As part of UIS Athletics' 15 Years of NCAA Division II Membership celebration, the department is highlighting 15 standout teams and 15 standout student-athletes who have shaped the program's Division II era. Each week, UIS features one team and one player, honoring the accomplishments, championship moments, and legacy-building performances that have defined Prairie Stars Athletics.

The 2023 UIS men's soccer team produced the most remarkable season in the program's Division II era behind historic defensive dominance. The Prairie Stars finished the season 13-1-7 overall and 10-0-3 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play, capturing the first GLVC regular-season championship in program history and advancing to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the third consecutive season.

UIS set the tone for the year with a statement victory at home over No. 16 Saginaw Valley State. That result was followed by two ties and a road loss to Purdue Northwest — which would stand as the Prairie Stars' only defeat of the entire campaign — but UIS quickly regained momentum and established itself as one of the top teams in the region while earning a national ranking throughout the fall.

The Prairie Stars were unbeatable at home, finishing 7-0-3 at Kiwanis Stadium while continuing a lengthy stretch of Friday night home matches without a loss that extended from the final stretch of the 2022 season all the way through the 2023 campaign. 

Defense became the defining characteristic of the Prairie Stars' historic season. UIS allowed just six goals across the entire year while recording 17 shutouts, both the best marks in the GLVC. A 12-game shutout streak highlighted the dominance of the Prairie Stars' back line and goalkeeper play, including a senior night victory on Oct. 23 that extended the remarkable defensive run to 10 straight shutouts.

The final stretch of the regular season put UIS against the conference's top contenders. The Prairie Stars recorded a scoreless draw with McKendree before earning a 1-0 road victory at Lewis to clinch the GLVC regular-season championship. UIS then closed the regular season with a 1-1 draw at No. 14 Indianapolis while ranked No. 10 nationally after reaching as high as No. 8 during the season. Over those three matches against the league's top challengers, the Prairie Stars allowed just one goal.

The postseason again placed UIS against those same opponents. As the No. 1 seed in the GLVC Championship Tournament, the Prairie Stars opened with a 1-0 victory over Drury in the quarterfinal round before defeating McKendree 1-0 in the semifinals. UIS advanced to the GLVC Championship match against Indianapolis, where the teams battled to a scoreless draw before the Greyhounds won the penalty shootout.

UIS earned a home NCAA Midwest Regional match the following weekend and again faced Lewis. The teams played to another scoreless draw before the Flyers advanced on penalty kicks, bringing the Prairie Stars' historic season to an end.

Despite the heartbreaking finish, the 2023 campaign marked a breakthrough year for the program. UIS finished with just one loss all season and continued its run of three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, further establishing Prairie Stars men's soccer among the region's elite programs.

Individually, the season featured a record-setting group of Prairie Stars who earned recognition at the conference, regional, and national levels.

Adrian Adames became the first major award winner in program history, earning GLVC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Starting all 17 matches on the back line and playing 1,450 minutes, Adames helped lead a defense that allowed only six goals while recording 13 shutouts. He also contributed offensively with six goals for 12 total points while earning First Team All-GLVC honors.

Goalkeeper Andrea Scapolo was dominant during the season, earning GLVC Goalkeeper of the Year honors and becoming the program's first national statistical champion. Scapolo appeared in 19 games and recorded 15 shutouts with a .207 goals-against average and .895 save percentage. He led NCAA Division II in both goals-against average and save percentage while earning D2CCA First Team All-America honors — the first First Team All-American selection in UIS men's soccer history.

Max Tweddle also delivered a standout graduate season, finishing with nine assists to set the UIS single-season record the program's all-time career assists record with 13. Tweddle closed his career with 29 points, ranking third in the program's Division II era.

The 2023 senior class also left a lasting mark on the record book. Brian Riordan concluded his career with 88 games played, the most in the program's Division II era, while Drew Keller finished with 81 career starts, another program record.

The Prairie Stars' success was reflected in a program-record eight All-GLVC selections.

All-GLVC Selections

• First Team: Joe Conway, Max Tweddle, Adrian Adames, Riccardo Sandulli, Andrea Scapolo
• Second Team: Or Levinstein, Drew Keller
• Third Team: Brian Riordan

Adrian Adames was named GLVC Defensive Player of the Year, Andrea Scapolo was named the conference's first-ever Goalkeeper of the Year, and head coach Adam Hall was selected GLVC Coach of the Year.

All-Region Honors

• D2CCA First Team All-Midwest Region: Andrea Scapolo, Adrian Adames
• United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Midwest Region: Adrian Adames, Max Tweddle
• D2CCA Second Team All-Midwest Region: Max Tweddle, Riccardo Sandulli
• United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Midwest Region: Andrea Scapolo, Riccardo Sandulli

Head coach Adam Hall and assistant coach Charlie Ward were named the United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region Staff of the Year.

All-America Honors

• D2CCA First Team All-American: Andrea Scapolo
• D2CCA Second Team All-American: Adrian Adames
• United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American: Max Tweddle

The Prairie Stars also produced one of the top statistical seasons in the program's Division II history. The 2023 team recorded the second-most points in a season (92), the second-most goals (33), and the third-most assists (26) in the Division II era. UIS also set a single-game program record with 20 points in a victory over Southwest Baptist on Oct. 6.

Defined by historic defense, a regular season title, and unprecedented individual recognition, the 2023 season stands as one of the most accomplished campaigns in UIS men's soccer history. With record-setting performances and multiple All-Americans, the Prairie Stars further elevated the national profile of UIS soccer and strengthened the foundation for continued success.

Explore the full list of NCAA Division II 15 Years Anniversary honorees as the celebration of Prairie Stars Athletics nears its conclusion.