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Rockhurst University Athletics

Connor Mullen
Kit Doyle

Men's Soccer

Third-ranked Hawks open season at No. 11 Fort Hays State

Senior defender Connor Mullen is back to lead the Hawks' defense.
The third-ranked Rockhurst men's soccer team will open the 2017 season at the site of last year's NCAA Division II national quarterfinal match in Hays, Kansas. The Hawks will face 11th-ranked Fort Hays State at 6 p.m. Thursday at the FHSU Soccer Stadium.

Rockhurst defeated Fort Hays State twice last year, winning 2-1 at Rockhurst and blanking the Tigers 1-0 in the national quarterfinals on a second-half goal by Kaleb Jackson.

"This is an extremely tough game to open the season," said Rockhurst coach Tony Tocco, who ranks second in all-time collegiate men's soccer victories with 680 wins. "This will be one of the best teams that we will see all season."

Fort Hays State set a school record for wins (14) in claiming its third straight NCAA Division II Central Region Championship. The Tigers are ranked first in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll.

The Hawks return six starters and 12 lettermen from last year's team, which finished third in the nation with an 18-3-3 record.

Jackson, senior forward, led the team with 12 goals and 27 points while earning GLVC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Senior defender Connor Mullen is back to lead the defense after being named the GLVC Defensive Player of the Year.

Senior forward Adam Michel, senior defender Filippo Santandrea and junior midfielder Gianluca Bottoni also return after earning All-GLVC honors last year. Senior goalkeeper Logan Feldmann also is back after leading the GLVC in shutouts (11) in 2016.

"We have a solid group of experienced players coming back, along with a good core of new players who should help us out," Tocco said. "It will take us awhile to get the returners and newcomers to build chemistry on the field."

The top newcomers are junior defender Swann Vincent, junior forward Umoh Ufot, sophomore defender Luca Mastrantonio, freshman defender Marco Cora and freshman midfielder Turner Hall.

The Hawks open the home season on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 4 p.m. against the Lindenwood Lions.
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Players Mentioned

Gianluca Bottoni

#20 Gianluca Bottoni

M
6' 1"
Junior
Logan Feldmann

#1 Logan Feldmann

GK
6' 0"
Senior
Kaleb Jackson

#11 Kaleb Jackson

F
5' 10"
Senior
Adam Michel

#10 Adam Michel

M
6' 3"
Senior
Connor Mullen

#22 Connor Mullen

D
6' 1"
Senior
Filippo Santandrea

#4 Filippo Santandrea

D
6' 1"
Senior
Marco Cora

#7 Marco Cora

D
5' 10"
Freshman
Umoh Ufot

#27 Umoh Ufot

F
5' 8"
Junior
Swann Vincent

#19 Swann Vincent

D
5' 7"
Junior
Luca Mastrantonio

#14 Luca Mastrantonio

D
6' 2"
Sophomore
Turner Hall

#26 Turner Hall

M
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Gianluca Bottoni

#20 Gianluca Bottoni

6' 1"
Junior
M
Logan Feldmann

#1 Logan Feldmann

6' 0"
Senior
GK
Kaleb Jackson

#11 Kaleb Jackson

5' 10"
Senior
F
Adam Michel

#10 Adam Michel

6' 3"
Senior
M
Connor Mullen

#22 Connor Mullen

6' 1"
Senior
D
Filippo Santandrea

#4 Filippo Santandrea

6' 1"
Senior
D
Marco Cora

#7 Marco Cora

5' 10"
Freshman
D
Umoh Ufot

#27 Umoh Ufot

5' 8"
Junior
F
Swann Vincent

#19 Swann Vincent

5' 7"
Junior
D
Luca Mastrantonio

#14 Luca Mastrantonio

6' 2"
Sophomore
D
Turner Hall

#26 Turner Hall

5' 9"
Freshman
M