"We lost our top forward, our top defender and, our starting goalkeeper so we will definitely have some hard work to do," says head coach Steve Burke. "With the experience of the returners, though, I am optimistic."

The senior class won 74 games over the last four seasons and gained numerous awards. One of the biggest shoes to replace will be CCAC Player of the Year and NCCAA National Player of the Year Steven Moldenhauer. Four of the five seniors had been with Judson all four years in Moldenhauer, Kyle Selph, Tim Balatsoukas, and Andrew Weissman. Mark Howlett joined Judson in his junior year.

As the chapter closes in that part of history, a new chapter begins for Judson. With all the success that Judson has had the past 24 years, talented soccer players are brought in each year to help and replace lost talent.

Burke says, "Our success from year to year is really a key to attracting top recruits. Last year's success has helped us to bring in our biggest freshman class, ever. Now, we need to instill confidence in our new players and help them to understand what it means to play for Judson and to be a part of such a winning tradition."

Burke hit the recruiting trail hard after the 2008 season and gathered a lot of local talent. Eleven of the 15 new players coming in are from the Elgin area with seven from Elgin.

Topping the class from Elgin Larkin High School is Stephen Drew. Drew helped to guide Larkin to two Regional Championships while collecting 30 assists and an All-Area and All-Conference award in just two years on varsity. Also joining Drew as a freshman at Judson from Larkin High School is Jose Barajas.

Transferring into Judson but also from Elgin Larkin High School are Alex Tyton and Stewart Sogge. Tyton is transferring in from CCAC opponent Trinity International where he had a 1.96 goals against average and 23 saves. He also was named to the All-CCAC honorable mention team. Following his lead is Elgin Community College transfer Sogge. Sogge was an All-Illinois Skyway Conference first-team selection along with being named to the NJCAA All-Region IV team.

Other players from the Elgin area are Jeff Lee (Johnsburg, IL/Johnsburg HS), Eber Bercerra (East Dundee, IL/Belvidere North HS), Andrew Harling (Bartlett, IL/Bartlett HS), Austin Newbury (North Barrington, IL/Maine West HS), Ryan Reopelle (Elgin, IL/Burlington Central HS), Andy Roberts (Cary, IL/Cary-Grove HS), Javier Rojo, Jr. (Elgin, IL/B.F. Terry HS), and Keenan Walsh (Cary, IL/Cary-Grove HS).

Each player is talented and helped their high school in various ways. Some players helped their schools to conference championships. Lee, from Johnsburg, IL, led Johnsburg HS to two conference championships while being named All-Conference all three years he was on varsity. Leading Maine West HS to a Regional Championship was All-Conference, All-Area, and All-Sectional award winner Newbury. Reopelle helped Burlington Central to a conference championship while being named All-Conference. Both Roberts and Walsh guided Cary-Grove HS to a Fox Division Conference Championship with a 10-0 record. Roberts was then named to two All-Area teams while making six goals in two seasons.

"We have a large freshman class so we will be looking for somebody to step up," says Burke.

"We have seven strong starters back so that gives us something to work around," says Burke. "All of our returning starters are going to be the key to our success. A big senior class will have to step up with the experience that they can offer."

Two All-Americans return in junior Gustavo Oliveira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and senior Milos Bajic (Stari Slankameh, Serbia) along with four other seniors. Oliveira and Bajic combined for 15 of Judson's 63 goals and had 25 assists. Oliveira was second on the team in goals with 10 but led the team in assists (13) for 33 points.

Bajic, who was a NAIA All-American in the 2006 season, had five goals and 12 assists for 22 points.

Vitor Bravo (Salvador, Brazil), Leonardo Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Petar Bajic (Stari Slankameh, Serbia), and Aduato Oliveira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) will all supply the key leadership needed by the seniors.

Bravo netted two goals and two assists as a midfielder last season and was a part of six shutouts. Silva was a two-time CCAC Player of the Week and was a NAIA All-American at Missouri Valley in 2005 and 2006 before transferring to Judson in 2007. Bajic, the twin brother of Milos Bajic, picked up an All-CCAC second team award in his first year of play at Judson. Gustavo Oliveira has a defensive presence in the midfield while scoring four goals with seven assists.

"Our first three weekends are super tough tournaments," says Burke. "We try to play some really good teams early to test us and to toughen us to prepare for the main stretch of the conference schedule. This year, we have to win the conference to advance to the NAIA national tournament."

Each year, the CCAC gets even tougher as teams improve to try and knock off Judson. The 2008 season won't be any different. Last season, Judson won the CCAC in their final regular season match with a 2-2 tie against Illinois Tech. Judson's 6-1-2 record was just ahead of three other teams (Olivet Nazarene, St. Xavier, Trinity International) that finished with a 6-3 record.

Burke says, "Our conference is always a battlefield. With four straight CCAC titles, everyone wants to knock us off. We hope to be in the thick of it again."

Judson also stands just one win behind Westmont College (CA) for the most wins for a NAIA men's soccer program. Judson currently has 551 career wins while Westmont posts 552 wins. The next team behind Judson is Berry College (GA) with 496 wins.

This year, new qualifications for the NAIA Tournament are in place as there will no longer be regional tournaments. There will be first-round playoff games at the top seed and the winners will then feed into a 32-team tournament at one site. Judson had won the last for NAIA Region VII Tournaments and is now will be the last team to win that tournament.

"I always expect us to compete, to work hard, and to be in great physical shape," says Burke. "We count on that to carry us through some tight games."

From the looks of the schedule and the large target on their back, Judson may have quite a few tight games in the 2008 season.

The 2008 season could be a history changing season for Judson. Let this chapter of history begin!