WAVERLY, Iowa – Wartburg men's soccer opens the 2024 season on the road against Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minn. at 5 p.m.
 
Last Season
Wartburg finished the 2023 season with an overall mark of 12-2-6 and an American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) record of 5-1-2. The Knights entered the A-R-C Tournament as the No. 2 seed and defeated both the University of Dubuque and Loras College in route to their first A-R-C Tournament title since 2014. Wartburg earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament as well as the right to host rounds one and two. The Knights fell to Gustavus Adolphus College in the first round to close the season.
 
Paul Devine, Michael Dunn, Alima Mmunga, Curtis Ratzer, Edvin Rizvic earned spots on the All-Conference team, as well as Brennon Woody who was also named the A-R-C Defensive MVP. Devine, Ratzer, Rizvic and Woody all earned All-Region honors. Woody was named a Third-team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches, which is the first All-American since 2015.
 


2024 Season Outlook
The Knights will return five starters from last season, including two All-Conference performers in Mmunga and Ratzer.
 
"We've had a little bit of turnover, but we're really excited about this returning group, about where our culture is at as well as this group that's coming in," said Head Coach Mike Madigan. "Whether its been new guys or returners we've seen new faces stepping up for us."
 
Wartburg will have a new face between the pipes at goalkeeper this season after Woody's graduation. "It's been competitive in a good way," said Madigan on the preseason position battle. "Whether its been the way Kaden Baxter has come back in as a junior or the way our first years Caleb Cross and Henry Eckert have come in. It has been a really competitive position group."
 
Men's soccer welcomes a large class of incoming student athletes with over 20 freshmen and transfers combined.
 
The Knights were selected to finish second in the A-R-C preseason poll behind last year's regular season champions Loras. Madigan talked about the team's approach to the season as a favorite compared to past years, "I think it's important to approach each day the same. If you approach each day the same way, trying to get better every day, it doesn't matter what it says in the rankings or polls."
 
"Scheduling nonconference has been a mix of finding programs that are nationally competitive to get us not only ready for a very competitive A-R-C, but also gives us a chance to get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament," said Madigan. The Knights nonconference schedule features nine matches with five being at home at Salzwedel Field.
 
The Knights open the season with three road matches before its home opener against Augsburg University on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m.