BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Medaille University men's soccer team is less than a month away from the start of the 2022 season. Led by head coach Sean Hallas, the Mavericks are slated for 18 regular season games in the Empire 8 conference after previously competing in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC).

"Building off a productive spring season, we as a group are looking forward to our inaugural season competing in the Empire 8," stated Hallas. "Having won the AMCC Regular Season Championship last year but falling short in the conference final, players left campus in May feeling unfulfilled. We had an extremely young set of student-athletes in the 2021 campaign, and with them student-athletes now having experience in championship situations, we as a coaching staff are excited to see what level they bring in pre-season, seeing the work they have been putting in over the summer months."

"The coaching staff identified early on in the process where we needed to strengthen within the team, and we are extremely happy with the players coming into the University this Fall. Once again, we have players coming into Buffalo from all over the world who will compete for starting spots right away, this will only make the current group better and a practice environment of being extremely competitive," said Hallas.

"We have a huge opportunity to push on and be even more successful in 2022 with returning players such as Ander Castillo, Rodrigo Fernandez, Sean Burke, Celso Juberias, Dante Gesamondo, Charlie Stewart & Solomon Konesky. This group were all freshmen last year that saw substantial minutes, it should only stand them in good stead moving into their sophomore years and help the transition of the team come naturally with another talented group coming in," stated Hallas.

The Mavericks will open their season on the road on August 27 against Genesee Community College. On August 29, the Mavs take a trip to Penn State Behrend, a team they beat 1-0 last season to secure an 8-0 conference record. Three days later, the Mavericks face Wells College in their home opener at the Medaille Sports Complex.

The Mavericks will then be traveling east to Hobart College on September 4. The Mavs have a small break before squaring off with Penn State Harrisburg on September 10, and Bryant & Stratton College on September 11 at a neutral location.

On September 14, the Mavs travel to Fredonia looking to avenge their 3-4 loss to the Blue Devils in 2021. Medaille will host a pair of home games starting with SUNY Brockport on September 17 and Hilbert College on September 19. Last year against the Hawks, the Maverick offense scored a season-high 11 goals.

Empire 8 matches begin for Medaille five days later starting with an away match against Utica University. The Mavericks then travel east to Keuka College on September 28 before returning home on October 1 for a conference match against Alfred University.

Buffalo State College will travel to Medaille on October 5 for a rematch of last year's contest that saw the Mavericks fall to the Bengals 1-2. Three days later, the Mavs hit the road again for another Empire 8 matchup against Hartwick College. On October 15, the Mavericks will be tested when they head to Nazareth College to face the reigning Empire 8 Champions.

The Medaille men's soccer team will close its season with four more matches against conference opponents starting with a home match against Elmira College on October 19. October 22 will be the last regular season road game for Medaille with a trip southeast to Houghton University.

All eyes will be on the October 26 home match against St. John Fisher University after last season's matchup ended in a 1-1 tie. Three days later, the Mavericks will finish the regular season with a home match against Russell Sage College.

The Empire 8 Championship will take place the following week with the winner earning the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship.