2015 Video Roster | 2015 Schedule | 2015 GLVC Preseason Poll

The faces aren't so much entirely new, but the names you'll hear called most frequently over the public address system at Drury Soccer games this fall will be quite a bit different from what Panther fans have heard over the last four years during a successful string of seasons under coach Ryan Swan.

But Swan also expects the "new guys" to pick up those winning ways right where last year's outstanding, graduating class left off ... especially once they develop the chemistry to do so. And the earlier in the season, the better.

"That's definitely the hope," Swan says. "Obviously with so many new players there will be a transition period, but these guys have bought in to what it takes to be a part of the Drury Soccer program, and I think we're going to be a very competitive team again."

Swan's Panthers, ranked No. 23 nationally in the NSCAA preseason Top 25 poll, will kick things off this weekend in Quincy, Ill., when they take on Lindenwood on Saturday and Findlay on Sunday at 5 p.m. both days in non-conference matches before opening Great Lakes Valley Conference play next weekend at William Jewell on Friday and at home against rival Rockhurst on Sunday at Harrison Stadium in the Curry Sports Complex, where DU went 9-0-0 last season. 

The Panthers finished 16-5-0 last season overall, falling in the GLVC Tourney semifinals to eventual champion Indianapolis 1-0. The Panthers bounced back to beat Tiffin in the NCAA-II tourney first round before falling 2-1 to Quincy on its home field in the round of 32, ending Drury's third NCAA appearance in six seasons under Swan, who takes an 86-34-2 mark into his seventh year at the Panthers' helm.

Graduation was tough on the Panthers from last year's squad, as Swan said goodbye to four-year stalwarts like Jack Mathis, Mike Lee, Ryan Haas, Scott Stiffler, Nick Ammann, Alec Nagel and others. He did retain Haas as his graduate assistant coach, which should help the education process as several of last year's reserves - and some additional newcomers - step into those vacated key roles.

The Panthers do have their rock - "The Captain," senior All-GLVC midfielder Matt Clarkin - returning to help quarterback the show on the field. 

"Matt became a captain within the first two months of joining the team as a freshman, and just brings a lot of leadership to the program," Swan says. "But I think he's also improved every year. He's hard working and has the talent to succeed, and I think it rubs off on the guys."

After graduating four of their top five scorers from last season, including the 1-2-3 punch at the top of Nagel (10 goals), Ammann (9 goals) and Mathis (8 goals), the Panthers will look for new scoring leaders. Getting the first shot are returning sophomores Ben Bruce (two goals, two assists) and Charles Guelly (six goals, four assists), the hero of Drury's 1-0, double-OT victory over Tiffin in the NCAA Tourney opening round last year with his goal in the 101st minute.

Julien Chevy, a freshman from France, will also see plenty of opportunities in an attacking role, with senior Mitch Waters, Ivan Borka and Austin Hart also in the mix.

Clarkin leads the group of midfielders, with freshman Antoine Vial assuming the Mathis role this season and sophomore Pierre Villez ready to build upon his DU freshman campaign. Sophomore Matt Caley and freshman Maximillen Fabi will also figure into the rotation.

The back line is anchored by returning junior standout David Cross, who worked his way into one of the nation's most solid defender groups with Lee, Haas and graduated senior Eric Heet last season. Cross will be at left back, and joined defensively by senior Bryce Naples, who saw valuable minutes as a reserve last year, promising freshman Matt Waggoner, junior Robin Almendares Rojas and newcomer Vince Sasso to battle for time.

In goal, redshirt junior Blake Andrews returns after missing last season with a hand injury. Andrews, who finished third in the GLVC with seven shutouts in 2013 as DU's regular keeper, will be challenged by freshman Nicholas Helin for time at keeper, giving the Panthers a very solid situation there.

"Blake has been playing fantastically well," Swan said of Andrews. "Coming back from the injury, he looks fit and ready and has been training very well."

Swan says the key to this 2015 edition is "how quickly we bond as a team. We're looking at that for this team to set us up for the next four years, looking for guys to step up into leadership roles. 

"I think we'll score goals. We've got depth that's quality, but it's just a question again of, 'are they going to realize that quality this year, and how quick will they adjust to the college game?"

The GLVC coaches believe the Panthers will be right back in the thick of things in the league chase again this year, picking DU fourth in the preseason poll behind Indianapolis, Quincy and Rockhurst.

"The league is certainly going to be interesting," Swan says. "Quincy lost a big class, Rockhurst and Indy have strong teams coming back ... I think all the usual suspects will be up there, but I also think some of the other programs in the league have made really good (coaching) hires and that we'll see teams that have been at the bottom in the past come up and challenge for the eight conference tournament spots."

Swan also is a fan of the NCAA-II Midwest Region finally gaining a sixth available spot for the NCAA tourney field this season, particularly for a region that has proven over the years to be exceptionally strong in men's soccer.

"That's going to help, and certainly getting back to the NCAA tournament is going to be one of the goals," he said. "Our priority is the GLVC and obviously moving on to the national tournament from there. If you're competitive in the GLVC, you're going to be competitive nationally."

In the meantime, Swan - like the DU fans - will continue early-on to try to learn more about his new faces and the combinations the Panthers can put on the pitch.

"It has been a challenge," he says with a smile. "The personalities are very different. But the guys have done a really good job of getting together, and the new guys haven't been shying away from really embracing the college environment."