Chris Schuler of the Creighton men's soccer team has been named a second-team preseason All-American by Soccer America, as announced by the publication Tuesday. The junior defender has started 39 of his first 40 matches at Creighton and helped anchor the backline since his arrival.

Schuler, a first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference pick and second-team NSCAA All-Midwest Region selection last year, started all 20 matches a year ago.

I'm still focused on the college this week, primarily because I haven't had a chance to work on my High School soccer calender. If you've got a game this week, send me a note. As of right now, my first High School game will be Tuesday September 2nd. The Logan-Rogersville Wildcats will play the Branson Pirates that day in the first game for both programs.

PRESS RELEASE

The Missouri State men's and women's soccer teams will host seven and eight matches, respectively, at Plaster Sports Complex during the upcoming 2008 season.

The men's team opens the home schedule the second weekend of the season with its annual home tournament Sept. 5 and 6.

Well this is what I consider to be good news. The SIU-Edwardsville Cougars have joined the Ohio Valley Conference with their move to Division I. Unfortunately for the soccer and wrestling squads, there is no men's soccer. The Alton Telegraph reports that Athletic Director Brad Hewitt is in talks with the Missouri Valley Conference to participate as an affiliate, as fellow OVC school Eastern Illinois does now.

The Hilltoppers ended a 26 year old program on Friday due to budget cuts. Men's soccer is the only sport of the 20 on campus that did not compete in the Sun Belt Conference and was eliminated in order to ensure the other programs were as competitive as possible in the face of funding constraints.