CONWAY, Ark. – McMurry University's second-year head coach Tyler Tarango will finally get to see his team in action for real on Friday evening, as it travels to Hendrix College for the opening match.  The War Hawks are coming off of a 3-10-3 season, but welcome back many veteran players and adding some quality newcomers to the fold.
 
Tarango has 12 returning lettermen back from 2016, most of whom saw ample playing time. A pair of American Southwest Conference 2017 "Watch List" selections – junior defender Josh Erwin and sophomore midfielder Jesus Sanchez - head the cast of returnees. Erwin and Sanchez were both All-ASC honorable mention in 2016, as well. Erwin had a goal and an assist from the defensive side, while Sanchez had a team-leading three assists.
 
Also making the 2017n ASC pre-season list was senior goalkeeper Alex Chavez. Chavez played 1,421 of a possible 1500 minutes in the nets and had a goals-against average of 2.09, with three shutout.
 
Junior forward Rafael Lara, the War Hawks' leading scorer with four goals in 2016, returns for his third campaign in the Maroon & White. Sophomore Javi Mejia tallied a pair of goals.  Fifth-year senior defender Matt Hernandez is expected to help anchor the defense, as well.
 
In addition to taking on host Hendrix College, McMurry will also face Rhodes College in Conway, Ark., on Sunday (Sept. 3) at 12 p.m.
 
WHAT: 
Men's Soccer at Hendrix College – Friday, Sept. 1 – 7 p.m.
Men's Soccer vs. Rhodes (at Hendrix) – Sunday, Sept. 3 – Noon
 
WHERE:  Conway, Ark.
 
VIDEO:  https://portal.stretchinternet.com/hendrix/
 
LIVE STATS:  https://portal.stretchinternet.com/hendrix/
 
 
NOTES:
*Tyler Tarango (McM class of 2012) is in the second year at the helm of his alma mater.
 
*McM welcomes Dreaux Plair – who coached on the prep level in New Mexico previously – as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's programs in 2017.
 
*Tarango has brought in 13 new faces for the 2017 roster, 10 of which are true freshmen.
 
*McMurry's athletics program is in the fourth and final year of its reclassification process to NCAA Division III.