SEASON PREVIEW: Men's Soccer aims high in 2012

MEQUON, Wis. - Concordia University Wisconsin head coach Tom Saleska's 2012 offense will be built around seniors Kyle Sytsma (Antioch, Ill.) and Zach Lemler (West Bend, Wis.).

The midfield duo led CUW in scoring last season with All-Northern Athletics Conference First Team performer Sytsma scoring 10 goals and adding seven assists, while Lemler found the back of the net seven times and dished out five assists.

First team All-NAC defender Jacob Pope (Junior/Muskego, Wis.) and Second Team honoree Jason Rogers (Senior/Glendale, Wis.) started every match last season and helped CUW hold league foes to just five goals in 11 matches, as CUW outscored conference opposition 31-5 during the regular NAC season.

The Falcons, who finished 13-6-1 overall in 2011, found themselves in a pre-season predicament last year after goalie Sam Ische suffered a season-ending injury. Ische is back at 100 percent for his senior season.

"We have four other regulars back too plus I'm looking forward to seeing how our freshman group fits in.  On paper it's an outstanding class," smiled Saleska.

CUW was 9-1-1 in NAC play last season, trailing only perennial powerhouse Dominican University. The Stars finished 11-0 in league action and wound up 19-3-0 overall.

"Dominican is always the conference favorite for good reason," Saleska said. "They can match up with anyone in the country at the Division III level."

The amazing Stars have not lost a regular-season match (61-0-2) since the NAC was formed in 2006.

Saleska's CUW teams are a dazzling 44-12-7 over that same time span, but have finished second to DU three separate times.