LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University men's soccer team will open its 2023 campaign with an 8 p.m. (ET) contest Thursday at Evansville.

Although it came close in its first two years in Division I, Bellarmine secured its first winning season in the NCAA's highest level in 2022 after going 6-4-8. The Knights also made their third straight appearance in the ASUN Tournament semifinals.

Bellarmine received recognition in the ASUN's preseason awards. Senior Matthew Brozovich was voted ASUN Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year while senior defender Brock Pope joined him on the Preseason All-ASUN Team. Pope was a unanimous pick.

In the back with Brozovich and Pope, senior defender Jackson Kirn is another cornerstone and the leading returner in minutes with 1,566 last season. Senior midfielder Jack Fischer, another returning starter, led the Knights in assists last year with five. In the defensive midfield, senior Rahim Shalash joins Pope once again as co-captains, while junior Brendan Schoemehl broke 1,000 minutes last season.

Senior forward Juan Ballas transferred back to Bellarmine this season and is a two-time All-ASUN selection with the Knights. Redshirt junior forward Chris Shust netted two goals last season. Senior defender Thomas Stickley and redshirt sophomore midfielder Ben Griffis appeared in every game last year.

Bellarmine and Evansville also played in the season opener last season, with the teams battling to a 2-2 draw at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium. The Purple Aces put together a strong campaign, finishing 8-5-6 overall and 3-2-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference while advancing to the title game of the MVC Tournament.

In the MVC's preseason coaches' poll, Evansville was predicted to finish fourth of nine. Nacho Diaz Barragan, the 2022 MVC Freshman of the Year, was selected to the Preseason All-MVC Team after scoring a team-best nine goals last season.

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