University men’s soccer team lost to McKendree University Sunday. 

The Screaming Eagles came up short after a hard-fought ninety minutes, losing 1-0 to McKendree University at home. This was the university’s first game in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Fall 2021. 

The men’s soccer team was on defense for the majority of the game. The university team only took one shot in the first half compared to the six shots McKendree University’s team took.

The team put up a good fight despite the outcome of today’s game, and its effort did not go unnoticed by its head coach. 

Mat Santoro, men’s soccer head coach, said the team put up a good effort against a good opponent. 

“The nature of soccer is you go 0-0 as long as you can to see who gets the goal, and they got it,” said Santoro. 

Santoro said it would have been nice to win Sunday’s game, but “We think we’re close to being able to get games like this.” 

Despite falling to McKendree University in the first game of the conference Sunday, the men’s soccer team still plans to be in the postseason tournament. 

“We definitely think we should be in the postseason,” said Santoro. “We should be in the top half of the GLVC.”

The game Sunday was the Screaming Eagles’ second game in 72 hours. The university men’s soccer team defeated Davenport University 4-3 in overtime Friday at home. 

The men’s soccer record is 1-2 and 0-1 in conference play. 

The team takes on the University of Indianapolis for its first away game at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Indianapolis.