Rockhurst men's soccer continues Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) play this week with a pair of conference matchups, beginning Wednesday (Sept. 9) night at Bourke Field against Truman State before the Hawks hit the road Saturday (Sept. 12) for their first GLVC road match of the season at Lewis.

Rockhurst enters the week with momentum after opening conference play with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Indianapolis Saturday (Sept. 5) night at Bourke Field. The Hawks trailed 1-0 early in the second half before turning the match around in the final 15 minutes. Mattia Petricca leveled the score in the 75th minute off an assist from Daniele Ciancaglini, and Ozonna Ugbaja completed the comeback in the 83rd minute, scoring off a scramble in the box to give Rockhurst its first lead of the night and the win. Freshman goalkeeper Luke Strueby also played a major role in the victory, making his collegiate debut and recording four saves. 

Through four matches, the Hawks have scored six goals while averaging 13.5 shots per match. Rockhurst has also received balanced scoring early in the season, with six different players finding the back of the net. The Hawks have recorded three assists on their six goals and enter Wednesday's match with a 2-2-0 overall record and a 1-0-0 mark in GLVC play.

Rockhurst returns to Bourke Field Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. to take on Truman State. The Bulldogs enter the matchup at 1-2-0, with their lone victory coming against Hannibal-LaGrange. Truman State opened conference play with a 3-1 home loss to Drury, giving the Bulldogs an 0-1 record in GLVC action heading into Wednesday's meeting.

Jacob Panagos has been the primary offensive threat for Truman State through the opening three matches, leading the Bulldogs with four goals. His four goals are tied for the conference lead, while his 1.33 goals-per-match average also ranks among the top offensive marks in the GLVC. Truman State will look to Panagos and its attack to bounce back from the loss to Drury against a Rockhurst defense that held Indianapolis to just 10 shots in the conference opener.

The Hawks have historically had success against Truman State, holding a 16-9-4 advantage in the all-time series. Rockhurst has also won the most recent meeting between the two programs, earning a victory over the Bulldogs on Oct. 12, 2025. Wednesday's matchup will be another opportunity for the Hawks to build on that recent success while maintaining their perfect 1-0 start to conference play.

Following Wednesday's home matchup, Rockhurst will travel to Romeoville, Illinois, Saturday to face Lewis in its first GLVC road contest of the season. The Flyers enter the week with a 2-1-0 overall record and opened conference play with a victory over William Jewell in Liberty. Lewis' lone loss of the season came against Purdue Northwest, while the Flyers have scored four goals through their first three matches. Lewis has also received balanced production offensively, with each of its four goals coming from a different player. 

Rockhurst owns a 15-17-4 record all-time against Lewis and has won the most recent meeting between the teams, earning a victory on Oct. 3, 2025. Saturday's contest will mark another early-season test for the Hawks as they look to continue building momentum in the GLVC standings.