EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's soccer team opens the 2010 campaign Thursday when it hosts Saginaw Valley State University at Strassweg Field. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The Screaming Eagles, who are under the direction of second-year Head Coach Mat Santoro, also open GLVC action this week when they travel to preseason No.-21 Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky, Sunday at 1:30 p.m. (CDT).
The Eagles hope to continue the momentum they built at the end of last season when they concluded the 2009 campaign with three straight wins to finish 6-10-1. Two of the three wins in the final week were within the GLVC as the Eagles finished 5-9-0 in league play.
USI looks to carry that momentum on the strength of an offense that returns seven of its top 10 goal scorers from 2009. Leading the way is sophomore forward Jeff McClure (Indianapolis, Indiana), who had a team-best 15 points on six goals and three assists.
The Eagles also bring back senior forward Simon Rawnsley (England) and senior midfielder Michael Simcock (England). Rawnsley, who was USI's top scorer in 2008, had 13 points last fall on four goals and five assists.
Simcock, who was named the GLVC Player of the Week last year for his two-goal and two-assist weekend against the University of Indianapolis and Saint Joseph's College, had nine points on three goals and three assists as a junior.
Saginaw Valley State also opens the season on Thursday after going 5-11-3 overall last season, 1-6-1 in the GLIAC. Thursday's match will be the first meeting between USI and SVSU in men's soccer.
NKU, which opens the regular season Friday when it hosts The University of Findlay, posted a 15-6-2 overall record last season and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the fourth straight year. The Norse placed second in the GLVC regular season last year with an 11-3-0 conference mark, before losing in the conference tournament championship game a year ago.
The Norse are picked to finish second in the GLVC, while the league coaches picked the Eagles to place 12th in conference action.
NKU won the only meeting with USI last season, 2-1, in overtime and has won the last six contests, while USI leads the all-time series, 14-12-2.
