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 Prairie Stars' Division II era. Each week, UIS features one team and one student-athlete, honoring the accomplishments, championship moments, and legacy-building performances that have defined Prairie Stars Athletics.
This week, UIS recognizes Adrian Adames as one of the 15 standout student-athletes who helped define the Prairie Stars' Division II era. An anchor of the Prairie Stars' defensive unit, Adames emerged as one of the top defenders in NCAA Division II while playing a key role in one of the most successful seasons in program history.
Adames joined the Prairie Stars in 2022 and quickly became a fixture in the defensive lineup. He appeared in 19 matches, making 15 starts, and logged 1,385 minutes while helping anchor the back line during a postseason run. He played the full 110 minutes in NCAA Tournament matches against both Tiffin and Lake Erie, demonstrating his importance in high-pressure situations.
The 2023 season marked Adames' breakout campaign. He appeared in 21 matches, making 20 starts and totaling 1,823 minutes, and contributing six goals. His scoring included a two-goal performance against Davenport, as well as goals against Upper Iowa, Southwest Baptist, Drury, and Indianapolis in GLVC play.
That season, UIS men's soccer captured the GLVC regular-season championship while making its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division II postseason. The Prairie Stars went unbeaten in conference play and carried their dominant defensive form into the postseason. Adames was a key piece of a back line that led NCAA Division II in team shutout percentage (.810) and goals-against average (.280). UIS allowed just six goals all season while recording 17 shutouts, including a streak of 12 consecutive shutouts, and remained unbeaten at home from the final three matches of the 2022 season through the entire 2023 campaign.
For his performance, Adames earned First Team All-GLVC honors and was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Defender of the Year, becoming the first UIS men's soccer player to win a major conference award. He also received national recognition as a First Team All-Midwest Region selection from both D2CCA and United Soccer Coaches and was named a D2CCA Second Team All-American. UIS Athletics also recognized the graduate student from Bilbao, Spain, as its Male Athlete of the Year.
Over his two seasons at UIS, Adames appeared in 40 matches and made 35 starts, totaling more than 3,200 minutes while scoring six goals. His combination of defensive consistency and timely offensive contributions helped establish the Prairie Stars as a national contender during his time with the program.
Explore the growing list of NCAA Division II 15 Years Anniversary honorees celebrating the legacy of Prairie Stars Athletics. The 2023 men's soccer team was previously recognized as the team honored in this week's series.
