CONWAY, Ark. – Back in action to start the 2023 season, the Central Arkansas men's soccer team opens its season at home on Thursday. Head coach
Frank Kohlenstein leads a group that will seek its third-straight appearance in the ASUN Championships this fall. The Bears are set to play SIUE at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex. Kickoff against the Cougars is set for 8 p.m.
With a new roster this season, the Bears will have to come together quickly, and showed excellent signs of doing so in their three exhibition matches. Key returners to the team include midfielder
Jerry Gutierrez, goalkeeper
Zach Schawl, ASUN All-Freshman forward
Pietro Fontana and midfielder
Sohma Ichikawa. Gutierrez played every second of the season last year, scoring three goals and dishing out an assist. His leadership in the middle of the field will be key for a team that introduces 34 new players to the roster.
Schawl will also be key for communicating with so many new players, disseminating information from the back to a defense that will feature multiple transfers. Up top, Fontana scored two goals for the Purple and Gray last season, earning his all-freshman nod after spurring one of the greatest comebacks of the season. Trailing 3-1 to Queens University, Fontana scored two of the three goals the Bears scored in the final seven minutes, including the game-winner.
The 2023 season marks the third for the Bears in the ASUN, with back-to-back ASUN Championship appearances already under their belt. Thursday, Central Arkansas embarks on its pursuit of another deep postseason run.
SIUE comes into the season after a 5-9-2 showing in 2022, this season being picked second in the OVC Preseason Poll. The Cougars are bolstered by the return of forward Jacob Bilyeu, who was second on the team with six points and had a team-best four assists. In net, Sam Gomez returns to the team, bringing with him a 1.38 goals against average and a 2-5-1 record.
Thursday's game is set for 8 p.m. at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex. The match will be streamed on ESPN+, with live stats available online.
