ST. LOUIS, Mo. – McMurry University men's soccer will officially kick-off the 2016-17 athletic season, when it begins a two-game road trip to the St. Louis area. The War Hawks will face Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., on Thursday (7 p.m.) and at Webster University on Saturday (7.p.m.) in St. Louis.
 
McM is coming off of a 1-15-1 season in 2015, but will be under the eye of new head coach Tyler Tarango this year. Tarango will have a youthful roster, with just five returning players to go along with his 16 newcomers (14 of which are true freshmen).
 
There are just two seniors – Matt Hernandez and John Alsides – on the roster. Three starting defenders – Matt Hernandez (Sr.), Josh Erwin (So.) and Abraham Martinez (So.) – all return, after gaining plenty of playing time in 2015.
 
Tarango will be auditioning for goalkeeper in the early going, as that position was open heading into camp. Erwin was among those named to the ASC "watch list" for 2016, along with newcomers Ahmad Holt Jr. and transfer Ethan Brown.
 
The War Hawks, now in their third year of transitioning back to NCAA Division III status, will have the additional perk of now being eligible to compete for a league regular season championship. Additionally, McM's players are now able to receive American Southwest Conference weekly and post-season honors.
 
"I'm excited to take over the men's soccer program and continue moving the program forward," Tarango said.  "I'm equally excited for the incoming freshman and returners, from what I have seen in the early going in preseason. They have a point to prove in the ASC. We may be underdogs, but we'll take that role."
 
McMurry will face a stiff challenge to open the year in Westminster and Webster, which are ranked Nos. 1 and 3, respectively, in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference pre-season poll and met in the SLIAC tournament championship match (won by Westminster) in 2015.  The No.-1 Blue Jays return 20 players, seven of which earned all-conference accolades in 2015.