LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Spalding University men's soccer team is less than a week away from the start of the 2017 fall season. The Golden Eagles are coming off their most successful season in program history, where in 2016 they won the SLIAC Regular Season Championship after a perfect 9-0 conference campaign. As they enter the new fall season, SU Men's Soccer looks to push for another conference crown and their first trip to the NCAA Tournament. 
 
Spalding will be led by five seniors, a strong junior and sophomore class, and an impressive group of incoming freshmen in Head Coach Adam Boyer's sixth season at the helm of the program. Assistant Coach Darren Yeagle heads into his sixth season on the sidelines with Boyer, while Trent Boyd enters his second season as the full-time graduate assistant. SU welcomes first-year volunteer assistant Jordan Vejar and student coach Joe Railey to round out their coaching staff.
 
Leading the way for the Golden Eagles is their senior class. All-SLIAC midfielders Austin Lanham (Shelbyville KY, Collins HS), Sergio Vancini (Covington KY, Holmes HS), and Jacob McMurry (Louisville KY, Oldham County HS) are joined by midfielder Jacob Holehan (Louisville KY, Male HS) and defender Jacob Davis (Louisville KY, Oldham County HS). These five will be relied upon heavily for leadership and guidance during the upcoming season.
 
The Golden Eagles junior class is paced by midfielder Tenko Kono (Japan / Lexington KY, Lafayette HS) and defender Abdikadir Hussein (Kenya / Louisville KY, Fern Creek HS). Forward Corey Kissinger (East Palestine OH, Crestview HS) enters his third season with the Eagles while forward Erfan Rezai (Iran / Louisville KY, Central HS) will take a medical redshirt after sustaining a season-ending injury this summer.
 
Spalding's dynamic sophomore class is headlined by All-SLIAC forward Kornell Hilliard (Louisville KY, Fern Creek HS) and All-SLIAC defender Finn Kola (Athens OH, Athens HS). Joining these two are midfielder Jacob Teasley (Louisville KY, Fern Creek HS), defender Leslie Chu (Cameroon / New Albany IN, New Albany HS), midfielder Kasim Alsalman (Louisville KY, Iroquois HS), defender Adam Frith (Stanford KY, Lincoln County HS), defender James Stock (Panama / Dover DE, Dover HS). Goalkeeper Omar Mostafa (Louisville KY, DuPont Manual HS) will be transferring into Spalding for his second collegiate season.  
 
Joining the returning players are eighteen incoming first-year players. Led by forward Mirza Ugarak (Bosnia / Louisville KY, Collegiate HS) and midfielder Jax Young (Versailles KY, Woodford County HS), the Golden Eagles will have goalkeeper Nick Lucas (Louisville KY, AIE), goalkeeper Nic Cress (Georgetown OH, St. Patrick's), midfielder Trustun Ashburn (Lexington KY, STEAM Academy), midfielder Luis Castillo-Diego (Zolfo Springs FL, Hardee Senior High), forward Josh Lemus (Covington KY, Holmes HS), forward Almir Hodzic (Bosnia / Louisville KY, Waggener HS), defender Ethan Thornton (St. Louis MO, McKinley HS), defender John Watts (Hazard KY, Perry County Central HS), defender Faysal Jilani (Kenya / Louisville KY, Fairdale HS), midfielder Coen Beach (New Albany IN, New Albany HS), defender Dawson Hellard (Berea KY, Madison Southernl HS), midfielder Kerry Nolasco (Covington KY, Holmes HS), midfielder Logan Harden (Louisville KY, Home School), midfielder Holden Thompson (Goshen KY, North Oldham HS), defender Patrick Sullivan (St. Louis MO, St. Mary's HS), and goalkeeper Emmanuel Mwintuma (Ghana / Louisville KY) all joining the program for their first seasons this fall. 
 
The experience and depth of the team shows great promise for a team coming off their best season in program history. With seven returning starters, head coach Adam Boyer spoke highly of his roster: "We have a great mix of returning players and incoming talent. We feel like last year can be a foundation for even more success this fall and, overall, could not be more excited to see this group on the field in just a couple days," he finished.
 
 SU Men's Soccer begins the year with three preseason exhibitions, traveling to NAIA opponent Brescia University before visiting local NCAA Division II rival Bellarmine University. To wrap up preseason, Spalding hosts in-state rival Transylvania University in their final exhibition.
 
The Golden Eagles open up their regular season in Danville KY, taking on Bluffton University and Centre College in an Alumni Classic at Centre. Spalding then returns to Danville KY for the Bob Allen Nissan Classic and games against Kenyon College and Baldwin-Wallace University. SU then visits Berea College for an away match before hosting Franklin College in their home opener. In their final non-conference contests, the Eagles travel north for a game against The College of Mt. St. Joseph before hosting Hanover College in Louisville.
 
Spalding kicks off SLIAC action when they host Principia College. After away games at Iowa Wesleyan College and Eureka College, the Golden Eagles host a home game against MacMurray College before traveling to Westminster College. After a home game against Blackburn College, Spalding heads out for two away contests at Greenville College and Fontbonne University. SU's regular season finale and Senior Day at home takes place against Webster University.
 
With a top four finish in the conference, Spalding will then compete in the SLIAC Tournament, to be hosted by the regular season conference champion. The winner of the SLIAC Tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
For more information on the program, follow SUMS on Facebook at "Spalding University Men's Soccer," on Twitter at @Spalding_Soccer, on Youtube at SpaldingSoccer, and on Instagram at spalding_soccer.