A new chapter in Mary Baldwin University men's soccer begins Thursday (9/1) when the Fighting Squirrels take the road to visit Christendom College in the season opener in Front Royal, Va.

MBU will premiere the 2022 campaign under the third head coach since the University began men's athletics with a club season in 2018.  Felipe Juarez, who was a goalie during his collegiate playing career at Rockford University, takes over for Mike Bair, who compiled 13 wins and one USA South Athletic Conference playoff appearance in his three seasons at MBU.

Juarez added a dozen newcomers to a talented group of returners, including five of the six players who scored at least twice during the 2021 campaign.  Forward Alexis Barba (three goals) and defender Kyle Creamer (two goals) and midfielder Dom Fleming (two goals) provide the senior leadership throughout the lineup.  Junior Steven Blair and sophomore Edward Headley each contributed twice last year as the Fighting Squirrels averaged a goal per game on the way to a 5-10-3 overall mark.

Defensively, senior Chad Demorest will join Creamer in trying to lead an improved defense, which allowed nearly two goals per game.

Following Thursday's opener at Christendom, the Fighting Squirrels return to SMA Worth Field for their first home match of the season Monday (9/5) against Marymount (Va.) University and Wednesday (9/7) against Randolph-Macon.  MBU, which was slotted eighth in the USA South pre-season coach's poll, kicks off the first of seven conference matches on Saturday, Oct. 1, at Methodist.