Sunday, September 4, 12 p.m.
Oakland City University (1-1) at
McKendree University (0-0)
Leemon Field – Lebanon, IL
 
Live Stats         Live Video
 
(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 3) – The McKendree University men's soccer team will kick off their 2016 season on Sunday as the square off against the Oakland City at Leemon Field. Kick off is set for noon.

SCOUTING THE MIGHTY OAKS: Oakland City will make their third appearance in Lebanon as they take on the Bearcats in McKendree's lone non-conference match. The Mighty Oaks posted a 7-10-1 record in 2016 and enter Sunday's match with a 1-1 record. Oakland City is coming off a 6-2 victory over Harris Stowe University. In net Oakland City returns starting goal keeper Conor McGoldrick who posted a goals against average of 1.56 last season. Offensively the Mighty Oaks return their top two scorers to the pitch. Sophomores Ryan Blair and Jack Cookson will look to lead first year head coach Elliot Spruell's squad.

Last Meeting: The Bearcats and the Mighty Oaks squared off last season in a non-conference match-up in Oakland City, Ind. McKendree was able to strike first with a goal in the 23rd minute from Felipe Thompson (Santiago, Chile/Hurricane ). Oakland City responded tying the match with a goal in 55th from Arinze Okeoma. Ninety minutes was not enough to decide a winner as in the overtime period Albuja Luis was able to find the back of the new from 25 yards out in the 97th minute to end the game 2-1.
 
90 MINUTES NOT ENOUGH: Sunday will mark the fourth meeting between the two squads. McKendree posts an all-time record of 1-2 against Oakland City. In all previous three matches full time was not enough to decide a winner. Two matches found themselves deciding a winner in overtime, while the match in 2011 found the Bearcats on top 3-2 after 100 minutes of play.
 
GLVC PRESEASON POLL: McKendree was picked to finish in thirteenth place for the GLVC 2016 season. McKendree finished in thirteenth place in the GLVC during 2015. The Bearcats posted an overall record of 6-10 while going 6-9 in conference play.  
 
HEAD COACH JOHN VANBUSKIRK: McKendree head coach John VanBuskirk enters his fourth season at the helm of Bearcat men's soccer program. VanBuskirk posts an overall record of 15-32-2 while serving as the Bearcats head coach.