BLOOMINGTON - Second-year coach Ryan Lakin welcomes back 12 lettermen to the Illinois Wesleyan men's soccer team, including both of last season's Most Valuable Players.

Senior midfielder Chris Miller and sophomore defender Matas Cyvas are back from a team that finished 7-7-4 overall and 1-3-3 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play.

The Titans open the season at 4 p.m. today at Knox, then play Webster at home at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Miller, a former University High School star and a second team all-CCIW selection, was named to the third team of the all-North Central region squad by members of the National Soccer Coaches Association. He led IWU with eight goals and 19 points with two game-winning goals. Miller is No. 5 in school history with 47 points and No. 4 with 20 goals.

Cyvas was a first team all-CCIW selection as a defender for IWU, which was third in the CCIW allowing 1.29 goals per game. Senior forwards Mark Opal and Steve Perona and junior Ikenna Odinaka return to provide offensive spark. Joining Miller in the midfield are sophomore Stephen Rensa and freshman Paulo Michelini.

Lakin said he expects a "breakout year" from Opal, who is No. 6 all-time at the school with nine career assists and ranks No. 16 with 25 points. Odinaka, last year's Most Improved Player, scored three goals, including two in a 2-1 win over nationally-ranked Wheaton.

Senior Brad Shearn helps Cyvas anchor a solid defense along with senior Ben Clemens and talented newcomer Jason Lopez, a sophomore transfer from Bowling Green.

Replacing graduated all-region player Ryan Smith in goal is likely to be sophomore Reggie Lara with 6-foot-6 freshman Win Fisher battling for playing time.

SCHEDULE

Today - At Knox 4 p.m.

Sunday - Webster, 5 p.m.

Wednesday - Fontbonne, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 8 - At Grinnell, 5 p.m.

Sept. 12 - Washington (Mo.), 7 p.m.

Sept. 16 - At University of Chicago 2 p.m.

Sept. 23 - North Park^, 5 p.m.

Sept. 25 - At Rose-Hulman 7 p.m.

Sept. 28 - At Principia 6 p.m.

Oct. 1 - University of Dallas, 1 p.m.

Oct. 4 - Elmhurst^, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7 - Millikin^, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 - At Wheaton^, 7 p.m.

Oct. 18 - At North Central^, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21 - At Wis.-Oshkosh 1 p.m.

Oct. 22 - At Wis.-Whitewater, 3 p.m.

Oct. 25 - Augustana^, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 28 - At Carthage^, 2 p.m.

Oct. 31 - CCIW semifinals, TBA

Nov. 4 - CCIW finals, TBA

(^) - CCIW matches

ROSTER

SENIORS - Ben Clemens^, Andrew Kloepper^, Joshua Lacey, Chris Miller^, Mark Opal^, Steve Perona^, Andrew Schmitz, Brad Shearn, Jason Somogyi,

JUNIORS - Colin Aubin^, Eric O'Brien, Ikenna Odinaka^,

SOPHOMORES - Tuhin Abner, John Blodgett, Jeff Carqueville^, Matas Cyvas^, Reggie Lara^, Jason Lopez, Spencer Nedved^, Stephen Rensa,

Chris Sleezer, Sherman Wallace,

FRESHMEN - Curtis Cribben, Win Fisher, Tim Johnson, Brett Luy, Paulo Michelini, Thomas Mullins, Sam Nelson, Alex Reynolds,

Robert Tabaka, Kyle Whyte, Scott Woodward

(^) - returning lettermen