SETTING THE SCENE
UMSL kicks off its 48^th season of intercollegiate play this weekend in San Francisco, Calif. The Tritons will face San Francisco State in the opened on Friday before wrapping up weekend action on Sunday against Humboldt State. Both games will be played on the campus of SF State at Cox Stadium.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
San Francisco State went 8-7-3 last season, marking its first winning season in 17 years. The Gators return 11 players from that team, including Sam Merritt, who led the team with five goals and four assists.
 
Humboldt State will face Concordia (Ore.) on Friday before Sunday's contest with the Tritons. The Jacks were 8-7-2 last year, marking the program's first winning season since 2014 and its most wins in the last six years. Among the returners is senior Chuck Pitts, who led Humboldt with eight goals and 19 points in 2014. The Jacks' top four point leaders return.
 
SIZING UP THE TRITONS
Under the direction of 15th-year head coach Dan King, UMSL is coming off a 12-4-2 record, tying the most wins in King's tenure. The Tritons were also 11-3-1 in GLVC play, a program-best. King returns 13 players from that team, including senior midfielder Jon Huelsman, a Daktronics Honorable Mention All-America and First Team All-GLVC selection. Huelsman was the leading scorer with 26 points on 10 goals and six assists. Including Huelsman, the top five goal scorers all return, including junior DJ Bednar (five goals), sophomore Nick Werner (five goals), senior Tyler Collico (four goals) and junior Leonardo Sanchez (three goals). Defensively, the Tritons allowed just 0.87 goals per game, while posting eight shutouts.
 
UP NEXT
Following its season-opening weekend in San Francisco, the Tritons will open Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Quincy on Friday, Sept. 11 before hosting Truman State in its home opener on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 2:30 p.m.