Bolivar, Mo. - With the emergence of the new fall semester comes the excited murmur of all the fall athletes and the countdown of days until GLVC competitions begin. Athletes have been hard at work for the past several weeks preparing for their coming seasons. Among these fall teams is the Southwest Baptist University Men's Soccer Team. These Bearcats begin their regular season Thursday at 5:30pm where they take on Evangel.
 
Head Coach Steve Bushre returns to the helm for his second season leading the Bearcats. In his first year, he led them to an impressive victory over the GLVC runner-up Maryville University. Now after a year in the conference and time to build his team, he expects the team to be even more competitive. With positive results in all three of their preseason matches, the Bearcats will look to bring that into the regular season beginning at home this Thursday.
 
Although much enthusiasm can be felt among the team, there are some bittersweet undertones in leu of the season which comes with the final trek of several seniors, who will be playing their last season for SBU. A few of the four-year seniors stated they are ready to give their all this final season. In the words of one Italian player, Giovanni Cascone, "We cannot wait to leave it all on the pitch".
 
"SBU Men's Soccer for the past four years meant a lot to me. It made me feel at home, you know, with it being far far from SBU. It was difficult at first, but other people, people I met here, they just helped me out. They were just like family. This is what it has really meant for me to be a part of this team. SBU Men's team is like one great big family, and I really will miss it a lot," Cascone, born and raised in Caprese Italy, reported this sentiment after being asked what all he has learned through SBU Men's soccer.
 
"SBU Men's soccer has helped me because I came here to a brand-new environment and all my teammates, coaches and athletes made me feel welcome and at home. Even if I am playing my last season, I will be a Bearcat forever," senior Iker Lorenzo gave the following sentiment while talking about all that he had gained from the school while playing soccer over the course of his college years.
 
All in all, the season ahead holds potential for great things. In the same way that these few seniors were once scared freshman walking onto the pitch for their first GLVC game they are now able to lead those behind them with great confidence. Great things truly are coming for SBU men's soccer program.