanced to the NCAA Semifinals before falling to the University of Charleston in a 2-1 decision.

UIS faces a tough schedule this season as Drury locked up the No. 18 ranking in the preseason poll. Southern Indiana and Tiffin University are also receiving votes.
 

2017 Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Rockhurst	196 (14)
2. Indianapolis	169
3. Southern Indiana	153
4. Missouri S&T	150 (1)
5. Drury	143
6. Quincy	141
7. Missouri-St. Louis	117
8. Maryville	116
9. Bellarmine	87
10. Illinois Springfield	75
11. Lewis	63
11. McKendree	63
13. Truman State	50
14. UW-Parkside*	36
15. William Jewell	16

*ineligible for regular season title and GLVC Tournament

STARS WHO WILL BE MISSED
UIS is losing its top scorer from the previous two seasons in Zachary Allevi. Mac Leverenz provided experience for the Prairie Stars, racking up a total of 54 career starts. Alejandro Inostroza and Eoin Watts also played key roles for UIS last season.

"Zach had a big year, scoring nine goals last season," said Hall, who enters his second season as head coach of the Prairie Stars. "We also lost a lot of experience as Alejandro, Mac and Eoin all had important roles on the team last year."

UIS also graduated Kanye Sayon, who was the team's second-leading scorer with 13 points on five goals and three assists.

WHO'S WHO
The Prairie Stars return eight starters from the previous season. Mario Falsone is the top-returning scorer for UIS after scoring 12 points off five goals and two assists. Jack Coombes also contributed five goals last season.

Naba Alzhyri comes back to the squad after providing six assists for the Prairie Stars, which tied for fifth among GLVC leaders the previous season.

Tommy Geile returns in goal for the Prairie Stars after recording three shutouts and a .762 save percentage last year.

In addition to a large returning squad, the Prairie Stars added 20 newcomers including Rhys Wallace, Alex Morais, Thiago Fernandes, Alex Zarco, Fernando Sanz de Galdeano, Quentin Reese, Javier Milla, and Jacksonville, IL native, Steven Albers, among others.

DATES TO MARK
UIS kicks off the season with a pair of road matches this weekend. The Prairie Stars face Ohio Valley University on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. (EST) in Vienna, WV. UIS also squares off with Tiffin on Saturday at 2 p.m. (EST) in Tiffin, OH.

"Both are very good teams," Hall said. "They are both well-established teams and will give us a proper test."

In addition to their GLVC schedule, the Prairie Stars battle Robert Morris University-Springfield on Oct. 3.

"It's a local game that will give us a chance to see some of our players who need the game time," Hall said.
 
SMALL MARGINS
After finishing with a 1-7-2 record in matches decided by a goal or less, UIS expects to close out the tight matches this season.

"We need to win games – in its simplest form," Hall said. "We need to cancel out our mistakes from a lack of concentration. That really hurt us last year. We lost so many extra-time games."

The Prairie Stars will utilize their large group of veterans and newcomers to be successful throughout the year.

"This year we have much more depth," Hall said. "Hopefully everyone is looking over their shoulder throughout the season.  Nobody has their starting spot for the season."