The Muhlenberg men's soccer team heads into the 2017 season looking to make it back to the Centennial Conference playoffs and battle for a conference title.
 
The Mules, who open their season Friday at Lebanon Valley before returning to Varsity Field for their home opener September 6 against Immaculata, field a roster mix of both experience and youth this season and hope to translate that into success this season.
 
"We do have a very young team this year," said senior captain Jan Chmura in the team's preview video. "But we made it very clear that we want leaders on the pitch no matter what class you are in. Even the freshmen coming in, we've talked about that right from the start."
 
One of the returning starters from the 2016 team is All-CC honorable mention midfielder Anthony Carracino, who tied for the team lead in assists (3) and was second in goals (4) and points (11) for the Mules last year. The team's leading scorer, sophomore Pete Luther, also returns to lead the offense this season.
 
Chmura along with sophomores Brian Heckman and Kane Doyle return on the defensive side while juniors Kevin Irving and Kiefer Cundy and sophomore Kevin Hagan will again patrol the midfield for the Mules this season. Junior Jordan Schreer returns for this season to start in goal after transferring back to Muhlenberg following a year at American University.
 
Seniors Christian Navarro and Gary Pershad and juniors Shaun Bartholomew and Noah Fulcomer look to provide depth for the team. Sophomores Matthew Athanas-Linden, Erich Buerkert, Jordan Cimring, Zach Cimring, Colin Deitch and Ted Kawoczka all will look to increase their roles this season as well.
 
"The guys on the team, we are family on the field and we are family off the field," said Carracino in the preview video. "I'm just excited to make some memories this season with all of them."