The William Jewell men's soccer team opens the 2022 season on Sunday afternoon as they host Rockhurst at Greene Stadium.Â
Series History
Jewell and Rockhurst have faced off 11 times in the NCAA era with the Hawks taking each of those matchups. The Cardinals had a chance to end that streak last year but a goal in the 86th minute gave the Hawks the win. Â
Let's Recap
The Cardinals are coming off a 2-13 season a year ago, 2-11 in the GLVC. Jewell got an early win over Southwest Baptist before defeating Southern Indiana in early October but dropped their final four games of the season.  Â
Offense Returns 100% of Production
Eight different players scored last season with two others recording assists and all 10 return this fall.
Mikhail McComie led the squad in 2021 with four goals and two assists while
Cole Bulgren also added a pair of goals and assists.
Sage Smotherman added two scores while
Walker Bond,
Carson Lee,
Keketso Lipholo,
Jack Mason and
Keaton Wiley all had one goal.Â
Wiley Back Again
The back line will benefit from the return of fifth year senior
Keaton Wiley. A four-year starter, Wiley has played more than 4,700 minutes, fourth most of any player in the NCAA era, and his experience in the program and the league will be key as he will lead a defensive unit that includes no other seniors but has nine freshmen and sophomores.  Â
Keeper CompetitionÂ
With an offseason injury, the Cardinals will be without the services of goalkeeper
Eli Gratz who led the league and was fifth in Division II with 6.57 saves per game last season. Four others will battle for the starting job, including senior
Jayden Hicks who has appeared in 13 career games with 38 saves along with sophomore
Brayden Satterfield. Newcomers in the mix also includeÂ
Jose Arellano out of Salt Lake City Community College and
Javier Ortiz from down the road at William Chrisman High School in Independence, Missouri.Â
