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Men’s Soccer Returns Home to Host Kalamazoo

The match will serve as Titans’ home opener

9/12/2025 10:00:00 AM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.- Following four straight road matches, the Illinois Wesleyan men's soccer team is set to welcome Kalamazoo College to Neis Field Saturday, Sept. 13 at 3:30 p.m. The contest with the Hornets will serve as the home opener for the Titans, after their first home match was postponed due to inclement weather.

Illinois Wesleyan enters the match unbeaten with a record of 3-0-1, as Kalamazoo lies at 2-2, following a trip to Texas.

The Titans clashed with the Beavers of Blackburn earlier in the week and etched a 4-1 victory Wednesday, Sept. 10, in Carlinville, Ill. The Green and White was led by freshman Daniel Smazil (Downers Grove, Ill-Downers Grove South) who recorded his second goal of the season and an assist.

A balanced offensive attack has led the way for the Titans with junior Matthew Perchik (Glenview, Ill-New Trier), sophomore Ben Lyons (Orland Park, Ill-Carl Sandburg), and Daniel Smazil. Lyons and Perchik lead the team in goals (3) and are the leading point-getters for IWU with eight, respectively. Daniel Smazil has tallied six points.

On the defensive side of the ball, the senior outside back duo of Nick McCully (Peoria, Ill- Richwoods) and Jerry Smazil (Downers Grove, Ill-Downers Grove South) has stifled opposing offenses as Illinois Wesleyan has allowed five goals in the first four matches.

In net, senior Sam Kedzior (Cary, Ill-Cary-Grove) has provided a calm, veteran presence for the Titans. The Cary, Ill. native has recorded nine saves to the tune of a .643 save percentage in 343 minutes between the pipes.

The Hornets are in the midst of a five-game road trip, stopping in Bloomington, Ill. fresh off a pair of losses over the weekend, Sept 5–7 in Texas. In The Lone Star State, Kalamazoo faced Southwestern and 11th-ranked Trinity (Texas). The Orange and Black has seen just two goal scorers including leading point-getter (6), Lucas Ruiz.

Kalamazoo features a freshman goalkeeper in Jackson Janderski, who has accounted for two shutouts coming against UM-Dearborn and Aquinas, and has allowed five goals to start his career.

The Titans and Hornets have met just three previous times with Illinois Wesleyan owning a 2-0-1 record. In their last meeting in Kalamazoo, Mich. back on Aug. 30, 2024, the two teams battled to a 1-1 draw.

Saturday's match at Neis Field will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. A live stream and live stats will be available at iwusports.com.

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