Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Men's Soccer	SIUE Men's Soccer SIUE Athletics

Adam Lanter

August 22, 2005 Cougars Take No. 1 Ranking On the Road          EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. -- For most teams, being ranked No. 1 in the country means you kicking the season with a home game against a lesser opponent. That’s not the case for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men’s soccer team.          The Cougars travel to Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday to battle Christian Brothers University for their season opener. SIUE is 0-3 when visiting the Buccaneers, and 2-4-1 against them overall.          “I believe that to be tough at the end you need to develop a tough team at the beginning of the year,” said SIUE coach Ed Huneke. “We will be challenged, Christian Brothers has always been difficult for us.”          After their matchup with the Bucs, the Cougars return home to face regional rival Ashland for the home opener at Korte Stadium on Sunday.          “They have a very good program,” said Huneke. “We barely squeaked out a 1-0 win up there last year. They are a good team.”          SIUE will rely on a group that returns nine of 11 starters and eight players who netted four or more goals.          “We are further ahead this year than we are in most years because of how many returning players that we have,” said Huneke.          Three notable players that scored six or more goals last season are Victor Pacheco ( San Luis, Brazil), Adam Lanter (Edwardsville), and Mike Banner (Washington, D.C.).          “Lanter and Pacheco have been having good preseason practices,” said Huneke. “Banner is going to continue his play from the end of last year to a full season this year.”          The Cougars will take on Christian Brothers at 4 p.m. Thursday before the Eagles visit on Sunday at 2 p.m.                   -siue cougars-