DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras men's soccer team kicks off the 2016 campaign as the No. 2 team in the nation according to the Preseason NSCAA Poll and will host the first two matches of the season from the comforts of the Rock Bowl. The first match of the campaign is set for Thursday, Sept. 1 against Carroll with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. The Duhawks will return to the pitch three days later when they play host to Albion on Sunday afternoon with kickoff set to start at 3 p.m.

NEW FOR 2016
You can follow both matches live by following on the Duhawk Broadcast Network and its new home at duhawks.com/watch, courtesy of SIDEARM Sports All-Access. Fans can also follow along on social media by following @LorasMWSoccer.

LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE PIONEERS
In Loras' last match against Carroll, the Duhawks were the ones who came out on top back in the 2014 campaign. Loras traveled to Waukesha, Wis. and jumped out to an early lead against the Pioneers. Both teams were tied at one early in the match, but with the help of having five different goal scorers that night the Duhawks took command and walked away with the 5–2 victory.

PIONEERS TO WATCH
The Pioneers return two All-MWC players from last season. The first is senior defender Ben Lutjens who received First Team All-MWC honors. The Little Chute, Wis. native appeared and started in 18 games last season for the Pioneers. The next returner is senior Caden Pruitt who received Second Team All-MWC honors for leading his team in goals (8) and points (19), while adding three assists.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Coming off a season where the Duhawks appeared in the NCAA Division III National Championship match, expectations are through the roof for this team. While Loras did graduate 14 seniors, head coach Dan Rothert and his staff are confident that this team with the experience on the roster combined with a talented incoming freshman class can regain their prominence. Loras returns 12 members from last year's varsity roster, including All-Region and All-Iowa Conference honoree from a year ago in senior Alex Bradley. The Leighton Buzzard, U.K. native comes off a season where he compiled six goals and seven assists with five of those goals being game-winners. Junior Spencer Moore was a 2015 All-Iowa Conference selection after scoring four goals and adding two assists to his name. Look for these two to lead the offensive attack in the final third. Junior Jacob Peterson returns for year two with the Duhawks after posting a 17–5–1 record and a 0.81 goals against average a season ago. The Valparaiso transfer recorded 11 shutouts and 79 saves, earning both All-Conference and All-Region honors. While three of the four starting defenders from last year's finale were lost to graduation, Loras' depth will serve great purpose in 2016. Senior Calvin Miller will anchor the back line, bringing with him 40 appearances and 31 starts over the last two seasons. In addition, Kevin Cavers and Sam Koenig join the coaching staff and are familiar with the system already becasue both have played in the program and hope to bring even more leadership and experience to the 2016 campaign.

LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE BRITONS
Sunday will be the first meeting between the two sides.

BRITONS TO WATCH
Senior Bobby Budlong, the team's leading scorer from a year ago with five goals and three assists, is a player to be watching come match time. The Canton, Mich. native was named the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Offensive Player of the Week in the first week of the season in 2015. The Britons' second leading scorer from a year ago heading into the 2016 campaign is sophomore Shawn Roberts, who compiled a 2015 total of three goals and five assists.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEPTH PLAYERS
In 2015 Loras utilized their depth throughout the course of the campaign. With 14 seniors lost to graduation, the opportunity is there for players that saw action off the bench rather than being one of the starting 11. This will also give Head Coach Dan Rothert the ability to slot players into roles that fit each player, which hopefully can lead to the bench becoming the strength for the Duhawks later in the season.

PETERSON KEY TO DUHAWK SUCCESS
Starting goalkeeper, Jacob Peterson, is looking to have another successful season as a Duhawk. Coming off of his debut season, the junior had a .814 save percentage. The River Forest, Ill. product had 79 saves and nine shutouts facing 218 shots. Only allowing 18 goals all season, Peterson is a significant contributor to the Duhawks' success as they finished the season as National Runner-Ups in 2015.

RELOADING TALENT
The Duhawks knew graduating 14 seniors this spring would mean new opportunities for new and returning players. In this past Saturday's scrimmage against No. 23 University of Chicago, Loras proved to show their diversity throughout every position on the pitch. Freshman Mark Histed, a Dubuque native, has shown early signs of adjusting to play at the collegiate level, creating chances and slotting himself into the attacking third on regular occasion throughout the preseason. Sophomore transfer Ryan Ross comes to the Key City after playing last season at Bowling Green and fits the bill of a true goal scorer for the Purple & Gold.