The Concordia University Chicago men's soccer team (0-0) will finally play their first competitive game of the 2020-21 season against the Dominican Stars on Wednesday, March 10, after playing various exhibition games. Following the fall season's cancelation, this will be the first game that counts since the 2019 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference tournament when they lost 3-2 to Benedictine.
 
This season is an opportunity for continued improvement, as 2019 saw the Cougars win as many games as the previous three seasons combined.
 
The most significant loss from that season, according to head coach Michael Arango, is all-conference goalkeeper Jose Retana. The battle between sophomores Nicholas Pasut (New Boston, Mich.) and Joseph Perez (Crystal Lake, Ill.) for the starting role will be a story to watch for the Cougars this season.
 
Minimal losses in outfield positions should give the Cougars continuity despite the long layoff. Arango pointed to senior defender Bryce Bilodeau (Dallas, Texas), who will captain the Cougars for a second season, and forwards Gerardo Medina (Cicero, Ill.) and Ryan Kulhman (Darien, Ill.) as particularly important to success this season.
 
The Dominican Stars are looking to follow up a phenomenal 2019 season, in which they won the NACC regular season title with an unbeaten 10-0-1 record. They then emphatically won the NACC Tournament, defeating Benedictine 6-0 in the final before being knocked out in the first round of the NCAA DIII Men's Soccer Championship by the University of Chicago.
 
A win for the Cougars over the Stars would be historic: their first since 2002.
 
Kickoff will happen at 12 p.m. down the street during this edition of the Division Street Rivalry. A live stream for the game can be found at the Dominican Athletics website.