The Rockhurst University men's soccer team begins postseason play on Saturday (Oct. 31) traveling to Jefferson City, Missouri, to face No. 8 Lincoln University in the quarterfinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Championship. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Capital City High School.
The Hawks enter the tournament as the No. 8 seed after finishing the regular season with a 6-7-4 overall record and a 5-5-4 mark in GLVC play. Lincoln earned the top seed after completing its second consecutive unbeaten regular season, finishing 12-0-4 overall and 11-0-3 in conference action.
Rockhurst will look to avenge a 3-0 loss to the Blue Tigers earlier this season on Sept. 23 at Bourke Field. The two programs have split their recent meetings, with Lincoln holding a 1-1-1 record against Rockhurst over the past three seasons. Rockhurst enters the postseason having won two of its final three matches before closing the regular season at Southwest Baptist.
The Hawks have scored 20 goals this season, averaging 1.18 goals per match, with contributions from throughout the lineup. Riley McGill leads Rockhurst offensively with four goals and nine points, including three game-winning goals. Blake Barrick follows with three goals and two assists for eight points, while Tommaso Silanos has added three goals and six points.
Nick Marchetti leads the team with four assists, while Daniele Ciancaglini, Rhys Laws and Troy Lor have each contributed one goal and two assists. In goal, Luke Strueby has anchored the Rockhurst defense, recording 47 saves, five shutouts and a .797 save percentage across 12 starts. Strueby has posted a 1.00 goals-against average and was named the GLVC Defensive Player of the Week twice this season.
The No. 8 Blue Tigers captured their first GLVC regular-season championship in program history after finishing conference play unbeaten at 11-0-3. Lincoln has now gone 34 consecutive regular-season matches without a loss dating back to the 2025 season.
Offensively, Lincoln is led by Jonathan Nemorden, who has recorded 12 goals and two assists for a team-high 26 points. Nemorden ranks second nationally with six game-winning goals and has earned GLVC Offensive Player of the Week honors twice this season.
Jerome Lawel has contributed five goals and six assists, while Makwe Nkoana has added four goals. All three players have received GLVC Offensive Player of the Week recognition this season.
Defensively, the Blue Tigers have been among the nation's best, ranking sixth in NCAA Division II in save percentage (.843) and 13th in goals allowed per match (0.70). Goalkeeper Felipe Mattos has recorded five shutouts and 31 saves while ranking second nationally with an .880 save percentage.
Lincoln has also been dominant at home, holding a perfect 10-0 all-time record at Capital City High School, including seven home victories this season.
Saturday's matchup marks the beginning of the GLVC Championship for both programs, with the winner advancing to the tournament semifinals. Rockhurst will look to pull off an opening-round upset against a Lincoln squad that reached the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 last season and has established itself as one of the top programs in the region.
The Hawks will aim to build on their late-season momentum and strong defensive performances as they look to continue their season with a win.
