April 26, 2005

ROMEOVILLE - A three-game, seven-day September home stand against new Great Lakes Valley Conference members Drury and Rockhurst and archrival Wisconsin-Parkside highlights Lewis University's 18-game 2005 men's soccer schedule released Tuesday by head coach Evan Fiffles.

The Flyers will play exhibition games at Seattle Pacific and Western Washington before opening the campaign at home Aug. 27 against Northwood.

A grueling eight-game stretch follows, beginning with road tests against Gannon and Mercyhurst Sept. 2 and 4. Drury, an NCAA Division I men's soccer program the past eight seasons before recently joining the GLVC, comes to Romeoville Sept. 9, followed by perennial powers Rockhurst Sept. 11 and Wisconsin-Parkside Sept. 15. The Flyers then face a big non-conference test at Truman State Sept. 18 and key GLVC games at Northern Kentucky and Bellarmine Sept. 23 and 25.

Lewis continues its league slate at home against Missouri-St. Louis and new GLVC member Missouri-Rolla Sept. 30 and Oct. 2; at defending champion Southern Illinois Edwardsville and always-tough Quincy Oct. 7 and 9; at home against Saint Joseph's and Indianapolis Oct. 14 and 16; and at Kentucky Wesleyan and Southern Indiana Oct. 21 and 23. The Flyers conclude the regular season at non-conference foe Upper Iowa Oct. 26.

The GLVC Championship tournament begins Oct. 30 and the NCAA Division II Championship tournament begins Nov. 10.

Lewis enjoyed another highly successful season in 2004. The Flyers reached the NCAA Division II Championship tournament for a fourth time in five seasons - making them one of just six teams to do so - and posted a 16-3-3 record, producing a winning record and reaching double figures in victories for a 13th consecutive season.