(LEBANON, Ill. – Feb. 25) – The McKendree University men's soccer team opens its season with a slate of Great Lakes Valley Conference games this weekend.
 
The Bearcats will travel to Indianapolis, Ind. for its first game of the season against the University of Indianapolis on Friday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. followed by a home game at Leemon Field on Sunday, Feb. 28 against Lewis University at 2:30 p.m.
 
After being hired in December of 2016, head coach Scott Gyllenborg has quickly turned the McKendree soccer program into a conference championship contender. 
 
Its record of 15-4-2 is the best record in the program since 2011. In addition, the Bearcats would make an appearance in the GLVC Championship game but fell to Bellemare 3-2. Its record and conference tournament run would earn a program-first NCAA Tournament berth.
 
Gyllenborg's squad returns the majority of its offensive firepower from a season ago, including James Stone (Eastbourne, England/Bede's Sixth Form College), Gonzalo Correa (Santiago, Chile/Athletic Study Center), Eddie Davis (Arundel, England/Amersham College) and Raul Arteaga. The four players combined for 27 of its 37 total goals and 17 of its 35 total assists. 
 
Defensively, McKendree was one of the best defensive teams in the conference, giving up an average of less than one goal a game. Ryan Herling (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) and Mac Thomalla (Reading, England/Football Academy Bisham) are key returners from a season ago.
 
The Bearcats will also return Alvaro Cortazar () and Brett Niedzwiecki (Collinsville, IL/Collinsville High School) in net. The two made appearances and started in all 21 games. Cortazar posted a 10-3 record, giving up 0.68 goals a game and had a .827 save percentage. Niedzwiecki posted a 5-1-2 record, giving up 0.94 goals a game and had a .731 save percentage.